Assistant Principal of Instruction - 2026/2027 School Year

Job Description

Job Description

About Mastery:

 

Founded in 2001, Mastery Schools is a public charter network of 23 K-12 schools in Philadelphia and Camden, serving more than 14,000 students. 

 

At Mastery, we’re on a mission to provide all students with the academic and personal skills they need to succeed after graduation and pursue their dreams. Student achievement is not just a goal for our organization; it's the reason we exist, and every member of our team is dedicated to securing student success. We are also committed to pursuing equity, actively disrupting systemic racism, and addressing the disparities that limit our students' choices. 

 

Our culture is built on respect, service, and the belief that the success of our students, their families, and the communities we serve will help us achieve our mission. We foster a positive, open, and inclusive environment where honesty, humor, and continuous improvement are celebrated. 

 

Join us in creating a model urban school district that serves all students with excellence. Together, we can make a lasting impact.

The Opportunity: 

 

As an Assistant Principal of Instruction (API) at Mastery Schools, you will inspire educators to excel in their craft and empower students to reach their highest potential.  

 

Your responsibilities will include developing and supervising a talented team of teachers, offering guidance and support to enhance their teaching effectiveness and professional growth as they strive to foster participatory, student-centered classrooms. Additionally, you will coordinate assessments to monitor students' academic performance, identify areas for improvement, and implement data-driven strategies to enhance learning outcomes. 

 

Collaborating closely with your principal, you will work to create and uphold an outcomes-driven, joyful educational environment that supports students in developing the skills necessary to pursue their dreams. If you're ready to make a meaningful impact on education and be a driving force behind academic excellence, we invite you to join us in shaping the future of our students.

 

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Drive and support implementation of Mastery Schools’ vision and guiding principles to ensure a positive, achievement-focused school culture for teachers, staff and students
• Lead and supervise a high-functioning team of educators focused on driving superior academic performance and fostering a high level of personal responsibility
• Supervise teachers’ instructional methods, evaluate lesson plans, provide weekly observations and professional development opportunities, and coach teachers around effective instructional strategies
• Identify students who could benefits from additional support and guide them toward supplemental educational services as necessary
• Engage parents and other community members in school activities to engender a neighborhood-centered approach to learning and development
• Support the Principal in ensuring effective collection and analysis of student performance data to identify struggling students, curriculum shortfalls, and teacher quality issues
• Manage various administration functions, including testing schedules and absenteeism needs for teachers

Qualifications:

• Superior grasp of effective instructional and behavioral methods and strategies for educating urban youth
• Strong people and project management ability, with the proven ability to influence and enhance cooperative working relationships within a team environment
• Interest in providing only the highest quality educational experience for students and their families
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic, and rapidly-changing environment
• Ability to leverage computer software programs and other technology that will support the learning environment

Education and Experience:

• Minimum of three (3) years of demonstrated success in the classroom, preferably within an urban school setting
• Master’s Degree in Education strongly preferred
• Experience in and/or understanding of the public school system or charter schools is desirable

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required such as maneuvering in classrooms and office space-reaching file cabinets, filing, faxing, scanning, coping, typing, mailing, and making phone calls; Must be able to sit for up to two (2) hours looking at a computer monitor, using a keyboard/mouse and typing.

Salary and Bonus Information:

• This role is eligible for a $5,000 bonus as well as up to $5,000 for relocation expenses!
• New-to-Mastery Assistant Principals can expect a starting salary between $108,200 and $125,350, based on experience and education. The full salary range for this role is $108,200 to $137,025, with opportunities for growth as your career progresses. All offers are reviewed individually to ensure equity in compensation and to reflect relevant experience.
• Assistant Principals of Instruction (APIs) lead within their content specialty - opportunities are available as an API of ELA, K-2nd/Early Elementary, or STEM.

#LeadAtMastery

Mastery's Benefits Package:

 

We offer a full benefits program and opportunities for professional growth. Some of our most popular benefits include our 403(b) retirement plan for PA employees (with a 5% match from Mastery for full-time employees), enrollment in the State of New Jersey Pension Plan for NJ employees, a robust Employee Assistance Program, mental health and counseling programs, an annual Professional Development Fund, and discounts and perks at a myriad of retailers, travel organizations, insurance providers, and so much more, as well as access to the HealthAdvocate Helpdesk to help you navigate various benefits-related topics. Please go here to see all of our Benefits offerings!

 

Annual Calendar:

 

As you plan to make Mastery your new work home, please feel free to review our  calendar here . We like to think our calendar is a benefit of working here too!

 

Why You Should Apply:

 

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. Mastery may consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist Mastery's Talent Acquisition Team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.