Uplift Education: Primary School Academic Director (Principal) Pool (26-27)
Uplift Education, Dallas, Texas, United States, 75215
Uplift Education: Primary School Academic Director (Principal) Pool (26-27) JobID: 5647
Date Posted: 12/9/2025
Closing Date: 01/07/2026
Position Type: Administration - Deans, Directors, etc/ Director - Academic
Location: Central Management Office Dallas
Mission Statement:
Uplift's mission is to create and sustain public schools of excellence that empower each student to reach their highest potential in college and the global marketplace and that inspire in students a life-long love of learning, achievement, and service in order to positively change their world.
Primary Purpose ThePrimarySchool Academic Director is the leader of the school and, in conjunction with the Operations Director, is responsible for all aspects of running the school. ThePrimarySchool Academic Director sets the instructional and academic vision for the school, aligned with Uplift's IB vision for excellence. They will establish and maintain a supportive, respectful learning environment and guide the school leadership team to develop the talent on campus to achieve strong academic and cultural outcomes. The PrimarySchool Director will partner and work effectively with the campus leadership team as well as other leaders across the network to realize Uplift's mission for the communities it serves.
Duties & Responsibilities Campus Leadership
Develop and execute on a strategic vision for school that aligns with network priorities
Establish and maintain a shared vision of success for staff members and scholars
Outline clear goals for the school and create targets and aligned strategies to continually improve scholar outcomes through teacher and staff effectiveness
Establish and maintain a culture of continuous improvement
Serve as visible campus leader in the community with families, community partners, and board members
Instructional Leadership (Coaching, Planning & Management)
Establish and implement systems and protocols to regularly and effectively assess schoolwide instructional practice
Coach and develop Deans, teacher leaders and a portfolio of teachers, as applicable
Observe staff members regularly and provide targeted feedback
Monitor progress of teams (grade level/content area) through debriefs, observation, and academic data review at frequent checkpoints
Create, deliver and manage professional development offerings for staff members aligned to campus priorities
Facilitate data meetings and action planning with leadership and other key teams
Analyze and synthesize school, teacher, and scholar data regularly in order to plan effective course corrections
People Management & Development
Establish school norms for all people managers at the school around people management and development
Recruit, hire, mentor and retain high-quality and high-performing staff members
Define expectations and goals for staff performance across all areas of their job to ensure school operations and goals are fulfilled
Provide day to day feedback and coaching (performance/technical and developmental) to staff
Serve as a thought partner and guide for planning professional development for direct reports aligned to developmental goals
Observe employee performance, record observations, and conduct rigorous performance evaluations based in continuous improvement and accountability for results
Supervise all employee discipline situations and make decisions about termination or suspension
Scholar Culture & Family Partnership
Ensure the student handbook and Code of Conduct is published and applied in compliance with Uplift guidelines, and that all related procedures regarding student discipline, investigations and documentation standards are correctly executed
Ensure rules are implemented consistently and that scholar discipline is appropriate and equitable in accordance with the handbook and Code of Conduct, with an emphasis on the use of restorative practices
Support the Dean with preparing for and facilitating meetings/conference with parents, scholars and teachers
Facilitate and/or conduct high priority meetings with parents, scholars and teachers with emergency or repeated violations of the Code of Conduct, including making recommendations for scholar expulsion
Create or facilitate the creation of systems to ensure strong plans are in place for scholar services and management (support services, discipline management, etc.)
Encourage and foster strong relationships with families to encourage community involvement in the school
Professional Growth & Learning The Academic Director is responsible for acting professionally and ethically at all times, while relentlessly pursuing continual improvement.
Model and demonstrate the highest standard of professional conduct, ethical principles and integrity in decision making, actions and behaviors
Seek and engage in learning opportunities to develop holistically as leader (technical skill development, adaptive leadership development, cultural development)
Attend and participate in network leadership meetings, academies, conferences, as applicable
Implement practices learned at professional development, monitor and evaluate implementation for effectiveness, and share findings with network leaders
Administrative Functions The Academic Director collaborates closely with school and K-12 campus leadership teams to ensure strong implementation of programs and events.
