26-27 Middle School Principal - NYC

Location: NYC

Standard Work Hours: 8a-5p

Full-Time/Part-Time: Full-Time

Anticipated Start Date: July 1, 2026 (in advance of the 2026-27 school year)

About Achievement First

Achievement First (AF) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization supporting 39 public charter schools across New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. For more than 25 years, AF has been recognized as one of the top tuition-free public charter school networks in the country. We are committed to creating schools of academic excellence within nurturing environments - schools that prepare students to be college-ready and to pursue and succeed in whatever paths they choose in life.

The majority of AF students are Black and Latinx children from low-income families, many of whom will be the first in their families to graduate from college. Across our network, we employ more than 2,200 staff members - 64% of whom identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color - who collectively educate nearly 15,000 students in Brooklyn and Queens, NY; New Haven, Bridgeport, and Hartford, CT; and Providence and Cranston, RI.

Our mission is to prepare every student to excel in college, career, and life; deepen their understanding of self and community; and lead lives of purpose. We believe in the limitless potential within our students and their power to shape a more just society. That belief drives our deep commitment to student achievement: we aim to set a high bar for learning and create warm, demanding classrooms where rigorous instruction is paired with the care, encouragement, and consistency every student deserves.

The Role of a Principal at Achievement First

At Achievement First, we say the job of the principal is to create the conditions for everyone to thrive in your school building. As a principal, you will have the opportunity to lead a passionate leadership team, dedicated teachers, and brilliant students. You will be the driver of high-quality coaching instruction that enables deans and teachers to develop strong classroom cultures, deliver strong content, and instill a lifelong love of learning in our scholars. You will work with your leadership team to help teachers to be your students' champion because you believe all students are capable of greatness and achievement far beyond what society has been conditioned to accept. You will demand excellence for yourself, your staff, and your students, and accept nothing less than students' best and most thoughtful work.

At Achievement First, you will grow as a passionate and constant leader who thrives on feedback, enjoys regular one-on-one coaching with your Regional Superintendent, and nurtures a voracious appetite for professional development and consistent improvement. You will cultivate school wide classroom cultures built on strong structures, communication, and lasting relationships. Every day, you will contribute to the education of children who will go to college and return to our communities as the next generation of game changers.

As a member of Achievement First's leadership community, principals are expected to think beyond the walls of their individual school and contribute to the success of the broader region and network. Principals partner closely with their Regional Superintendent to execute regional priorities, develop leadership capacity, strengthen organizational health, and ensure every student has access to an excellent educational experience.

Reporting directly to the Regional Superintendent, responsibilities of the Principal will include, but are not limited to:

Exemplary Student Achievement

• Set a clear and inspiring vision for the school's core instructional program that unlocks our students' intellect and is based on high expectations
• Coach and develop deans and teachers to realize your vision for instruction, analyzing data and adjusting course as necessary to ensure every student achieves academic excellence and that the school meets the ambitious performance goals set by Achievement First
• Lead a continuous improvement cycle through the regular analysis of student achievement, instructional, attendance, culture, and organizational health data to identify strengths, address challenges, and drive measurable outcomes.
• Partner with the Regional Superintendent to establish annual academic priorities, monitor progress toward goals, and implement strategic interventions when results fall short of expectations.

Positive School Environment

• Set a clear and inspiring vision for a positive classroom environment, spiking in both high expectations and a deep sense of belief and belonging
• Coach and develop deans and teachers to realize your vision for classroom environment, analyzing data and adjust course as necessary to ensure every student feels known, loved and safe.
• Foster a strong adult culture grounded in trust, accountability, feedback, belonging, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure equitable outcomes for all students by examining school practices, systems, and data through a racial equity lens and taking action to address disparities.

