School Principal

Academy Director (School Principal)

At Acceleration Academies, we believe in transforming the lives of students who have disengaged from traditional schooling to achieve their high school diploma through personalized, flexible learning and innovative educational practices. We empower young adults to earn their high school diploma tuition-free. Partnering with school districts nationwide, our dropout recovery and student re-engagement programs are supported by cutting-edge technology and a commitment to compassionate, impactful teaching.

The Role As an Academy Director (School Principal), you will serve as the operational and instructional leader of your academy site(s), ensuring alignment to our mission of helping young adults re-engage with their education and achieve postsecondary success. You will lead a team of educators and support staff, foster a positive and inclusive school culture, and collaborate with district partners and community stakeholders. This role blends strategic oversight with hands-on support, requiring a visionary leader who can coach staff, drive student outcomes, and manage academy operations with excellence.

This role blends strategic leadership with hands-on execution, ideal for someone ready to take the next step into leadership or expand their impact as a school leader. You will partner closely with district leaders, community organizations, and internal teams to ensure your academy delivers on its mission: re-engaging young adults and guiding them toward graduation and postsecondary success.

This is a full-time, in-person position reporting to the Regional Vice President.

Key Responsibilities

Enrollment

• Lead new GC enrollment through recruitment and engagement efforts.
• Lead the implementation of GC Orientation.
• Lead Friday Fidelity Forum meetings focused on data review and collaboration.
• Support the Career Life Coach in the development of Graduation Candidate individual learning pathways and individual support plans to gauge individual Graduation Candidate progress.

Retention

• Train and lead staff in the use of the Retention Cycle Protocol.
• Create and maintain a positive school culture, and lead the instructional and/or operational vision of the Acceleration Academy program.
• Advocate and support site-level incentive programs.
• Use Incite and other Learning Management Systems to track Graduation Candidate progress, assign interventions, and support course completion as determined in individual Graduation Candidate learning pathways.

Academics

• Complete all required data formulation for all AA reports, including local, state, and federal compliance of all ESE and ELL programs.
• Lead the staff in the collection and analysis of data for instructional decision-making.
• Lead the staff in the documentation and tracking of GC progress and the assignment of academic interventions to support on-time course completions as determined by the Personalized Learning Plans for GCs.
• Maintain all required documentation for graduation, including course completion, GPA, and standardized testing requirements.
• Ensure compliance for all ESE and ESOL individualized learning plans.
• Implement weekly workshops that focus on non-academic topics.

Leadership & Advocacy

• Lead and manage staff, keeping them strongly connected to the mission of Acceleration Academies.
• Act as the primary point of contact between the Academy and the District, as well as the Academy and community organizations.
• Oversee positive relationship building and collaboration among staff, Graduation Candidates, and their families.
• Build and maintain community, business, and family partnerships, including facilitating communications with community organizations to support the removal of non-academic barriers for GCs (health, social services, mental health, law enforcement).
• Create schedules for employees to ensure adequate and effective staffing at all sites.
• Provide ongoing feedback and support in the growth and development of all staff members connected to goals and milestones.
• Engage in ongoing professional learning aligned to best practices in charter leadership and educational innovation.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Compliance

• Maintain compliance with the various requirements of the SCPCSD.
• Support academy budget planning and oversee day to day safety practices, in addition to staffing and scheduling, as part of the broader charter compliance picture.

Desired Attributes

• Education: Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in education or a related field preferred.
• Certification: Secondary Principal certification (grades 9-12) required, or actively in process of obtaining it. South Carolina Educator Certification required. SC 4.0 Certified Evaluator experience is a plus.
• Experience: 3 to 5 years of leadership experience with demonstrated effectiveness in a role carrying final decision-making authority (principal, director, CEO, or equivalent). This is not an entry point for first-time principals or assistant-level leaders.
• Skills: A principal mindset with experience owning outcomes; data-driven and systems-oriented leadership with a strong focus on key performance metrics including attendance, course completion, credit attainment, and enrollment; proven ability to implement interventions, manage performance, and drive continuous improvement; and a calming demeanor paired with clear, direct communication and the willingness to initiate candid conversations in service of the team and community, including with people whose backgrounds and identities differ from your own.
• Passion: A deep commitment to serving underserved and historically marginalized communities, and comfort championing alternative education models in a mission-driven, turnaround-style environment.
• Nice to Have: Charter school experience, familiarity with South Carolina's state report card and compliance landscape, and prior experience as a teacher evaluator.

We Value Our Team's Well-being We prioritize the holistic well-being of our team members and their families through comprehensive total rewards:

Competitive Compensation: starts at $85,000

Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan with up to a 4% company match

Comprehensive Insurance Coverage: Medical, Dental, Vision, FSA, Company Paid Life Insurance, Supplemental Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, Hospital Indemnity, Critical Illness, and Accident insurance options are available to protect you and your loved ones.

Flexible Paid Time Off: Encouraging a healthy work-life balance through adaptable FTO.

Wellness Support: Employer-paid financial wellness programs and access to mental health resources

Employee Referral Incentives: Rewarding you for helping us grow our team

Professional Development: Certification reimbursement and ongoing learning opportunities

Bonus Opportunities: Celebrating milestones and achievements

Physical & Work Environment

• Regularly required to sit, talk, hear, and use hands
• Occasionally lift up to 20 pounds
• Work in a collaborative classroom or office setting and may involve exposure to outdoor weather during events
• Occasional travel between nearby academy sites may be required to support student needs or operational coverage

Ready to Make a Difference? If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact and shaping the future of education, we'd love to hear from you. Join us in redefining what's possible for students everywhere.