Elementary Assistant School Leader (Queens)

Mission Statement:  The Growing Up Green Charter School (GUGCS) supports children to be conscious, contributing members of their community through a rigorous, anti-racist, anti-bias, curriculum and an engaging green culture. Graduates of GUGCS will be prepared to attend high-performing schools where their interdisciplinary academic foundation, knowledge of sustainability, and strong sense of self sets them apart as leaders and social justice advocates of the future.

School Culture: GUGCS teaches students our school culture through our core values: Social Justice, Collaboration, Courage, and Kindness.  Students are taught the core values through assemblies, class meetings, and various lessons.

Summary: The GUGCS Assistant School Leader is responsible for working with the School Leader to set a vision for accelerating student achievement in the school and for motivating the school staff to follow that vision. They will implement the school’s mission through effective leadership, management, and support of all faculty, staff and students at Growing Up Green. Along with the School Leader, the Assistant School Leader will lead an instructional program and school environment that prepares every student for success. The Assistant School Leader reports directly to the School Leader.

School Mission and Governance:

• Guide and support the Growing Up Green school community in fulfilling its mission and charter goals
• Establish and maintain ongoing positive relationships and constructive interactions with students, families, colleagues and administration across all Growing Up Green schools
• Demonstrate commitment to working with diverse populations of families and students and model behavior which depicts respect and a feeling for the dignity and worth for all students
• Assist in long term strategic planning and goal setting as needed

Curricular Program and Instructional Leadership:

• Support the development and refinement of comprehensive, standards-aligned units of study.
• Lead data analysis cycles to inform instructional planning and ensure effective differentiation to meet diverse student needs.
• Supervise and develop teachers across the school, including coaching a caseload of teachers. Supervision includes frequent walkthroughs, formal and informal observations, coaching meetings, actionable feedback, and follow-up.
• Supervise and develop instructional leaders (e.g., grade-level leads, coaches) through observation of coaching meetings, feedback on leadership practice, and targeted professional development.
• Ensure use of effective, research-based teaching methodologies and practices
• Keep abreast of successful instructional methodologies and practices
• Ensure learning environment and classroom instruction maximizes student learning

Assessment and Student Achievement:

• Partner with the School Leader and Assessment Team to monitor, analyze, and respond to student performance data (including State exams, interim assessments, and formative and summative measures) to ensure progress toward goals outlined in the GUGCS charter.
• Drive analysis of student and teacher performance data to identify trends, close achievement gaps, and strengthen instructional practice and teacher development.
• Analyze school-based data related to faculty, staff, families, and school culture to inform decisions that improve student outcomes and overall school effectiveness.
• Lead the review, revision, and quality control of student report cards and progress reports to ensure accuracy, clarity, and alignment to standards and expectations.
• Lead Promotion in Doubt (PID) processes to ensure decisions are data-informed, equitable, and clearly communicated to families.
• Monitor and advance progress toward personal, faculty, and schoolwide goals through structured cycles of self-reflection, coaching, observation, and data analysis.

School Community and Culture:

• Foster a school climate that supports community success and promotes respect and appreciation for all students, staff, and families in alignment with the mission and values of Growing Up Green
• Communicate the vision and model the practices that support Growing Up Green’s mission and core values
• Support, model, and consistently promote GUGCS’s beliefs around the Responsive Classroom approach
• Work closely with the School Leader, the Director of Counseling, and the Director of Support Services in providing academic, emotional, and behavior support for students and families
• Manage and supervise the logistics of all school events, field trips, and overnight trips
• Supervise and develop the dean and counseling team and take the lead on school culture initiatives. 

Family Engagement and Community Outreach:

• Manage the scheduling and organization of Family Conferences with the support of the School Leader and the Associate Director of Operations
• Develop and lead parent workshops around Growing Up Green's mission and core values, its philosophy on teaching and learning, and its goals related to school programs and student performance
• Use multiple means of communication to engage families in supporting learning at home
• Seek family and community partnerships to support the growth and development of GUGCS

Operations, Personnel, and Enrollment:

• Foster a mutually supportive relationship with the Executive Director, the Chief Academic Officer, and the School Leader and shared administrative team
• Assist in the recruitment, development, and retainment of coordinators, teachers, and non-instructional staff
• Assist in the processes and practices related to student recruitment, retention, enrollment and class placement
• Assist in purchasing and budgeting throughout the year

Related Professional Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain student and staff schedules
• Support with maintaining discipline structures and protocols for the school
• Supports the day-to-day operations of the school building (such as coverage schedules, assessment, presence in common spaces and classrooms)
• Supports the creation of weekly staff and family newsletter communications/publications
• Actively help establish and participate in the school community through weekly staff meetings, PD opportunities, staff committees, school events, etc.
• Attend workshops and conferences to support the growth of GUGCS and remain current about issues related to educational leadership, school environment, family engagement and student performance and growth
• Fulfill duties, responsibilities, and commitments as outlined in the GUGCS faculty handbook
• Assume any other duties from time to time as delegated by the Chief Academic Officer and/or the Executive Director and/or the School Leader (note: Chief Academic Officer and/or the School Leader may make any adjustment in the scope of responsibilities as outlined above which will be in the interest of Growing Up Green

Minimum Qualifications:

• Deep commitment to Growing Up Green Charter School’s mission, vision, and core values of kindness, collaboration, and social justice
• Minimum of five years of teaching experience
• Minimum of five years of leadership experience in an elementary school setting
• Demonstrated success coaching, managing, and developing adults
• Proven track record of using data to drive instructional improvement, strengthen systems, and improve student outcomes
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative teams and foster a culture of growth, learning, and accountability
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Knowledge of Responsive Classroom and/or Developmental Designs
• Experience with environmental or sustainability-focused education
• Starting Salary is $120,000 (salary scale commensurate with experience in the role as well as level of education achieved)

Education:

• Master’s Degree Required
• School Building Leadership (SBL) certificate preferred
• Ed.M, J.D., M.A. preferred

Required Certificates & Licenses:

• NYC DOE/Fingerprinting & Background Clearance