Principal Elementary SY2026-27 (NBOE)

Newark Public Schools; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 135,300 - 169,500; Full time

Job summary

Newark Board of Education in Newark, NJ seeks an Elementary School Principal to lead a school’s instructional program, culture, and operations. The role emphasizes equity, community engagement, and data‑driven decision making, with collaboration to ensure student success and staff development.

The Principal will manage budgeting, staff evaluation, and district policy adherence while partnering with a vice principal and teachers to drive continuous improvement and strong student outcomes.

Qualifications

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university.
• New Jersey Principal Standard Certificate or a Certificate of Eligibility for Principal.
• Successful experience as a teacher.
• Successful building‑level administrative or supervisory experience.
• Success in increasing student achievement and effectively developing staff at the building level, utilizing a variety of approaches that emphasize inclusion and culturally responsive practice.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and sustain a shared mission, vision, and core values of high‑quality education, and use deep knowledge of instruction, curriculum, and assessment to achieve the school's vision.
• Set realistic and ambitious multi‑year and annual school goals based on data.
• Establish systems to strive for equity of educational opportunity and culturally responsive practices.
• Develop and support coherent systems of curriculum, instruction, and assessment with timely feedback.
• Foster a professional community of teachers and other professional staff, and develop their capacity.
• Coach teachers on instructional delivery with opportunities to improve.
• Engage with all stakeholders.
• Cultivate an inclusive, caring school community and engage families and the community.
• Prioritize being visible and engage families and the community in meaningful ways.
• Strategically manage school operations and resources for the instructional program.
• Act as an agent of continuous improvement.
• Act ethically and according to professional norms.

Job description

Rogero León, District Superintendent

Principal - Elementary (Pending availability of funds and Superintendent’s approval)

The Superintendent invites qualified and interested persons to apply for the position of Principal – Elementary.

Position Overview

At Newark Board of Education, we aim to provide a world‑class education for every student. Our principals bring this vision to life at their school. As the principal, you lead all aspects of the school, from bringing teachers and staff together around a common vision to ensuring day‑to‑day operations run smoothly. You serve as an instructional leader, spending time in classrooms and working with teachers to ensure student learning; a culture leader, fostering an inclusive, caring, and supportive community for students, staff, families, and the community; and an organizational leader, managing a budget, evaluating staff, analyzing data, and ensuring school efforts follow district policy. You balance many priorities and wear many hats, from planning Back to School Night to establishing relationships with new neighborhood preschool providers. As the school leader you are ultimately responsible for the success of your school, but you will collaborate with a vice principal and your team of teachers and staff to achieve that success.

What Newark Principals Do

• Develop, implement, and sustain a shared mission, vision, and core values of high‑quality education, and use deep knowledge of instruction, curriculum, and assessment to achieve the school's vision
• Set realistic and ambitious multi‑year and annual school goals based on aggregated and disaggregated data
• Establish systems to strive for equity of educational opportunity and culturally responsive practices
• Develop and support intellectually rigorous and coherent systems of curriculum, instruction, and assessment through consistent, specific, and timely feedback
• Foster a professional community of teachers and other professional staff, and develop their professional capacity and practice
• Coach teachers on instructional delivery with planned professional opportunities to leverage teachers' instructional strengths to maximize instructional impact
• Proactively engage with all stakeholders
• Cultivate an inclusive, caring, and supportive school community that fosters strong relationships and advances the school mission and vision
• Prioritize being visible and engage families and the community in meaningful, reciprocal, and mutually beneficial ways
• Strategically manage school operations and leverage resources to support the school's instructional program and professional learning community
• Act as an agent of continuous improvement
• Act ethically and according to professional norms
• Perform other duties which may be assigned or required by law, code, regulation, or board policy

Key Behaviors and Skills

• Consistently apply an equity lens, implement strategies to address inequities and institutional biases, and help create an inclusive school culture
• Prioritize and allocate limited time strategically, adjusting to changing conditions
• Collaborate effectively with staff and families, engage and motivate them in pursuit of school success, and empower others to lead
• Understand and have used effective planning, instructional strategies, assessment, and intervention to improve student outcomes
• Coach to the root issues, motivating and enabling others to improve
• Consistently reflect, learn, and change actions to get better
• Act ethically and fairly at all times
• Maintain a relentless focus on improving student outcomes, believing all students can succeed at high levels, and exhibit personal resilience

Basic Qualifications and Requirements

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university
• New Jersey Principal Standard Certificate or a Certificate of Eligibility for Principal
• Successful experience as a teacher
• Successful building‑level administrative or supervisory experience
• Success in increasing student achievement and effectively developing staff at the building level, utilizing a variety of approaches that emphasize inclusion and culturally responsive practice

Reports To

Assistant Superintendent

Salary, Employment Period, and Union Affiliation

• Salary: $135,300 – $169,500 (Pending salary negotiations)
• Employment Period: Twelve (12) Months
• Union Affiliation: City Association of Supervisors and Administrators (CASA)

Benefits

In an effort to attract and retain staff, NBOE offers competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits for all full‑time staff. Offerings include Medical and Prescription Drug plans, employer‑paid Dental and Vision coverage, an array of Wellness and Voluntary benefits programs, and paid time off. All employees receive paid Personal and Sick days, as well as Vacation days for 12‑month employees.

How to Apply

Newark Board of Education only accepts electronic applications.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Newark Board of Education is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.