Middle School Academic Director; Principal Pool

Uplift

Education:

Middle School Academic Director (Principal) Pool (26-27) Mission Statement

Uplift's mission is to create and sustain public schools of excellence that empower each student to reach their highest potential in college and the global marketplace and to inspire in students a life‑long love of learning, achievement, and service in order to positively change their world.

The Middle School Academic Director is the leader of the school and, in conjunction with the Operations Director, is responsible for all aspects of running the school. The Director sets the instructional and academic vision for the school, aligned with Uplift's IB vision for excellence. The Director establishes and maintains a supportive, respectful learning environment and guides the school leadership team to develop campus talent for strong academic and cultural outcomes, partnering with campus and network leaders to realize Uplift's mission.

• Develop and execute a strategic vision for the school that aligns with network priorities
• Establish and maintain a culture of continuous improvement
• Outline clear goals and strategies to improve scholar outcomes through teacher and staff effectiveness
• Maintain a shared vision of success for staff members and scholars
• Serve as a visible campus leader in the community with families, partners, and board members

• Establish and implement systems to assess school-wide instructional practice regularly and effectively
• Coach and develop Deans, teacher leaders, and a portfolio of teachers
• Observe staff regularly and provide targeted feedback
• Monitor progress of teams through debriefs, observations, and data reviews
• Create, deliver, and manage professional development aligned with campus priorities
• Facilitate data meetings and action planning with leadership and key teams
• Analyze and synthesize data to plan effective course corrections

• Establish school norms for people management and development
• Recruit, hire, mentor, and retain high‑quality staff
• Define expectations and goals to ensure operations and goals are fulfilled
• Provide day‑to‑day coaching and feedback
• Guide professional development planning for direct reports
• Conduct rigorous performance evaluations and observe employee performance
• Supervise discipline situations and make decisions on termination or suspension

• Ensure student handbook and Code of Conduct are published and applied in compliance with guidelines
• Enforce consistent discipline and restorative practices
• Support Deans in meetings with parents, scholars, and teachers
• Facilitate high‑priority meetings for violations, including expulsion recommendations
• Create systems for scholar services and management
• Encourage strong family relationships and community involvement

• Model high ethical standards, integrity, and professional conduct
• Engage in learning opportunities for holistic leadership development
• Attend network leadership meetings, academies, and conferences
• Apply learned practices and share findings with network leaders

• Manage people and financial resources to support school goals
• Use funds in compliance with guidelines to achieve objectives
• Establish structures and systems for scholar and teacher management
• Coordinate daily school activities with leadership and staff

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university required. Master’s degree desirable.
• Valid teaching or principal certificate in Texas preferred.
• Minimum five years of educational experience, with at least two at the middle school instruction level.
• Minimum three years as a Dean or Assistant Principal.
• Teaching or leadership experience at an IB World School preferred.
• Prior experience leading a school through IB authorization or evaluation preferred.

• Excellent oral and written communication, able to present to management, public groups, and boards.
• Bilingual (Spanish) preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and common…