Assistant Principal of Operations and ProgramsAbout Great Lakes Academy
Great Lakes Academy (GLA) is a high-performing, single-site charter school located in South Chicago. Our mission is to prepare all of our students with the fundamental academic skills, critical thinking ability, and strength of character to excel in high school, college, and a career of their choice. We empower all of our students with the education today that they will need to change the world tomorrow.
Our staff work hard to close opportunity gaps for our scholars, and the data speaks for itself: In 2023, on the rigorous Illinois Assessment of Readiness, GLA had the highest percentage of students reaching proficiency in ELA and Math of all elementary schools in Hyde Park, Woodlawn, South Shore, and South Chicago.
We are proud of our growth and achievement, but we have our sights set even higher for the 2024-25 school year, and we need your help to reach our goals. We are seeking a high-capacity, humble, and growth-oriented Assistant Principal of Operations and Programs to ensure school operational processes support school instructional, cultural, and extracurricular programming.
Key Job Responsibilities
Administrative

• Leads members of the operations, facilities, and student programming teams.
• Provides coaching, ensures team members have opportunities for professional development and delegates responsibilities across team.

Communications

• Ensures school communications are delivered through school messaging systems in a timely, consistent manner.
• Creates a strong customer service culture towards students, families, and guests.

Facilities and School Processes

• Ensure the school's facilities are well-maintained and in excellent condition.
• Collaborate on scheduling and overseeing inspections to ensure compliance and safety standards are met.
• Serve as point person for various school procedures, including but not limited to: attendance, operations requests, emergency management plans, arrival and dismissal procedures, technology troubleshooting, parent teacher conferences, and report card distribution.
• Maintain relationships with external vendors providing services to the school for meal service and uniforms. Ensure that vendors meet the school's standards and requirements.

Student Admissions

• Leads school admissions process. This includes recruitment of new students, lottery, registration, and post-lottery enrollment.
• Leads returning student annual paperwork process. Utilizes information gathered in this process to strategically plan enrollment for the following school year.
• Serves as the school records custodian.

Technology Management

• Manage the maintenance and distribution of technology and equipment in the building, including but not limited to: student chromebooks, staff computers and access setup, classroom technology, cameras, alarm system, intercom system, fobs, and printers.
• Manage and maintain student platforms utilized within the school. Ensures information is entered accurately into SIS and cleans data as needed.
• Coordinate with the school's technology vendor to ensure repairs are made efficiently and the vendor is upholding the monthly obligations of the contract.

Overview of Extracurricular Planning and High School Success

• Manage and support the Student Programs Coordinator with coordinating non-athletics extracurricular programming.
• Create and monitor systems and communications around school extracurricular programming.
• Find new and manage existing community partnerships to enhance enrichment and high school transition programs.
• Provide oversight and planning support of all aspects of high school transition programming for 7th and 8th graders.

Ideal Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Business Administration, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a leadership role within an educational or similar organization.
• Strong understanding of school operations, compliance, and student programming.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire teams towards operational excellence.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and a strategic mindset.
• Proficiency in technology management and a strong understanding of educational technology platforms.
• Proficiency building and working with data in spreadsheets.
• Experience with project management
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Bachelor's degree is required
2. Some experience working in aspects of school operations
3. Eligibility to work in the United States on a full-time basis

As an equal opportunity employer, Great Lakes Academy hires without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other category protected by applicable law.