School Director, Elementary (K-8)

The Queen City Difference 

We expect academic and character excellence from QCACS students, and our leaders help foster a dynamic learning environment where students receive the necessary preparation and support to rise to that challenge. Therefore, our leaders are instructional leaders and coaches to a dynamic teaching force. Teacher recruitment at QCACS is a vitally important process through which we seek to attract and retain educators with an immediately discernible passion for helping children meet their highest potential. Educators work in a collegial setting where the faculty and administration collaborate to ensure a high-quality education experience for students, while benefiting from supportive parent partners who are deeply committed to their children’s success. 

QCACS is a place where people enter to learn and work but experience the fulfillment of a family atmosphere as they are inducted into our nurturing yet challenging environment. Our employees enjoy competitive salaries, benefits, merit pay opportunities, and pension. More importantly, they enjoy the privilege of educating in a place where they are supported professionally and personally. 

Diverse Learning Community 

At QCACS we are committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive learning community, which is integral to our school culture and included in our social justice education. QCACS has developed a plan that focuses recruitment of a diverse team of culturally sensitive faculty and staff. Prospective staff must demonstrate cultural and racial awareness and provide examples of their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We strive to create a learning environment that exposes students to a breadth of differences, informs their perspective, and prepares them to shape the world. QCACS is an equal opportunity employer. 

The Position 

The School Director must be a visionary instructional leader. Having read the mission and vision of QCACS, you embrace these values, principles, and methods. In our small school, you are expected to engage with each student and recognize them as individuals. As a senior leader at QCACS, you are a champion for QCACS and hold high academic expectations by working to cultivate a community of continuous learning that is grounded in principles of equity and cultural relevance. 

Collaborative Leadership 

The CEO and Director will work together to implement the vision and ensure the school meets its mission and academic goals. Although many duties will overlap, the CEO’s focus is on the operational side and the Director’s focus is on the day-to-day operations, academics and school culture. Together, they will: 

• Develop and sustain a school culture that embodies a strong sense of community through collaborative academic coursework, community service, leadership opportunities, and character development.
• Establish and facilitate an atmosphere of individual growth and mutual respect. 
• Establish collaborative partnerships with community agencies that service the school community
• Work with Union County College to implement the Early /Dual Enrollment Program
• Build strong relationships with parents, families, and the community. 
• Ensure equity and high expectations across the school. 
• Promote a culture of trust, where risk-taking and reflection are valued. 

Responsibilities 

• Hire instructional staff.
• Collaborate on the development of the curriculum and instructional model with the CEO and curriculum consultants. 
• Support the design of a school building that is best suited for our teaching and learning model.
• Create school policies, systems, and structures that will support the development of a learning environment that fits with QCACS’ core beliefs.
• Connect the school community with the larger educational community, including other charter, public, and independent schools in New Jersey.
• Work in collaboration to plan professional development including summer institute for new staff.
• Welcome all students and families and get to know them by going to advisory meetings, learning exhibitions, and most school events. 
• Inspire teachers to be deeply engaged in the difficult work of increasing achievement.
• Support and encourage advisor/teachers about their roles; engage and consult teachers as co-leaders and decision makers; and help them develop their leadership skills in support of the school’s mission and continued growth. 
• Engage with families and develop authentic relationships, so they don’t fear a call from the School Leader.
• Encourage others to make decisions that are right for them by being supportive, not authoritarian; but be able to make occasional tough decisions. 
• Work in conjunction with the CEO and Hiring team to recruit and hire a diverse, high-quality staff that shares the vision and mission of QCACS; recognize the qualities in staff that make them suitable for QCACS; consult with the Executive Director and Board members regarding initial hires. 
• Develop and implement a collaborative method of evaluation to provide ongoing feedback for staff that leads to constant professional improvement. Lead and empower teachers to use student achievement data to reflect on teaching practices and make formal and informal decisions about instruction. 
• Collaboratively develop, plan, and implement engaging professional development for all staff; seek opportunities to engage appropriate outside services where needed. 
• Assume responsibility for evaluating student learning by collecting and analyzing a variety of qualitative and quantitative information; employ the results to continually improve learning and engagement among all students. 
• With families, students and staff, implement and maintain high standards of excellence.
• The Director is ultimately responsible for all achievement and programming at their respective campus 

Qualifications 

Ideal candidates will have most of the following qualifications: 

• NJDOE Professional Certificate with an endorsement as Principal/ Supervisor. 
• A minimum of eight years of teaching plus school-based administrative or supervisory experience. Demonstrated ability to model shared/distributed leadership; experience leading a professional learning community; and the ability to inspire a team around a progressive vision. 
• Strong technology skills relating to blended learning, data analysis, and communications.
• Experience in project-based, interdisciplinary learning models and willingness to embrace innovative pedagogy that supports whole child development. 
• Clear and compelling verbal and written communication.

Characteristics of a successful Director 

• Entrepreneurial spirit and ability to work in a fast-paced, startup environment. 
• Great follow through skills: say what you mean and do what you promise to do. 
• Ability to build relationships with a diverse group of constituents, including involving families and community members in all phases of the school program. 
• Demonstrated commitment to the belief that all children can achieve success, in the quality of their academic work and in working together for a common goal. 
• Commitment to creating a place where everybody knows each other, respects and admires individual differences, and embraces people pursuing their passions. 
• Reflective, resourceful, willingness to listen, humility, flexibility and a sense of humor.
• Strong personal commitment to diversity, inclusion, cultural competency and equity; experience with programs and practices in this area, a recognition of one’s own biases; and experience working in urban communities. • Holding him/herself to the same high standards expected of faculty, staff, and students. 

About QCACS 

The Queen City Academy Charter School is the first charter school located in Plainfield, New Jersey. QCACS currently serves 506 scholars in grades K-12. Our mission is to create lifelong learners and equip staff with the opportunities to successfully shape and transform lives by cultivating learners that possess the ability to be critical-thinkers and demonstrate leadership skills required to continuously open new doors which create generational successes. All staff are expected to be committed to the mission of QCACS, have a positive and professional attitude, exhibit a strong work ethic (including a willingness to work long hours) and possess an inner drive for personal and professional excellence. The Queen City Academy Charter School of Plainfield is an equal opportunity employer.

This position offers a competitive salary range of $100,000 – $150,000.