Founding Principal
East Hills Academy (Opening Fall 2026)
About East Hills Academy
We believe that children flourish when they grow in character and engage in a rich and beautiful liberal arts curriculum. We believe that all children can achieve high standards with the right community and support. We believe that this education should be available to all children, yet barriers still exist for many families. Despite many obstacles, the founder of East Hills Academy attended such a school as a child and is opening East Hills to make this education available to more children.
East Hills Academy is a K-8 charter school in the classical tradition with a mission to increase access to students who often face barriers to attending such schools. By providing bussing, a family-friendly school schedule and calendar, before and after school care, and summer programming, we believe that we can provide an excellent classical education to more students in Colorado Springs. We will open in August 2026 with kindergarten through second grade and expand one grade each year.
We are looking for someone up to the challenge of creating something new in Colorado Springs and wading into uncharted territory, someone who can join other hard-working, supportive, no-drama teammates who wear multiple hats and go the extra mile for all students, someone who believes that education is just as much about character as it is about knowledge.
“Far and away, the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” - Theodore Roosevelt
Position Overview
The Founding Principal is responsible for laying a strong foundation for the thousands of children who will benefit from the excellent education that East Hills Academy will offer. The Principal is responsible for ensuring that high-quality, effective, and rigorous Core Knowledge instruction is delivered in every classroom. The Principal supports teachers in kindling a love of virtue and knowledge. The Principal also handles all discipline matters. The Principal oversees all operations of testing and scheduling and analyzes data to continually improve the academic program. Above all, the Principal builds strong relationships and embodies integrity, service, and excellence.
Major Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions)
Academic Leadership
- Upholds and ensures fidelity to East Hills Academy’s educational philosophy, including Core Knowledge and Direct Instruction principles.
- Holds all students, regardless of background or skill level, to high academic standards, and provides support.
- Ensures high instructional standards for all teachers through regular classroomobservations and coaching.
- Oversees and evaluates all aspects of the academic program, including instruction, classroom management, student achievement data, and summer sessions.
- Oversees scheduling of classes, exams, and testing.
- Facilitates and arranges high-quality professional development, teacher and aide meetings, and trainings to improve instruction and curriculum delivery.
- Develops and maintains all student support systems, including MTSS.
- Oversees all state and local testing,including compliance and implementation.
- Handles all academic matters with parents, students, and teachers.
Character & Culture
- Maintains a structured and disciplined school culture and handles all school discipline to promote student character growth and accountability.
- Serves as the primary liaison for academic matters with parents, students, and teachers.
- Promotes a school-wide focus on virtue, integrity, service, and excellence.
- Collaborates with Executive Director to oversee the hiring and retention of highly qualified faculty and staff.
Professional Expectations
- Exemplifies the highest integrity, ethics, and professionalism in working with students, staff, and parents
- Committed to the East Hills Academy mission to “kindle a love of virtue and knowledge”
- Develops strong, professional, positive, and productive relationships with staff, students, and parents
- Creates a culture of high academic expectations, diligence, and mutual respect
- Demonstrates ability to collaborate with educators of various backgrounds and personalities
- Excellent communicator in all areas
- Goes above and beyond to serve East Hills Academy, modeling this behavior to staff and students
- Complies with school, board, and district policies
- Continues to grow by attending professional development opportunities and reflecting on own practices
- Supports all East Hills Academy expectations
- Prioritizes the safety and welfare of students while on campus
- Demonstrates innovative and collaborative problem solving
- Completes other duties and responsibilities as assigned
Education
Bachelor’s degree (minimum); master’s degree or higher in education-related field preferred.
Experience
Previous administration and leadership experience at Core Knowledge school or a school in the classical tradition is required, preferably in a public charter school. Experience with Direct Instruction principles and TLAC is strongly preferred. Must have experience in instructional coaching, student discipline, and delivering professional development. Must be able to demonstrate previous sustained success with student growth data in ELA and math, preferably with a high-FRL population.
Conditions of Employment
- All offers of employment are conditional to a successful background and references check.
- East Hills may choose to contact work references other than those listed on your application.
- Position is exempt from overtime and may require work outside of normal office hours.
- Selected applicant is an employee at-will.
- Applicant must comply with the Colorado State Board of Education’s Drug-Free Workplace policy.
- As required by the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), the selected applicant must verify, within 72 hours of employment, his/her legal right to be employed in the United States.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $90,000.00 - $120,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Application Questions (to be answered on Indeed: https://www.indeed.com/job/founding-principal-9d827075efdaac80)
- How many years of experience do you have working in a school in the classical tradition?
- How many years of experience do you have working in a school using the Core Knowledge sequence or curriculum?
- How many years of experience do you have working in a school that implements Direct Instruction/TLAC principles?
- How many years of experience do you have working in a school where more than 50% of students come from low-income backgrounds?
- How many years of experience do you have as a school administrator?
- How many years of experience do you have working at an elementary school?
- How many years of experience do you have working at a public charter school?
- Please share an example of how you have fostered students' growth in character and virtue as a school leader.
- Please provide an example of an effective strategy you have used in a leadership position at your school to promote sustained academic growth in reading (preferably with elementary students), and describe a specific outcome of that strategy. Please provide specific data.
- Please provide an example of an effective strategy you have used in a leadership position at your school to promote sustained academic growth in math (preferably with elementary students), and describe a specific outcome of that strategy. Please provide specific data.
- Please describe your experience working with students from low-income backgrounds and the strategies you have used as a school leader to support their success in a rigorous academic program.
Work Location: In person