Released: 5/27/08

[Back to SOE Friends News]

Jones College Prep (Chicago) Seeks Principal

As the premiere public college prep school in Chicago’s educational and cultural corridor in the South Loop, Jones College Prep seeks to grow as an intellectual community which aims to help students realize the characteristics identified in the Profile of the Ideal Jones College Prep Graduate at Graduation (document available at jonescollegeprep.org under “About JCP”). The educational leader in this position needs to be intellectually curious, interested in big ideas and critical thinking with a focus on social justice and equity, and a willingness to creatively share leadership with a committed team of teachers, parents, and staff. We seek to foster an environment that appropriately challenges our diverse group of students and teachers to high academic achievement and all-around growth in a supportive, nurturing, and student-centered environment. We will also be expanding our campus in the South Loop over the next 3-4 years and so need a leader who is able to oversee completion of this ambitious capital building plan.

The principal will be expected to continue to uphold the standards of excellence currently demonstrated at Jones. Applicants should possess, but not be limited to, the following qualifications:

• Administrative and classroom experience in an urban school setting
• Experience in fusing both high academic achievement and a unified school-wide spirit
• Seasoned management style that values collaboration with staff in order to strategically foster a healthy relational environment and allow faculty to thrive and demonstrate leadership within the overall scheme of the school
• Willingness to build on our School Improvement Plan’s vision and instructional practices
• Ability to maintain a culture that expects open, direct, and sincere communication
• Ability to incorporate professional development and common planning time that is aligned with the school improvement plan and reflective of expressed teacher need
• Familiarity with grant writing and a commitment to soliciting community and other outside resources and partnerships to enhance the school learning environment
• Commitment to recruiting and maintaining highly qualified and diverse staff members
• Ability to connect with students and parents and willingness to work closely with the Local School Council on shared aims
• Supportive of extracurricular activities and leadership opportunities for students
• Commitment to the continuation of programs such as Targeted Recruitment and Student Support, the Writing Center, ongoing EPAS assessment, Jones’ specialized teacher induction, and the Integrated Mathematics Program
• Ability to maintain a safe, clean, orderly school
• Working knowledge of the SIPAAA, Oracle, IMPACT, PeopleSoft, school budgets and CPS policies and procedures (or demonstrated ability to learn quickly)

This is a four-year performance contract. In addition to the qualifications described in the Principal’s Position Information, applicants must be eligible for a CPS principalship under Board Policy #04-0225-PO1 “Requirements for the Selection of Chicago Public Schools Principals” and hold Type 75 certification (or be eligible). For more information, contact the Office of Principal Preparation and Development at (773) 553-1515.

Please submit a resume, three professional references, and a cover letter explaining your unique qualifications for the position and a list of your accomplishments. References will not be called without prior permission. All materials should be sent as Word or Adobe Acrobat documents Debra Miretzky at debramiretzky@yahoo.com. Candidates from inside and outside the Chicago Public Schools are encouraged to apply. Resume deadline is June 30, 2008.