Principal; Academy Grand

Position: Principal (Academy Grand)
Description

Position Title: Principal

Department: UCAN Academy and High School

Reports to: Head of Schools

Direct Reports: Special Education Teachers, Teacher Assistants, Behavior Intervention Specialists

Position Objective and Summary:

The principal is responsible for providing visionary leadership to create a safe, supportive, and structured educational environment for students with emotional, behavioral, and learning challenges. This role ensures the integration of academic instruction with therapeutic support, fostering a trauma-informed, inclusive, and student-centered school culture that promotes academic success, emotional growth, and social development.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Culture of Care

• Assists in maintaining an environment for students that is safe, pleasant, considers cultural factors and is directed towards enhancing the students' growth.
• Participates in the development and ensures the implementation of all student's IEPs and behavior and safety plans.
• Maintain a safe, inclusive, and trauma-informed school culture that supports student emotional and behavioral needs.
• Implement and promote Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) initiatives to enhance students' emotional regulation, resilience, and interpersonal skills.
• Develop and oversee the integration of Restorative Justice practices to foster a school culture of accountability, conflict resolution, and community building.
• Lead the implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to encourage positive student behavior and create a proactive and supportive learning environment.
• Collaborate with mental health professionals to integrate therapeutic interventions within the school setting.
• Assists in observing and evaluating the students' behavioral progress.
• Maintains accurate data and outcomes in student management system.
• Uses population specific knowledge and expertise in developing intervention strategies.
• Provides observational feedback and improvement plans as needed for staff on the use of TCI, restorative justice, and behavior management practices.
• Stays up to date on ISBE restraint and time out policy and procedures.
• Performs other related tasks as required or assigned.

Academics

• Works closely with the Assistant Principal of Curriculum and Instruction to support teachers in implementing research-based instructional practices and best practices in pedagogy.
• Evaluates teachers, providing feedback and coaching to improve instruction.
• Researches and implements academic and behavioral interventions to create an effective learning environment.
• Provides leadership and direction to staff about the ongoing evaluation and improvement of educational programs.
• Assists in making programmatic decisions.
• Performs other related tasks as required or assigned.

Supervisory and Administrative

• Provides regular individual supervision to team members and weekly team meetings to ensure students' needs are met in accordance with TCI, best practice standards, and UCAN policy.
• Defines each employee's role and responsibilities within the team.
• Discusses alternative problem solving and is open to new ideas and ways of doing things.
• Resolves staff issues and concerns.
• Recruits, hires, and conducts orientation of assigned staff, including setting and evaluating clear and collaborative individual performance goals for employees.
• Acts as site supervisor.
• Collaborates with school administration team to design and lead professional development sessions.
• Assists in the development and updates of all school policy and procedures.
• Develops, tracks, and analyzes data for school improvement goals, agency data reporting, and Cognia.
• Manages team expenses by following Finance Dept. procedures and budget guidance.
• Manages employee job performance by following HR procedures and documentation requirements for: hiring; job scheduling and assignment; disciplinary actions; recommendations for salaries, raises, promotions, demotions, and terminations.
• Performs other related tasks as required or assigned.

Stakeholders

• Assists in facilitating positive community relations with Academy's stakeholders by responding to students and their families, UCAN staff, service providers and other stakeholders in a timely manner and ensures follow up to adequately address their needs.
• Facilitates and coordinates services/actions between all teams in the school.
• Acts in a professional manner and maintains appropriate boundaries with all stakeholders.
• Participates in staffing meetings, team meetings, supervisory sessions, and other related program meetings, on a regular basis and attends all routine staff meetings.
• Utilizes stakeholder survey results to make program changes to meet the needs of stakeholders.
• Performs other related tasks as required or assigned.

Education/Job Experience/Certification:

• Professional Educator License (PEL) with a Principal Endorsement.
• Professional Educator License (PEL) with a Special Education Endorsement preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years in school setting with some supervisory…