WHO WE ARE

The mission of Envision Education is to transform the lives of students - especially those who will be the first in their family to attend college - by preparing them for success in college, career, and life. 

We accomplish our mission through our nationally replicated Portfolio Defense assessment model, which authentically measures the most important things students need in order to succeed in college and career: academic content, leadership skills, and deeper learning competencies such as reflection and growth mindset.  Portfolio Defense uniquely prepares students, particularly those who are historically underserved, to get into college and then to persist until they earn a degree. Envision is also differentiated by a focus on whole-child education that integrates rigorous academics, high-quality social-emotional learning, and critical cultural literacy.

Read about our approach here.

We operate three high schools and two middle schools, serving approximately 1,500 students in the San Francisco Bay Area: 70% are low-income; 94% from communities of color; and 75% first generation college bound.  100% of our graduates are accepted to 2- or 4-year colleges, with 78% accepted to 4-year institutions.  What’s more, our students persist in college once they enroll. Our college persistence rate is 87% from first to second year, compared to the national average of 74%.  We also operate Envision Learning Partners, a coaching and training division working with schools across the country to adapt and adopt the Portfolio Defense model.  ELP is working with more than 1,000 educators in 30+ school networks and reaching more than 200,000 students.

Envision Education has made an explicit commitment to becoming an exemplar network of schools with an instructional and cultural vision rooted in an anti-racist and pro-Black framework. We believe that targeted universalism–focusing on the needs of a group that has historically been marginalized–will support not only that group, but everyone, and that being explicitly anti-racist and pro-Black is essential to changing the status quo for all of our students.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Principal Residency is a one-year program that will support the future Impact Academy School Leader in their development as they prepare to become the principal. The Principal Resident will be on the leadership team at Impact Academy where they will learn from the current principal, and other network leaders, before taking over as the Principal in the following year. The Principal Resident will receive substantial professional development and coaching, and will conduct high impact school visits, and do significant planning to prepare to take over Impact Academy in the following year. 

The successful candidate will have a proven track record of achieving breakthrough results for students through the work of others, high expectations for students and staff, a willingness and desire to engage in their own personal and professional learning, and a passion for partnering with parents and other stakeholders as peers, to ensure success for all students under their leadership. The Principal Resident is a fast, and reflective learner who can quickly assess their own practice and implement feedback and changes. The successful candidate has a vision for themselves as an anti-racist and pro-Black school leader, and is prepared to go on that journey with Envision Education. 

ABOUT ENVISION ACADEMY HIGH SCHOOL, OAKLAND

Envision Academy of Arts & Technology in Oakland, California opened in 2007 and it currently serves approximately 375 black and brown students in grades 9-12. EA offers students a rigorous academic experience and a small, diverse community where students are known, loved and challenged. Our mission is to transform the lives of our students by preparing them for success in college, career, and life. We have the following goals for the next few years for our school community:

• Disciplinary Pedagogy: Students get the help they need through cycles of inquiry and tiered group supports based on quantitative and qualitative student data.

• Critical Race Pedagogy: We believe that the use of chronicles and storytelling hold the possibility for helping us to name extant challenges and illuminate further possibilities of CRP as a tool for battling globalized oppression at the intersection of race, class, gender and sexuality in education. In professional learning communities and grade level teams we focus on student centered practices and ethnic study frameworks in order to put into practice what it means to be an antiracist educator.

• Restorative Pedagogy: In all spaces for students, staff, and families, we practice Restorative Justice, Community Building Circles, and Dynamic Mindfulness in order to increase students’ Sense of Belonging and Attendance.

• Metacognitive Reflection: All students engage in at least three formal Presentations of Learning in order to practice our graduate profile skills of Critical Thinking, Collaboration, and Communication.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Instructional & School Leadership

• Ensure the highest of expectations for student learning and achievement in every classroom, every day.

• Develop and implement a rigorous teacher coaching, observation, and support cycle focused on classroom instruction.

• Implement effective internal and external assessment systems and use data to inform decisions.

• Ensure strong consistency within the school program and curricular alignment with state and other rigorous standards.

• Select, share, and model effective curricular and instructional practices from and with other schools.

• Develop and implement structures that ensure an urgent, rigorous, and joyful school culture.

• Lead faculty to ensure that all staff are providing  well-managed and rigorous daily lessons, and reasonable and effective daily homework.

• Work with staff to foster consistency in enforcing the Student and Family Handbook and other school-wide discipline and student culture policies.

• Work with Special Education Team to ensure 504 accommodations, IEP modifications, and counseling needs are met.

• Maintain communication and relations with the families of the school, ensuring they are able to be partners in their children's academic and behavioral success.

• Communicate regularly with families regarding student performance and academic achievement.

• Work with staff to correspond regularly with families regarding school policies, trips, events, and milestones.

• Work with staff to plan, coordinate, and support family meetings and special events.

• Respond to family concerns promptly and effectively.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Staff Culture

• Attract, hire, supervise, and develop all school staff members to create a high-functioning team focused on student success.

• Build and maintain a positive and supportive staff culture based on trust, risk-taking, respect, reflective learning, and collaboration.

• Lead the site Leadership Team, consisting of Vice Principals and Lead Teachers to effectively guide the school towards targeted goals.

• Design, implement and lead a high quality staff professional development cycle focused on ensuring professional learning in service of high quality student outcomes. 

• Clearly articulate the school’s and network’s goals and programs, as well as Envision’s mission and vision, to internal and external stakeholders.

• Ensure the retention of successful staff members.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Administrative & Operational Oversight

• Oversee all day-to-day school operations including setting and maintaining a balanced budget, managing state and local compliance, and ensuring a safe and smooth functioning school environment.

• Supervise school facilities and ensure excellent facility management.

• Lead school enrollment efforts to ensure a fully enrolled school with a waiting list.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Governance and Senior Leadership

• Serve as a member of the Envision Principal team of the organization, clearly articulate school objectives and challenges, and help set and meet long-term and medium-term organizational goals.

• Partner with Envision’s other principals, Education Directors and Chief Academic Officer to determine and implement the educational vision for the organization through our network’s annual priority process and help to continually improve the educational model.

• With CEO/CAO of Envision Education, serve as representative to the charter authorizer and act as primary spokesperson and leader of the school with other outside stakeholders. 

QUALIFICATIONS

• Commitment to the mission of Envision Education

• B.A. or B.S. required

• Current cleared California teaching credential or ability to obtain one preferred

• Administrative Services credential preferred; Master’s degree strongly preferred.

• At least 5 years of highly successful teaching experience in an urban setting.

• Successful school leadership experience or targeted training with a track record of excellent results.

• Experience leading adults to accomplish ambitious goals in the face of challenging obstacles.

• Bilingual Spanish speaker preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to effect positive organizational change.

COMPENSATION: The starting salary range for this position is $100k - $110k. Salary and benefits are competitive and based on experience.

TO APPLY: Please submit your application, including a thoughtful cover letter at Envision Careers

As an equal opportunity employer, we believe deeply in diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all people. Envision recruits, employs, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, disability, age, veteran status, and the many other characteristics that make us diverse.