Assistant Principal

Rocketship Public Schools; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 80,750 - 98,750; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

403b retirement plan

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Rocketship Public Schools in Nashville seeks an Assistant Principal to drive academic achievement and implement the instructional vision. APs work with the Principal, directly manage teachers and support staff, and lead data cycles to improve planning and outcomes.

The role reports to the Principal, supports professional development, and develops a strong school culture with family engagement. Salary ranges apply.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience teaching in an urban city classroom with significant gains.
• Deep knowledge of elementary instruction and planning.
• Strong leadership and personal drive.
• Data-driven, results oriented with high expectations.
• Ability to inspire, motivate and develop others.
• Experience engaging and empowering families.
• Experience building a positive school culture.

Responsibilities

• Develop an effective, college-preparatory culture in every classroom.
• Coach teams to build subject-area expertise and instructional capacity.
• Lead cycles of data-driven instruction and assessments to personalize planning.
• Ensure at least 1.5 years of progress annually for all students.
• Collaborate with Special Education to maximize inclusion and instruction.
• Possibly teach during onboarding and staff model lessons.
• Foster partnerships with students and families through regular engagement.

Skills

Urban classroom leadership

Data-driven decision making

Team coaching

Communication

Strategic planning

Education

BA from accredited university

TN teaching credential

Job description

About Rocketship Public Schools

At Rocketship Public Schools, we believe in the infinite possibility of human potential. We believe that every student deserves the right to dream, to discover, and to develop their unique potential and it is our responsibility and our privilege to unleash the potential inside every Rocketeer we serve. Our non‑profit network of public elementary charter schools propels student achievement, develops exceptional educators, and partners with parents who enable high‑quality public schools to thrive in their community. We are a collective of parents, teachers, leaders, and students working together to transform the future for underserved communities across our country.

Position Description

Assistant Principals (APs) at Rocketship are charged with driving academic achievement for students and building a rigorous college preparatory school culture. Every AP works closely with their Principal to lead and implement the instructional vision with a group of educators. Assistant Principals typically support several grade levels directly, which includes direct management of the teachers on that grade level as well as instructional support staff. APs drive data analysis cycles, regularly observe classrooms, provide continuous feedback, and co‑plan units of study and lesson plans aimed at increasing educator effectiveness and leadership. Rocketship campuses are supported by a school leadership team that includes the Principal, Assistant Principals, and operations team members. APs share responsibility for professional development, culture and behavior in common spaces, and special events. Together, they lead a team of teachers, tutors, enrichment coordinators, and support staff who collectively deliver gap‑closing, personalized instruction to students from pre‑K to fifth grade.

Reports to the Principal and direct reports may include teachers, enrichment center coordinators and tutors. The salary range for this position starts at $80,750.

Our Ideal Candidate

• Believes that adult preparation is essential to student success.
• Has a desire to become an elementary content expert and is eager to use that knowledge to develop teachers who demonstrate excellence in their planning and execution of lessons.
• Understands that eliminating the achievement gap is hard work but deeply rewarding and within their control.

Essential Functions

• Developing Effective Educators: Foster a rigorous and college preparatory culture of excellence in every classroom that ensures high levels of student achievement.
• Coach teams to build subject‑area expertise.
• Engage in cycles of data‑driven instruction and assessments to inform planning and personalize instruction to student needs.
• Ensure at least 1.5 years of progress for all Rocketeers annually through management and planning.
• Collaborate with the Special Education team to ensure teachers receive the necessary support and training to maximize the delivery of instruction in our full‑inclusion model.
• Teaching: Assistants may be required to step in and teach to model for teachers, assist teachers or the school community, or to more deeply internalize the school model. All new Assistants will be expected to teach for three or more weeks as part of onboarding.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Student and Parent Partnership: Build trusting relationships with students and families through frequent communication and embracing parents’ knowledge as their child’s first teacher.
• Create a school community that fully involves parents through home visits, regular community meetings, and parent/family meetings.
• Professional Culture: Exhibit a high level of honest and humble self‑reflection, own outcomes, effectively respond to constructive feedback, and create a healthy, high‑achieving, urgent environment where staff and students feel challenged and valued.
• Promote and participate in collaborative opportunities across schools to share best practices, problem‑solve, and gather feedback.

Required Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience teaching in an urban city classroom and realizing significant gains.
• Deep knowledge of elementary instruction and planning skills.
• Strong leadership skills and personal drive.
• Relentless pursuit of high expectations.
• Result‑oriented and data‑driven.
• Ability to inspire, motivate and develop others.
• Adaptable and able to thrive in a dynamic, fast‑paced environment.
• Ability to engage and empower parents and families.
• Experience in building and maintaining an outstanding school culture.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Strategic planning and project management experience.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Education Requirements

• BA from an accredited university.
• Valid teaching credential in TN or ability to transfer credentialing to TN.

$80,750 - $98,750 a year.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and communicate with both adults and children, use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms, lift up to 50 pounds, and occasionally climb ladders. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is moderate to high.

Compensation

Commensurate with qualifications and experience, plus excellent health and wellness benefits, a 403b retirement plan, flexible spending account (FSA), and generous paid time off.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Rocketship Public Schools provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Rocketship Public Schools complies with applicable state and local laws governing non‑discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Rocketship Public Schools expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Rocketship Public Schools employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated. For sexual harassment policy, consult Rocketship Public Schools’ website. For questions, concerns, or complaints, please contact Human Resources.