Manage resources (people, financial) effectively to support school and organizational goals
Utilize funds in compliance with organizational, state and federal guidelines in order to achieve school goals
Establish organizational structures and systems for scholar and teacher management and retention
Coordinate the planning of daily school activities with leadership team and staff
Qualifications Education, Experience, and/or Certification(s) Education & Certification Requirements
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university required. Master’s degree is desirable but not required.
Valid teaching certification and/or principal certificate in the State of Texas is preferred but not required.
Experience Requirements
Minimum five years of experience in education, with at least two of those years’ experience with primary school level instruction.
Minimum of three years as a Dean or Assistant Principal.
Teaching or leadership experience at an IB World School is preferred but not required.
Prior experience leading a school through IB authorization and/or evaluation is preferred but not required.
Required Skills/Abilities
Communication Skills:
Excellent oral and written communication skills with an ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.
Bi-lingual Skills:
Bilingual (Spanish) preferred but not required.
Technology:
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Suite applications is required. Working knowledge of common educational technology and IB digital platforms is preferred.
Other Required Skills/Competencies
A belief in Uplift Education's mission, values, and operating norms and a commitment to living them daily
Thorough knowledge of the principles, methods, strategies, goals, and objectives of public education
Excellent interpersonal, leadership, and management skills with a keen ability to motivate, educate, and inspire both internal and external stakeholders
Ability to effectively plan, organize and execute the management functions of school operation and initiatives
Ability to effectively analyze, address and solve complex problems and develop creative solutions
Ability to engage sensitively and fairly with persons from diverse cultural backgrounds and interact with a broad range of stakeholders with different interests and needs
Ability to navigate complex student situations, including escalated student discipline issues, coupled with advanced knowledge of federal and state law as it pertains to scholar and family rights
Ability to handle multiple priorities and frequent interruptions
Work Environment
Employee must be able to maintain emotional control under stress.
Occasional prolonged and irregular hours will be necessary.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear.
The employee frequently is required to use hands and fingers to handle, feel and reach with hands and arms.
The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, and use stairs.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
Occasional travel between home campus and CMO or other campuses is required. Employee must have reliable transportation to travel between campuses/offices within the DFW Metroplex.
This document describes the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required. I attest that I can complete all of the essential duties of this role with or without an accommodation.
Uplift Education is an equal employment opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any classification protected by federal, state or local law.
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Closing Date: 01/07/2026
Position Type: Administration - Deans, Directors, etc/ Director - Academic
Location: Central Management Office Dallas
Mission Statement:
Uplift's mission is to create and sustain public schools of excellence that empower each student to reach their highest potential in college and the global marketplace and that inspire in students a life-long love of learning, achievement, and service in order to positively change their world.
Primary Purpose ThePrimarySchool Academic Director is the leader of the school and, in conjunction with the Operations Director, is responsible for all aspects of running the school. ThePrimarySchool Academic Director sets the instructional and academic vision for the school, aligned with Uplift's IB vision for excellence. They will establish and maintain a supportive, respectful learning environment and guide the school leadership team to develop the talent on campus to achieve strong academic and cultural outcomes. The PrimarySchool Director will partner and work effectively with the campus leadership team as well as other leaders across the network to realize Uplift's mission for the communities it serves.