Vision, Inspiration and Community Engagement

• Model the Achievement First values with all stakeholders
• Create a welcoming environment for all students, families and staff members, regardless of race, ethnicity or socio-economic background
• Build a strong and high functioning team of adults through hiring, retention strategy and performance management
• Ensure that the school runs smoothly, efficiently, and on budget while aligning school-based priorities with regional and network-wide goals.
• Serve as the lead talent strategist for the school by developing future leaders, building leadership pipelines, and creating succession plans for critical leadership roles.
• Partner with the Regional Superintendent and Talent Team to execute strong hiring, onboarding, retention, development, and offboarding practices.
• Build and sustain strong partnerships with families, community stakeholders, and Network Support teams to advance student achievement and organizational goals.
• Collaborate with other principals and regional leaders to share best practices, solve common challenges, and contribute to network-wide improvement efforts.
• Lead annual school planning and readiness efforts to ensure strong execution of academic, operational, talent, and culture priorities.
• Maintain strong organizational health by cultivating staff engagement, monitoring team effectiveness, and proactively addressing retention risks.

Leadership Development and Talent Management

• Develop and coach members of the school leadership team through regular feedback, professional development, performance management, and succession planning.
• Build leadership capacity across the school by developing the full staff coaching tree and ensuring all staff receive meaningful opportunities to strengthen both technical competencies and adaptive leadership skills, creating a sustainable pipeline of high-performing leaders.
• Hold leaders accountable for achieving ambitious student, culture, and adult development outcomes while providing differentiated support and coaching.
• Build leadership capacity across the school by identifying emerging talent and creating opportunities for growth and advancement.
• Ensure performance management systems are implemented with consistency, transparency, and a commitment to excellence.

Skills and Characteristics

• A commitment to Achievement First's mission, a deep love of content, and an unwavering belief that all students can and will succeed.
• Track record of exemplary instructional and classroom management skills, including meeting extremely high standards for student achievement.
• High level of personal organization and planning.
• Excellent communication skills with diverse constituents (teachers, parents, children, board members)
• Proven ability to proactively lead by example, effectively manage adults, and seek out feedback
• Team player: maturity, humility, strong work ethic, follow-through, sense of humor, willingness to respond positively to feedback, and a "roll-up-my-sleeves" attitude.
• Mastery of and enthusiasm for subject matter.
• Demonstrated ability to develop adult leaders and build leadership capacity across a school community.
• Strong data analysis and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate data into strategic action plans.
• Ability to influence and align diverse stakeholders around a common vision and ambitious goals.
• Strong partnership and collaboration skills, including the ability to work effectively across school-based and network-based teams.
• Strategic thinker who can balance immediate operational needs with long-term organizational priorities.
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing racial equity and fostering inclusive school communities.

Educational Background and Work Experience:

• A bachelor's degree; a master's degree preferred.
• Successful formal school leadership experience, leading and managing adults
• At least 3 years of teaching experience with a record of high student achievement.
• Demonstrated success in coaching and developing adult leaders, including teachers, deans, assistant principals, or other school-based leaders.
• Track record of leading school improvement efforts that resulted in measurable gains in student achievement, culture, staff retention, or organizational health.
• If not currently certified, there is a commitment to professional growth, including pursuing applicable New York State certification pathways, where relevant, to support long-term leadership development and effectiveness.

Compensation & Benefits

• Achievement First sets salaries through a lens of equity and based on an individual's skills, education, and years of experience relevant to the role. For New York-based Principal positions, the salary range is $146,015.00 - $174,350.00, commensurate with experience and qualifications relevant to the role.
• In order to uphold our commitment to equity, Achievement First does not negotiate pay. Placement within the salary range is determined through Achievement First's compensation practices and evaluation of relevant experience.
• As a regular full-time employee of Achievement First, you will be eligible for benefits that include medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, a 403(b) retirement benefit package with employer match, paid Family Leave, and paid time off.

Achievement First is an equal opportunity employer and an organization that values diversity. People from all diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. Spanish language proficiency is a plus. You can learn more about diversity at Achievement First here: