Co-Principal, Middle School

Gary Community School Corporation; Gary (IN); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Gary Community School Corporation seeks a Middle School Co-Principal to serve as the instructional leader and culture architect. The role emphasizes advancing academic excellence, high-quality instruction, and a safe, inclusive climate, aligned to district priorities.

The position requires leading curriculum, instruction, assessment, staff development, and operational systems while promoting equity, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in education or related field.
• Minimum of five years of successful teaching experience.
• Demonstrated supervisory/administrative experience in a secondary school preferred.
• Must hold or be eligible Professional Educators and Building Level administrative License.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the instructional leader for the middle school, driving rigorous curriculum and high-impact practices.
• Leads curriculum, assessment systems, and instructional strategies implementation and evaluation.
• Uses data to drive decisions, close achievement gaps, and improve student outcomes.
• Sets clear academic goals aligned to district priorities with measurable progress.
• Conducts frequent classroom observations and provides actionable feedback to teachers.
• Develops and implements professional learning aligned to priorities and school improvement goals.

Skills

Verbal & written comms

Data-driven decisions

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Master's degree in education/administration

Five years teaching experience

Administrative supervisory experience

Job description

PURPOSE STATEMENT

The Middle School Co-Principal serves as the instructional leader and lead culture architect of the school. The Co-Principal is responsible for advancing academic excellence, ensuring high-quality instruction, fostering a safe and inclusive school climate, and serving as a transformational change agent aligned to district strategic priorities.

The Co-Principal provides visionary leadership to promote the academic, social, emotional, and post-secondary success of every student. The role requires leading curriculum, instruction, assessment, staff development, and operational systems while cultivating a positive, high-expectations culture grounded in accountability, equity, and continuous improvement.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The list of duties and responsibilities is illustrative only, and is not a comprehensive listing of all the duties and responsibilities performed by this position.

Instructional Leadership & Academic Excellence

• Serves as the primary instructional leader of the middle school, ensuring rigorous, standards-aligned curriculum and high-impact instructional practices.
• Leads the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of curriculum, assessment systems, and instructional strategies.
• Uses data to drive instructional decisions, close achievement gaps, and improve student outcomes.
• Establishes clear academic goals aligned to district priorities and ensures measurable progress toward those goals.
• Conducts frequent classroom observations and provides actionable feedback to teachers to improve instructional practice.
• Develops and implements professional learning aligned to instructional priorities and school improvement goals.

Culture & Climate Leadership

• Serves as a change agent to strengthen school culture, climate, and adult professional norms.
• Establishes and maintains a safe, respectful, and student-centered learning environment.
• Builds a culture of high expectations, accountability, and belonging for students and staff.
• Implements restorative, fair, and proactive discipline systems aligned to district policy.
• Leads staff in developing shared ownership of school improvement initiatives.
• Models professionalism, integrity, and ethical leadership in all interactions.

Leadership & Management

• Supervises and evaluates all certified and classified staff assigned to the school.
• Recruits, selects, supports, and retains high-quality staff aligned to district expectations.
• Establishes building-level systems and procedures to ensure efficient school operations.
• Oversees school budget development and fiscal management in alignment with district guidelines.
• Ensures compliance with district policies, state regulations, and applicable federal laws.
• Collaborates with central office departments including academics, special education, transportation, safety, and operations.
• Keeps the Chief Academic Officer informed of significant events, progress toward goals, and emerging challenges.

Family & Community Engagement

• Develops and sustains positive partnerships with families, community members, and stakeholders.
• Communicates school goals, performance data, and expectations clearly and consistently.
• Promotes community engagement initiatives that support student success and post-secondary readiness.

School Improvement & Accountability

• Leads the development, implementation, and monitoring of the School Improvement Plan.
• Analyzes academic, attendance, graduation, and discipline data to drive continuous improvement.
• Aligns building practices with district strategic initiatives and accountability measures.
• Makes recommendations to the Chief Academic Officer regarding instructional programming and school operations.

Additional Responsibilities

• Prepares and supervises required reports, records, and documentation.
• Maintains regular attendance and punctuality.
• Performs other duties as assigned to ensure an efficient and effective school environment.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

All certified and classified personnel assigned to the middle school, including instructional, support, and operational staff.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge of:

• Secondary and/or middle school education curriculum and instruction techniques.
• Supervising school finances and allocation of funds.

Skill in:

• Using a computer and related software applications.
• Using modern office equipment.

Ability to:

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, students, parents, and the community.
• Demonstrate effective verbal and written communication skills.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

A Master's degree in education, educational administration or a related area from an accredited college or university. A minimum of five (5) years of successful teaching experience. Demonstrated supervisory (administrative) experience in a secondary school preferred.Previous administrative/supervisory experience.

CERTIFICATION

Must hold or be eligible Professional Educators and Building Level administrative License.

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 job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.