Assistant Principal - Sage K-8

Job Description

Job Description

The Assistant Principal at Sage K-8 serves as a key member of the school leadership team and supports the Principal in creating a safe, structured, academically focused, and student-centered learning environment. This position is responsible for supporting daily school operations, student behavior systems, instructional leadership, teacher coaching, attendance initiatives, parent communication, compliance, and campus culture.

Because Sage K-8 serves both elementary and middle school students, the Assistant Principal must understand the developmental needs of younger learners while also effectively addressing the increased behavioral, social-emotional, and academic needs of middle-grade students. The ideal candidate is visible, organized, collaborative, calm under pressure, student-focused, and able to balance accountability with compassion.

The Assistant Principal will help ensure Sage K-8 maintains high expectations for student achievement, staff performance, family engagement, school safety, and compliance with district, state, and charter requirements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

School Leadership and Operations

• Assist the Principal in the daily administration and operation of Sage K-8.
• Provide visible leadership before school, during transitions, lunch periods, dismissal, and school events.
• Support the implementation of school-wide systems, procedures, routines, and expectations.
• Assist with campus supervision, safety procedures, emergency drills, crisis response, and student supervision.
• Help ensure the school environment is orderly, welcoming, inclusive, and focused on learning.
• Serve as administrator-in-charge when assigned by the Principal.
• Support master scheduling, student placement, testing coordination, duty schedules, and operational needs.
• Collaborate with the Principal and campus support staff to ensure smooth daily operations.

Student Discipline, Culture, and Behavior Support

• Administer student discipline in a fair, consistent, restorative, and legally compliant manner.
• Investigate student conduct concerns, document incidents, communicate with families, and assign appropriate interventions or consequences.
• Support implementation of positive behavior systems, restorative practices, social-emotional learning, and trauma-informed responses.
• Work with teachers to proactively address classroom management concerns.
• Monitor behavior trends and recommend interventions for individual students and student groups.
• Support students with behavioral challenges while maintaining high expectations for conduct and personal responsibility.
• Ensure discipline practices are developmentally appropriate for both elementary and middle school students.
• Utilize de-escalation strategies and trauma-informed responses when addressing student behavioral or crisis situations.
• Serve as part of a collaborative campus support team with the Principal and social worker to identify student needs, coordinate interventions, monitor progress, and respond to barriers impacting student success.

Instructional Leadership and Teacher Support

• Conduct classroom walkthroughs and provide timely, constructive feedback to teachers.
• Assist the Principal with teacher coaching, instructional improvement, and professional development.
• Support implementation of curriculum, intervention systems, formative assessment practices, and instructional expectations.
• Help teachers use student achievement data to improve instruction and identify students needing academic support.
• Participate in teacher evaluation processes as assigned and consistent with district policy.
• Support new teachers through onboarding, mentoring, classroom management assistance, and regular check-ins.
• Promote instructional practices that are engaging, standards-aligned, culturally responsive, and appropriate for K-8 learners.

Attendance, Student Engagement, and Retention

• Monitor student attendance, chronic absenteeism, tardiness, and disengagement.
• Work with families, teachers, counselors, social workers, and support staff to develop attendance improvement plans.
• Assist with student retention strategies by helping create a school environment where students feel connected, supported, and academically successful.
• Support re-engagement efforts for students who are frequently absent, struggling behaviorally, or at risk of withdrawal.
• Collaborate with interventionists, counselors, and support teams to identify and address barriers impacting student success.

Family and Community Engagement

• Communicate regularly and professionally with parents and guardians regarding student progress, behavior, attendance, and school expectations.
• Participate in parent meetings, student support meetings, disciplinary conferences, and school events.
• Build positive relationships with families while maintaining professional boundaries and accountability.
• Help families understand school procedures, expectations, available supports, and student responsibilities.
• Represent Sage K-8 and Career Success Schools in a professional and positive manner.

Compliance and Student Support Services

• Support compliance with district policies, charter requirements, state regulations, and student records procedures.
• Assist with implementation and monitoring of 504 plans, IEP-related supports, MTSS processes, and student intervention plans in coordination with appropriate staff.
• Ensure documentation related to discipline, attendance, parent communication, safety incidents, and interventions is accurate and timely.
• Participate in required reporting, audits, investigations, and compliance reviews as assigned.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding student, family, personnel, and school matters.

Staff Culture and Professional Expectations

• Model professionalism, ethical conduct, emotional maturity, and respectful communication.
• Support a positive staff culture grounded in accountability, teamwork, and student-centered decision-making.
• Assist in addressing staff concerns, performance issues, and professional conduct matters as directed by the Principal.
• Promote collaboration among teachers, support staff, families, and district leadership.
• Maintain calm, solution-focused leadership during conflict or crisis situations.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Educational Leadership, Administration, Curriculum and Instruction, or related field preferred.
• Valid Arizona Principal Certificate or eligibility for Arizona administrative certification strongly preferred.
• Valid Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card.
• Minimum of three to five years of successful teaching or school-based instructional experience.
• Demonstrated ability to manage student discipline and support positive school culture.
• Strong understanding of K-8 instruction, student development, classroom management, and school operations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with students, families, teachers, support staff, and district leadership.
• Experience in a charter school, alternative school, urban school, or high-needs school environment preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience as an assistant principal, dean of students, instructional coach, lead teacher, or school administrator.
• Experience with K-8 student discipline and restorative practices.
• Experience supporting teachers through observation, coaching, and feedback.
• Knowledge of MTSS, special education procedures, 504 processes, attendance intervention, and student support systems.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred but not required.
• Experience working with diverse student populations and families.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong judgment and decision-making skills.
• Ability to remain calm and professional under pressure.
• Strong classroom management and student behavior expertise.
• Ability to balance student support with accountability.
• Ability to analyze data and use it to improve student outcomes.
• Strong organizational and follow-through skills.
• Ability to build trust with students, families, and staff.
• Ability to communicate difficult information clearly and professionally.
• Commitment to the mission of Career Success Schools and the success of Sage K-8 students.

Physical and Work Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, and move throughout the campus for extended periods.
• Ability to respond quickly to student supervision, safety, and emergency situations.
• Ability to work occasional evenings or weekends for school events, family meetings, or district activities.
• Ability to use standard office equipment, student information systems, and school communication platforms.
• Ability to collaborate effectively as part of a campus support team focused on student achievement, wellness, and intervention services.