Founding High School Principal SY

Founding High School Director

The American Dream Charter School II is launching a new dual-language high school in the Washington Heights section of New York City, serving English language learners and immigrant students. This founding role offers a rare opportunity to build a high school from the ground up - shaping its academic vision, culture, systems, and community partnerships from day one.

We are seeking a bilingual, bold, and entrepreneurial school leader who is energized by the challenge of building something new and meaningful. The Founding High School Director will serve as the instructional, cultural, and organizational architect of the school, designing rigorous bilingual programming, cultivating a strong college-going culture, and ensuring students graduate prepared to lead confidently in both Spanish and English.

This is an extraordinary opportunity to launch a new dual-language High School that continues the ADS legacy of Diversity, Respect, Empowerment, Advocacy, and Motivation, in partnership with Network Leadership and the Washington Heights community.

This role is ideal for a leader who:

• Is excited by founding work and understands that not all systems will exist on day one
• Sees ambiguity as an opportunity and enjoys designing structures, processes, and culture intentionally
• Takes ownership and initiative, not just direction
• Balances big-picture vision with day-to-day execution
• Is deeply committed to bilingualism, equity, and serving immigrant communities

This is a hands‑on leadership role for someone ready to build, lead, and grow alongside a new school community.

The School Director will lead with purpose and collaboration to ensure academic excellence, strong school culture, and operational alignment in service of the ADS mission.

• Lead with purpose and conviction, ensuring that every student receives a high-quality bilingual-bicultural education grounded in the values of Diversity, Respect, Empowerment, Advocacy, and Motivation.
• Design, launch, and grow a new dual-language high school, building academic, cultural, and operational systems that foster excellence, inclusivity, and belonging.
• Supervise and support teachers, staff, and instructional teams to ensure alignment across academic, operational, and cultural priorities.
• Develop and oversee instructional programs that drive student success in Regents, college readiness, and bilingual proficiency.
• Cultivate strong partnerships with families, community organizations, and local leaders to strengthen engagement and support for students in Community School District 6.
• Model visionary leadership, integrity, and collaboration while building a joyful and mission-driven school culture.
• Ensure operational and regulatory excellence, maintaining compliance with state, network, and charter requirements.

• Design and implement the school’s academic and cultural blueprint, ensuring alignment with ADS’s dual language model while adapting it for the high school context.
• Recruit, hire, and develop a team of educators and staff who are mission-aligned, culturally responsive, and committed to bilingual excellence.
• Collaborate with network leadership to build sustainable systems for growth, accountability, and long-term success as additional grades are added.
• Establish operational and instructional structures that promote consistency, transparency, and collaboration across classrooms and departments.
• Develop the school’s identity- its traditions, voice, and community partnerships—rooted in the belief that bilingualism and biculturalism are assets that empower students to lead.
• Lead strategic planning for school growth, including facilities, enrollment, and resource management, ensuring that every decision aligns with ADS’s mission and the needs of the Washington Heights community.

• Lead the design and implementation of a rigorous dual language program that promotes biliteracy, critical thinking, and high achievement.
• Oversee curriculum and assessments aligned with New York State standards and the ADS dual language framework.
• Coach and support teachers through regular feedback and…