CONTRACT ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL

Montgomery-Public-Schools; Birmingham (AL); On-site; USD 97,000 - 123,000; Full time

Job summary

Birmingham City Schools is seeking a Turnaround Principal to provide leadership and administration that motivates instructional and support staff to achieve superior student growth and development. The role demands urgency in closing achievement gaps and accountability for results.

The successful candidate will guide instructional leadership, operations, family/community engagement and professional development, aligning people, time and resources to improve outcomes for all students in a busy

Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in Educational Administration/Leadership.
• Alabama Professional Educator Certificate in Educational Leadership.
• Minimum teaching experience and leadership roles as described.

Responsibilities

• Lead turnaround initiatives to raise student achievement and staff performance.
• Support curriculum alignment and evidence-based instructional practices.
• Develop professional development and coaching for teachers and leaders.
• Oversee operations, budget, staffing, and compliance with policies.

Skills

Leadership

Data analysis

Coaching adults

Educational administration

Strategic planning

Education

Master's degree in Educational Administration/Leadership

Alabama Professional Educator Certificate in School Administration/Educational Leadership

3+ years teaching experience

2-3 years as Assistant Principal or 1 year as Principal with coaching experience

Background check suitability required

Job description

JOB TITLE

Contract Principal

REPORTS TO

Instructional Superintendent

WORK DAYS

12 Months (240 Days)

SALARY

Certified Salary Schedule CE ($97,061 - $122,944) Depending on degree level (recognized by ALSDE)

LOCATION

TBD

FLSA Status

EXEMPT X NON EXEMPT

The students of Birmingham City Schools need your talent, expertise, passion and leadership.

We are seeking highly motivated and innovative practitioners to join our team at Birmingham City Schools (BCS). We seek individuals who are radically relentless about re-envisioning the landscape of public education in Birmingham, Alabama and making a significant difference in the lives of public school students, parents, school leaders, teachers, and central office employees.

BCS serves approximately 22,000 students in the most populous city in the U.S. state of Alabama through the efforts of 2,710 employees in 42 school sites and other district service centers. As part of a comprehensive transformation effort to become the most improved and preeminent urban school system in the U.S., BCS intends to develop the highest-performing, competitively compensated, most fulfilled and revered educator workforce in the nation and a central office staff known for its support and service which drives instructional excellence and significant outcomes for ALL BCS students in every school.

POSITION OVERVIEW

We believe that all students can achieve at the highest levels and are committed to providing opportunities that will permit all students to do so. The BCS Turnaround Principal will provide leadership and administration, which will motivate instructional and support personnel to strive for superior performance to provide the best possible opportunities for student growth and development, both educationally and personally. To accomplish this, we need inspiring leaders who:

• Are passionate about student achievement and closing the opportunity gap.’
• Believe that the urgency of closing this gap is too great to accept excuses of any kind.
• Motivate and support their teachers and staff while holding all adults in the building accountable for ensuring student success.

Instructional Leadership

• Lead the school’s vision, mission, and strategic goals to support college-readiness and academic and socioemotional success for all students;
• Will innovate, challenge the status quo and look for new ways of driving improvement within the local school via the engagement and partnership of multiple stakeholders;
• Drive rapid and dramatic instructional improvements by implementing strategies in line with the priority areas identified in the school improvement plan;
• Support and supervise the design of rigorous, standards-based instruction with measurable outcomes;
• Implement an observation and feedback cycle that ensures continuous improvement in teaching and learning;
• Analyze student achievement results to identify areas of need and inform school improvement efforts;
• Develop and implement a professional development plan to address identified areas of need; and
• Develop a collegial environment that supports teacher leadership, collaboration, and growth.

Management and Operations

• Ensure a safe and nurturing environment for students, staff, and families;
• Oversee the recruitment and hiring of diverse, highly-qualified staff;
• Strategically align people, time and money to drive student achievement;
• Apply teacher and staff performance management systems in a way that ensures a culture of continuous improvement, support, and accountability;
• Oversee the operations of the school in partnership with other allocated leadership staff; and
• Comply with all state and federal laws, policies, and collective bargaining agreements.

Family and Community Engagement

• Actively advocate for and engage family and community;
• Strengthen teacher and staff capacity to cultivate and sustain meaningful partnerships with families of diverse backgrounds and with community members that support student achievement and student well-being; and
• Manage partnerships.

JOB EXPECTATIONS

• Are focused on results and have proven success in increasing student achievement and adult performance in a designated turnaround and/or high poverty/Title I school;
• Influence and motivate others to reach their potential;
• Are solution-oriented and creative problem solvers with experience in data analysis and creating and managing systems;
• Set high expectations and communicate them to a variety of stakeholders;
• Understand, communicate and effectively interact with people across cultures;
• Continually reflect and seek feedback to improve their practice;
• Have demonstrated perseverance in their career and education;
• Thrive in a fast-paced, high-pressure, and change-oriented environment; and
• Possess strong pedagogical skills and are highly effective at coaching adults.

QUALIFICATIONS

SUCH ALTERNATIVES TO THE ABOVE QUALIFICATIONS AS THE BOARD MAY REQUIRE.

• A Master's Degree or higher with a major in Educational Administration/Leadership from an accredited institution.
• A valid Alabama Professional Educator Certificate in the field of School Administration/Educational Leadership.
• Successful high school principal experience preferred; minimum of middle/junior high school leadership experience required.
• At least three (3) years successful teaching experience.
• 2-3 years as an Assistant Principal; or 1year experience as a School Principal; or 1 year as an Assistant Principal with 3-4 years of Instructional Coaching experience preferred
• Must participate in background check and subsequently meet the “suitability for employment” requirement.
• Such alternative and additions to the above qualifications as may be deemed appropriate by the Superintendent.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Physical strength, mobility, dexterity, stamina, and acuity are required to perform job responsibilities.

REVISED

May 2026

PLEASE NOTE

All candidates must submit to a background check (https://fieldprintalabama.com/individuals). Employment is contingent upon candidate meeting suitability criteria as established by Alabama State Department of Education. The Birmingham Board of Education does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religious preference, marital status, disability, national origin, or any other reason prohibited by state or federal law. Employees of the District are required to comply with the provisions of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments. Birmingham Board of Education is required by state law to verify the employment eligibility of newly hired employees by using the federal E-Verify program. New employees are required to provide a Social Security number, an unexpired identity document that contains a photograph, and other acceptable documents that establish employment eligibility. In addition to determining whether a new hire is authorized to work in the United States, E-Verify will confirm that the employee's name and Social Security number match.