Principal/School Leader, Wilmington Learning Collaborative

About the Wilmington Learning Collaborative and Christina School District

Created by Governor John Carney in 2022, the Wilmington Learning Collaborative (WLC) is a voluntary network of schools operating across the Christina, Brandywine, and Red Clay school districts, committed to improving educational outcomes and fostering positive change across schools in Wilmington, Delaware. The agreement between the three school districts was created to establish a consistent learning experience for students, while simultaneously fostering the empowerment of educators, school leaders, and communities—thereby enhancing overall student outcomes within the City of Wilmington schools. Currently composed of eight unique school communities,  the WLC will serve approximately 3,000 students in grades PreK through 8th grade.  The WLC is a signature educational initiative designed to elevate community voice and school-based decision-making.

The Christina School District (CSD) is a Delaware public school system serving over 14,000 students and employing 3,300 people. Christina is one of four school districts serving students in the City of Wilmington, created in 1981 to satisfy a desegregation directive for the City of Wilmington and New Castle County. CSD has 3 early education centers, 14 elementary schools, 2 elementary/middle schools, 3 middle schools, and 3 traditional comprehensive high schools serving the City of Newark and its surrounding suburban areas as well as a portion of the City of Wilmington. 

This national search marks the launch of a collaborative approach to school leadership selection between the Christina School District and the Wilmington Learning Collaborative.

About the Principal /School Leader Role

The Alma Advisory Group is seeking two experienced school leaders to serve in one of the following schools: 

• The Bayard School, home of the “Bulldogs,” is an elementary and middle school serving nearly 600 students in grades 1 to 8 and located on the west side of Wilmington, Delaware. Bayard’s mission is to deliver a comprehensive and systematic school program, ensuring impeccable instruction and providing essential resources for all students to achieve academic success and age-appropriate social development. With a newly remodeled building (2023), complete with communal working spaces and a school-based health center in partnership with Nemours Children’s Health, the incoming leader will have an opportunity to work with the Christina School District and the Wilmington Learning Collaborative to revisit this school model and collaborate with its main feeder school, Pulaski Early Education Center (PreK & K), to determine the best educational structure for its school community.
• Maurice Pritchett Sr. Academy is an elementary and middle school serving nearly 600 students in grades 1 to 8 and located on the east side of Wilmington, Delaware. Their mission is to foster an inclusive and culturally relevant environment where students can thrive both academically and personally. The Pritchett Academy is named after a highly respected educator and community leader and now occupies a state-of-the-art, brand-new facility opened in Fall 2024, the first new school facility built in the City of Wilmington in over 60 years. The founding principal of this school will have the opportunity to create the foundation of academic excellence, to establish Maurice Pritchett Sr. Academy as a beacon of innovation and community connectedness, and to fulfill the legacy of Maurice Pritchett Sr.

Reporting to the CSD Director of Teaching and Learning in collaboration with the WLC’s Executive Director, the school leaders serving in this role must be willing to prioritize student-centered decision-making over the comfort of adults, to meet parents where they are, and to collaborate with city and state leaders and community partners.  S/he must have a proven track record of success in improving outcomes at historically underserved schools and building systems that uphold high expectations for the academic achievement of all students.

What You’ll Do (Responsibilities)

• Set and Implement the Vision and Academic Strategy
• Keep students at the center of all decision-making and ensure that every aspect of the academic program works well for the students.
• Set a clear vision and clear multi-year operational, financial, and academic goals for the school to rapidly increase academic achievement and provide support for all students.
• Support innovation and apply best practices to improve the delivery of rigorous instruction and related services.
• Maintain a student behavioral support plan centered on restorative practices based on the Board-adopted Student Rights and Responsibilities Code.
• Assess the culture and effectiveness of the team and to establish, plan and support the conditions that create a positive work and learning environment. 
• Use and analyze school data to drive decisions and guide problem-solving to achieve the best student outcomes.
• Build  Systems and Support for Accountability and Transparency
• Establish performance management processes for evaluating the effectiveness of programs, school safety, and operational efficiency.
• Create proactive systems that garner feedback from parents, educators, and students to inform school progress, performance, and safety. 
• Assess the efficacy and effectiveness of the academic programs through coaching conversations, regular observations, and classroom walk-throughs. 
• Identify and advocate for appropriate resources to ensure alignment in implementation. 
• Transform academic and student culture while managing change and holding high expectations for adults.
• Effectively Manage, Develop and Support Educators
• Recruit, select, and staff the schools with highly effective teachers and support staff in collaboration with CSD and the WLC.
• Actively coach and develop staff to be effective in their roles and in their support of students, including full participation in the Delaware Teacher Growth and Support System (DTGSS).
• Partner with the WLC  to effectively onboard and provide professional development for teachers, coaches, and school-based Education Leader Team (ELT) members.
• Collaborate with the other WLC principals and school sites to effectively implement new strategies.
• Complete and use formal observations to provide meaningful feedback regarding teacher’s performance adhering to established standards and timelines.
• Cultivate a commitment among all staff that all students will achieve high standards.
• Serve as the public face of the school in the Wilmington community
• Be visible and present in the school and in the community in meaningful ways.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director of the WLC to develop a Site-based Community Council.
• Build and promote the school within the Wilmington community as evidenced by parent involvement, community partnerships, and programming. 
• Partner with healthcare entities such as Nemours and the Allegheny Health Networks Chill Project, to bring whole child physical and behavioral health support to the school community.
• Develop and update key internal and external communications, presentations, fact sheets, and messages - in various multimedia formats - to highlight the exemplary work and achievements.
• Support fundraising efforts and community engagement partnerships and  initiatives, in partnership with the WLC and CSD.  

