2026-2027 PRINCIPAL: THE ATLANTA SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

ROLE OVERVIEW: The Principal, The Atlanta School of the Arts provides instructional, organizational, and operational leadership to ensure academic excellence, artistic development, and student success. This position leads the planning, development, and implementation of a comprehensive arts-based educational program that integrates rigorous academic instruction with specialized arts opportunities. The Principal oversees school operations, staff development, student achievement, community partnerships, and resource management while fostering a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment. In preparation for the school's Fall 2028 opening, the Principal coordinates strategic planning, curriculum development, staffing, student recruitment, specialized facility readiness, and operational implementation in collaboration with district leadership and community partners.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITES:

• Establishes and communicates a clear schoolwide vision, goals, and improvement priorities aligned with district strategy, academic excellence, artistic development, and student success

• Leads the implementation of rigorous curriculum, instruction, assessment, and student-support practices that promote academic achievement, artistic growth, and college and career readiness

• Monitors instructional quality through classroom observations, coaching, feedback, professional learning, and evaluation of instructional practices while using student achievement and school performance data to guide continuous improvement

• Recruits, selects, develops, evaluates, and retains highly effective staff while cultivating leadership capacity, professional collaboration, shared accountability, and a positive school culture

• Oversees school operations, including staffing, scheduling, budgeting, facilities, student services, safety, resource allocation, and compliance with applicable laws, regulations, Board policies, and district procedures

• Establishes and monitors systems that support student attendance, behavior, safety, academic progress, successful transitions, and a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment

• Engages families, the GO Team, community organizations, and other stakeholders to strengthen partnerships, communicate school priorities, and advance student achievement and school improvement efforts

• Leads visioning, strategic planning, and implementation of the comprehensive school-opening plan for The Atlanta School of the Arts, including academic programming, staffing, enrollment, budgeting, operational readiness, and key milestones to ensure a successful opening in Fall 2028

• Directs the development and implementation of specialized arts programming in preparation for the Fall 2028 opening, collaborating with district curriculum teams and arts professionals to integrate academic standards, discipline-specific arts instruction, interdisciplinary learning, and college and career pathways

• Establishes and maintains partnerships with arts organizations, professional artists, cultural institutions, colleges and universities, employers, and community organizations to expand artistic learning experiences, internships, mentorships, and postsecondary opportunities

• Collaborates with district leadership, Capital Improvements, architects, project management teams, and other stakeholders throughout the renovation process to ensure instructional and artistic programming informs facility design, specialized equipment, technology, and the readiness of learning, rehearsal, performance, and exhibition spaces for the Fall 2028 opening

• Leads the recruitment, onboarding, professional development, and collaborative planning of founding staff to establish a cohesive school culture and ensure instructional and operational readiness for the Fall 2028 opening

• Oversees the planning and implementation of student auditions and portfolio review processes in preparation for the Fall 2028 opening, collaborating with Admissions and arts faculty to ensure established criteria, accessibility, consistent procedures, and compliance with district admissions requirements

• Participates in district professional learning and leadership development and pursues ongoing professional growth to strengthen leadership effectiveness

• Required to have prompt, regular attendance in person and be available to work on-site during regular business hours and as needed

• Performs other duties as assigned by the appropriate administrator or their representative

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Comprehensive knowledge of instructional leadership, curriculum development, assessment, pedagogy, and evidence-based instructional practices
• Knowledge of academic standards, student development, school accountability, and continuous improvement practices
• Knowledge of arts education, discipline-specific programming, interdisciplinary instruction, and postsecondary arts and industry pathways
• Skill in analyzing student achievement, instructional, attendance, behavioral, and school performance data to guide improvement
• Ability to establish a schoolwide vision, develop measurable goals, and implement strategic improvement initiatives
• Ability to recruit, develop, evaluate, and retain effective staff while strengthening instructional leadership and professional collaboration
• Ability to manage school operations, staffing, budgets, schedules, facilities, programs, and resources effectively
• Ability to establish and maintain a safe, inclusive, supportive, and academically focused school environment
• Ability to coordinate school development, operational readiness, specialized facilities planning, and cross-functional initiatives
• Ability to establish partnerships with arts organizations, cultural institutions, higher education institutions, and industry professionals that expand student learning and career opportunities
• Strong leadership, communication, collaboration, decision-making, problem-solving, and stakeholder engagement skills

Certification/License:

• GaPSC Certificate in a teaching or service field
• GaPSC Certificate Level 5 or higher in Educational Leadership required, or eligibility for certification through the Georgia Professional Standards Commission

Education

• Master's degree in Education or a related field from an accredited institution required

Experience

• 7 years of in a K–12 educational setting required
• 3 years in a school-based administrative leadership position required

COMPENSATION

• Salary Grade: Principal - Secondary
• Salary Range: Salary Schedules – Atlanta Public Schools
• Work Days: 252

PHYSICAL ABILITIES AND WORKING CONDITIONS The physical abilities, working conditions and other conditions of employment listed in this document are representative of, but are not intended to provide an exhaustive list of the requirements for positions in this classification. In the event of an emergency or situation requiring guidance from Federal, State, or local or school district authorities, the requirements of this position may change temporarily or for the school year to best serve the needs of our students.

• Vision: Ability to read small print and view a computer screen for prolonged periods.
• Hearing: Ability to tolerate exposure to noisy conditions
• Speech: Ability to be understood in face-to-face communications, to speak with a level of proficiency and volume to be understood over a telephone or computer.
• Upper Body Mobility: Ability to use hands to grasp and manipulate small objects; manipulate fingers, twist and bend at wrist and elbow; extend arms to reach outward and upward; use hands and arms to lift objects; turn, raise, and lower head.
• Strength: Ability to lift, push, pull and/or carry objects which weigh as much as 15 or more pounds on a frequent basis.
• Environmental Requirements: Ability to encounter constant work interruptions; work cooperatively with others; work independently; work indoors.
• Mental Requirements: Ability to read, write, understand, interpret and apply information at a moderately complex level essential for successful job performance; math skills at a high school proficiency level; judgement and the ability to process information quickly; learn quickly and follow verbal procedures and standards; give verbal instruction; rank tasks in order of importance; copy, compare, compile and coordinate information and records. Understand how to manage stress
• Additional Work Conditions & Physical Abilities: Will require travel to multiple sites.

The Atlanta Public School System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, citizenship, ethnic or national origin, age, disability, medical status, military status, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, ancestry, or any legally protected status in any of its employment practices, educational programs, services or activities. Reasonable