Assistant Principal, Charter Elementary School

About PLN

Founded on Skid Row in 1980, Para Los Niños (PLN) partners with more than 10,000 children, youth, and families each year through integrated education, wellness supports and advocacy, addressing individual and systemic barriers to create pathways to success. In addition to operating early education centers, charter elementary and middle schools, youth workforce development sites and family services, PLN is the only children's mental health provider in the Skid Row neighborhood. PLNs community transformation work brings together community members, community-based organizations, city and county agencies, elected officials, and businesses to tackle issues that impact PLN families. Ninety-three percent of families served by PLN live in areas with the highest levels of food insecurity and homelessness in L.A. County.

About Para Los Niños Charter Middle School

Building on the success of our elementary school, PLN Charter Middle School opened on a co-located campus in August 2013. We take a transformative approach to redesigning schools through the California Community Schools model. By leveraging the collective power of our families and community, we create an inclusive and safe learning environment where all scholars can thrive and reach their full potential. Through integration we foster strong partnerships with our early education centers, expanded learning program and support team. We aim to create a seamless connection between the school, home, and broader community. This empowers our scholars to thrive emotionally and academically, contribute meaningfully to their community, and lead joyful lives.

Position Overview

Para Los Niños seeks a transformational Assistant Principal to support the acceleration of student achievement and sustain a positive academic culture and safe school climate for all students. The Assistant Principal serves as a key member of the school leadership team and works in close partnership with the Principal to ensure all students have the academic, social-emotional, behavioral, and enrichment supports necessary to thrive.

The Assistant Principal helps lead the implementation of the schools instructional vision, culture initiatives, student support systems, and operational priorities. The ideal candidate is an student-centered instructional leader who is deeply committed to the PLN Community Schools model and has demonstrated success developing teachers and staff, strengthening instructional and operational systems, and improving outcomes for students in high-needs communities.

The Assistant Principal collaborates closely with students, families, staff, PLN departments, and community partners to provide comprehensive, integrated services that support the whole child. The Assistant Principal reports directly to the Principal and serves as a strategic thought partner in achieving school-wide goals and organizational priorities.

Essential Responsibilities

Student-Centered Leadership & Program Oversight

• Partner with the Principal to implement a clear strategic vision for improving teaching, learning, and student outcomes.
• Support school-wide improvement efforts through the collection, analysis, and interpretation of multiple data sources.
• Collaborate with the Instructional Leadership Team (ILT) to develop, implement, and monitor annual school goals and equity-focused action plans.
• Partner with students, staff, and families to cultivate a culture that is student-centered, inclusive, collaborative, anti-racist, and focused on high expectations for all.
• Develop a deep understanding of and commitment to the PLN Community Schools model by actively collaborating with internal PLN departments and external community partners.
• Support the alignment of curriculum, instruction, assessment, and intervention systems to Common Core State Standards and inquiry-based instructional practices.
• Lead implementation of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) to address students academic, behavioral, attendance, and social-emotional needs.
• Collaborate with mental health clinicians, social workers, Expanded Learning staff, Community Schools staff, and teachers to coordinate comprehensive student supports.
• Create and sustain a culture of learning that values the unique strengths, identities, and needs of every student while promoting social, emotional, intellectual, and physical well-being.
• Provide leadership and oversight for programs including, but not limited to, Special Education, Title I, MTSS, Multilingual Learner programs, attendance initiatives, restorative practices, and student intervention systems.
• Support implementation of state and federal accountability requirements, assessments, and school improvement initiatives.

People Management & Professional Development

• Partner with the Principal to implement a strong instructional framework that supports high-quality teaching and learning.
• Conduct regular classroom observations, learning walks, and instructional coaching cycles.
• Provide actionable feedback that promotes teacher growth and instructional effectiveness.
• Supervise and evaluate assigned certificated and classified personnel.
• Build staff capacity to analyze student data and use evidence-based practices to improve student outcomes.
• Facilitate and support Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), data chats, and collaborative planning processes.
• Co-plan and facilitate high-quality professional development aligned to school goals and student needs.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, development, retention, and succession planning efforts for school staff.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous learning, and professional growth.