What Skills You’ll Need to be Successful (Competencies)

The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following:

• Vision and Courage to Ensure Equity and Excellence for All Students
• Demonstrate belief that each student can achieve at the highest levels; hold self and others accountable for promoting high expectations for the academic achievement of all City of Wilmington students.
• Lead courageously and intentionally to seek the voices of marginalized and historically silenced communities to invite diverse input regarding decisions that impact stakeholders directly.
• Navigate complex environments and act with integrity, honesty and courage in the best interest of students. 
• Facilitate and secure buy-in for a clear and compelling vision of instructional excellence and share with stakeholders how their input informs school decisions.
• Content Knowledge and Instructional Best Practice
• Deep knowledge of evidence-based instructional practices and interventions with diverse learners, including demonstrated practice for improving student learning.
• Demonstrate pedagogical content knowledge in the core content areas. 
• Bring a deep understanding of school improvement and how to achieve accelerated growth for students.
• Identify effective teaching practices and develop improvement strategies to build capacity of teachers. 
• Decision Making and Problem Solving 
• Offer innovative solutions to seemingly intractable problems.
• Set priorities to maintain a high-quality instructional program within the organization’s financial means.
• Analyze complex, nuanced data from multiple angles and exercise judgment in making critical decisions, and communicate the implications to diverse audiences.
• Lead effectively even in times of ambiguity and adapt and respond to unexpected challenges.
• Exhibit a strong focus on goals, accountability, and results; set clear metrics for success.
• Monitor progress and demonstrate persistence to overcome obstacles to achieve goals.
• Team Leadership, Coaching and Management
• Build, inspire, manage, and coach an effective leadership team to achieve ambitious goals.
• Assess team and individuals’ skills, identify development needs, and provide feedback and support to improve practice, build capacity, and maximize talent.
• Promote professional learning and utilize effective adult learning techniques.
• Create a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement among staff.
• Exercise professional judgment, maintain confidentiality when trusted with sensitive information, accept responsibility, maintain transparency, and lead by example.
• Influence and Impact
• Advocate for and serve as key connector between the school, the ELT, the WLC and the district office.
• Gain the trust and respect of all staff, cultivating personal accountability among staff for excellent service, problem-solving, and efficiency.
• Solicit, elevate, understand, and value--either through personal experience or empathy--the perspective of a wide variety of stakeholders. 
• Communicate effectively, tailoring messages for the audience, context, and mode of communication.
• Maintain visibility in the school and work collaboratively with educators and stakeholders at all levels.
• Respond to feedback and concerns in a timely and empathetic manner.

Minimum Requirements

• A minimum of 5 years of teaching experience in a diverse, urban setting is required. Experience in a mid-sized metropolitan school district and/or state education agency is preferred.
• A minimum of 5 years of school administrative experience, principal experience preferred. 
• Advanced degree in education with a concentration in one or more areas of specialization, i.e. curriculum and instruction, mathematics education, early childhood education, inclusive education.
• Deep knowledge of curriculum, instruction, assessment, school operations, and multi-lingual and differently abled learner education. 
• A clear and proven track record of improving academic outcomes at historically underserved schools.
• Ability to navigate uncertainty and ambiguity in times of tremendous change, and to prioritize work efforts to achieve WLC mission.
• Eligibility for State of Delaware Certification as a Principal.
• Demonstrated growth mindset and unwavering belief that all children can achieve at high levels.
• Successful experience with school improvement and turnaround leadership.
• Experience building high-quality, highly functional teams with clear expectations for serving students and achieving student success.

This is a 12-month position with a mutually agreeable start date. The salary for this position is competitive, ranging between $130,000-$150,000, and commensurate with prior experience. In addition, a comprehensive benefits package will be included in the ultimate offer for the identified sole finalist.  Upon the successful completion of one year in the role, up to a $15,000 stipend will be provided by the Wilmington Learning Collaborative to the leader.  Success will be measured by specific academic proficiency and growth goals as determined by the WLC Council. 

The Christina School District is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from diverse candidates. The Christina School District does not discriminate  on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity, or any other categories protected by federal, state, or local law. Inquiries regarding compliance with the above may be directed to the Title IX/Section 504 Coordinator, Christina School District, 1899 South College Avenue, Newark, DE 19702; (302) 552-2600.