Director of Instruction and Student Support; equivalent of Assistant Principal or Assistant

Chicago Jesuit Academy is a tuition-free Jesuit school for young women and men from resilient communities impacted by historical disinvestment. The Academy is distinguished by a small student-teacher ratio and an extended academic day to prepare students for success in high-performing high schools, universities, and positions of community leadership. Chicago Jesuit Academy helps students develop as young women and men who are open to growth, religious, seeking intellectual excellence, loving, and committed to doing justice in the service of others, in accord with the Jesuit mission and tradition.

The school’s success in its mission is made possible by the disciplined commitments of our students, families, faculty, staff, volunteers, and benefactors.

Students who attend Chicago Jesuit Academy (CJA) will be the next generation of leaders. Talented people who wish to be employed by Chicago Jesuit Academy must demonstrate a past and continued commitment to academic excellence, professional development, and the Jesuit ideal of being people for others. Strong candidates are disciplined workers, compassionate listeners, and tireless advocates for the children they serve.

Most importantly, they recognize that Chicago Jesuit Academy will ask them to approach their work as a vocation and make substantial contributions of their time and talents in the service of the students, alumni, and families of CJA.

As an instructional leader, the Director of Instruction and Student Support (Assistant Head of School) provides collaborative leadership and support for an equitable high quality educational program for all students. The Assistant Head of School works within our school-side professional learning community to support instructional programs, strengthen teaching strategies, and implement formative assessments that support mastery of grade level standards. Through this work, the Assistant Head of School ensures that all students (including English Learners, diverse learners, and students receiving Tier II and Tier III interventions in relation to academic and/or social-emotional learning) meet ambitious annual growth goals that will ultimately allow each child to manifest the values of a Graduate at Graduation per the Jesuit tradition.

The Director of Instruction and Student Support is appointed by the Head of School with the approval of the President and serves under the direct supervision of the Head of School. The Assistant Head of School works in concert with the Head of School, Director of Programs, and Director of Mission and Ministry to establish, refine, and develop an instructional program that allows all students to strive for academic excellence.

The Director of Instruction and Student Support will:

• Ensure student access to standards‑aligned instructional materials through curriculum, instruction, and resources for mixed‑grade, co‑taught classes;
• Support the identification of appropriate instructional strategies and interventions to improve student achievement for all students including English Learners and students with diverse learning needs;
• Lead the implementation of Responsive Classroom and restorative practices to support student achievement, including within a co‑teaching model and mixed‑grade classes;
• Respond to student behavior, attendance, and parent partnership needs;
• Communicate regularly with parents about student performance and behavior;
• In the spirit of ensuring that all CJA graduates hold a strong foundation in the Graduate at Graduation values, hold responsibility for the disciplinary situations that may arise for students, maintaining accurate records of such discipline;
• Evaluate the effectiveness of instructional initiatives and practices, including regular assessment and monitoring of student progress using objective and verifiable information;
• Assist in coordination of school‑wide assessments;
• Assist in the formal evaluation of instructional staff according to the Danielson Framework for Teaching;
• Provide professional learning on best instructional practices and associated resources in support of improving the instructional program and co‑teaching;
• Provide instructional coaching to…