Duties & Responsibilities Campus Leadership
Develop and execute on a strategic vision for school that aligns with network priorities
Establish and maintain a shared vision of success for staff members and scholars
Outline clear goals for the school and create targets and aligned strategies to continually improve scholar outcomes through teacher and staff effectiveness
Establish and maintain a culture of continuous improvement
Serve as visible campus leader in the community with families, community partners, and board members
Instructional Leadership (Coaching, Planning & Management)
Establish and implement systems and protocols to regularly and effectively assess schoolwide instructional practice
Coach and develop Deans, teacher leaders and a portfolio of teachers, as applicable
Observe staff members regularly and provide targeted feedback
Monitor progress of teams (grade level/content area) through debriefs, observation, and academic data review at frequent checkpoints
Create, deliver and manage professional development offerings for staff members aligned to campus priorities
Facilitate data meetings and action planning with leadership and other key teams
Analyze and synthesize school, teacher, and scholar data regularly in order to plan effective course corrections
People Management & Development
Establish school norms for all people managers at the school around people management and development
Recruit, hire, mentor and retain high-quality and high-performing staff members
Define expectations and goals for staff performance across all areas of their job to ensure school operations and goals are fulfilled
Provide day to day feedback and coaching (performance/technical and developmental) to staff
Serve as a thought partner and guide for planning professional development for direct reports aligned to developmental goals
Observe employee performance, record observations, and conduct rigorous performance evaluations based in continuous improvement and accountability for results
Supervise all employee discipline situations and make decisions about termination or suspension
Scholar Culture & Family Partnership
Ensure the student handbook and Code of Conduct is published and applied in compliance with Uplift guidelines, and that all related procedures regarding student discipline, investigations and documentation standards are correctly executed
Ensure rules are implemented consistently and that scholar discipline is appropriate and equitable in accordance with the handbook and Code of Conduct, with an emphasis on the use of restorative practices
Support the Dean with preparing for and facilitating meetings/conference with parents, scholars and teachers
Facilitate and/or conduct high priority meetings with parents, scholars and teachers with emergency or repeated violations of the Code of Conduct, including making recommendations for scholar expulsion
Create or facilitate the creation of systems to ensure strong plans are in place for scholar services and management (support services, discipline management, etc.)
Encourage and foster strong relationships with families to encourage community involvement in the school
Professional Growth & Learning The Academic Director is responsible for acting professionally and ethically at all times, while relentlessly pursuing continual improvement.
Model and demonstrate the highest standard of professional conduct, ethical principles and integrity in decision making, actions and behaviors
Seek and engage in learning opportunities to develop holistically as leader (technical skill development, adaptive leadership development, cultural development)
Attend and participate in network leadership meetings, academies, conferences, as applicable
Implement practices learned at professional development, monitor and evaluate implementation for effectiveness, and share findings with network leaders
Administrative Functions The Academic Director collaborates closely with school and K-12 campus leadership teams to ensure strong implementation of programs and events.
Manage resources (people, financial) effectively to support school and organizational goals
Utilize funds in compliance with organizational, state and federal guidelines in order to achieve school goals
Establish organizational structures and systems for scholar and teacher management and retention
Coordinate the planning of daily school activities with leadership team and staff
Qualifications Education, Experience, and/or Certification(s) Education & Certification Requirements
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university required. Master’s degree is desirable but not required.
Valid teaching certification and/or principal certificate in the State of Texas is preferred but not required.
Experience Requirements
Minimum five years of experience in education, with at least two of those years’ experience with primary school level instruction.
Minimum of three years as a Dean or Assistant Principal.
Teaching or leadership experience at an IB World School is preferred but not required.
Prior experience leading a school through IB authorization and/or evaluation is preferred but not required.
Required Skills/Abilities
Communication Skills:
Excellent oral and written communication skills with an ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.
Bi-lingual Skills:
Bilingual (Spanish) preferred but not required.
Technology:
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Suite applications is required. Working knowledge of common educational technology and IB digital platforms is preferred.
Other Required Skills/Competencies
A belief in Uplift Education's mission, values, and operating norms and a commitment to living them daily
Thorough knowledge of the principles, methods, strategies, goals, and objectives of public education
Excellent interpersonal, leadership, and management skills with a keen ability to motivate, educate, and inspire both internal and external stakeholders
Ability to effectively plan, organize and execute the management functions of school operation and initiatives
Ability to effectively analyze, address and solve complex problems and develop creative solutions
Ability to engage sensitively and fairly with persons from diverse cultural backgrounds and interact with a broad range of stakeholders with different interests and needs
Ability to navigate complex student situations, including escalated student discipline issues, coupled with advanced knowledge of federal and state law as it pertains to scholar and family rights
Ability to handle multiple priorities and frequent interruptions
Work Environment
Employee must be able to maintain emotional control under stress.
Occasional prolonged and irregular hours will be necessary.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear.
The employee frequently is required to use hands and fingers to handle, feel and reach with hands and arms.
The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, and use stairs.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
Occasional travel between home campus and CMO or other campuses is required. Employee must have reliable transportation to travel between campuses/offices within the DFW Metroplex.
This document describes the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required. I attest that I can complete all of the essential duties of this role with or without an accommodation.
Uplift Education is an equal employment opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any classification protected by federal, state or local law.
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