School Culture, Student Services & Community Schools Implementation

• Lead the implementation of systems that foster positive student behavior through restorative, relationship-based, and anti-racist practices.
• Support student discipline, attendance, behavior intervention, and school culture initiatives.
• Coordinate and monitor attendance improvement strategies and student support plans.
• Promote student voice, belonging, engagement, and leadership opportunities.
• Partner with Community Schools, Expanded Learning, Family Engagement, and Student & Community Services teams to ensure integrated supports for students and families.
• Help ensure students and families have access to academic, behavioral, mental health, enrichment, and family support services.
• Monitor school climate and culture data and implement improvement strategies as needed.

Operations & Resource Management

• Support the Principal in managing school operations, resources, and systems to maximize student success and organizational effectiveness.
• Coordinate implementation of school safety plans, emergency preparedness efforts, crisis response procedures, and compliance requirements.
• Oversee student discipline and attendance systems and ensure accurate documentation and reporting.
• Coordinate transportation services, field trip processes, and related operational functions.
• Assist with the development and monitoring of the school budget and ensure resources are aligned with student and school needs.
• Assist with development and implementation of the master schedule.
• Support charter renewal, oversight visits, audits, and compliance reviews.
• Establish and maintain effective communication systems that promote transparency, collaboration, and feedback among stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, county, charter, and organizational requirements.

Family & Community Engagement

• Build strong, trusting relationships with families to support a welcoming, inclusive, and student-centered school community.
• Partner with families to support student success and foster meaningful family engagement.
• Collaborate with Community Schools, Expanded Learning, Family Engagement, and Student & Community Services teams to implement family engagement strategies grounded in family voice and partnership.
• Develop and maintain systems of communication that keep families informed about their childs academic, behavioral, attendance, and social-emotional progress.
• Support family workshops, leadership opportunities, community events, and parent engagement initiatives.
• Cultivate partnerships with community organizations and service providers to strengthen support systems for students and families.
• Represent the school at community events, recruitment efforts, family meetings, and organizational functions.

Organizational Leadership & Professional Responsibilities

• Serve as an administrator and integral member of the schools leadership team.
• Actively collaborate with other PLN departments, including Student & Community Services, Expanded Learning, Community Schools, Early Education, Operations, Human Resources, Finance, and Development.
• Maintain professional standards and contribute to a school environment that is safe, productive, equitable, and focused on student success.
• Participate in professional learning, leadership development, and organizational initiatives.
• Attend staff meetings, school events, student activities, family engagement events, and community functions, including occasional evenings and weekends.
• Be available to support students, families, and staff regarding significant concerns as needed.
• Carry out the mission, vision, values, and strategic priorities established by Para Los Niños.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Principal or Managing Director, Charter Schools.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics

• 2+ years of experience serving in a school leadership role and at least 5 years as a teacher (prior Assistant Principal/School Leadership experience strongly preferred).
• A commitment to improving academic achievement and life outcomes for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds with a deep belief that all students can reach high levels of achievement.
• Demonstrated success in improving student achievement with a track record of increasing student growth on standardized test scores across student groups and other indicators of success.
• Experience with or knowledge of the curricula our students use is a plus; these include: Illustrative Math, EL Education (ELA), Stile Education (science), and iReady.
• Inspiring and visionary leader able to build trust and strong working relationships with students, teachers, classified staff, parents, and other community members.
• Demonstrates cultural competence; comfortable, respectful, and humble when working with diverse populations.
• Strong professional judgment and integrity; able to make tough decisions under pressure.
• Oral and written communication skills in English is required, Spanish proficiency is preferred.
• Committed to continuous learning by engaging in reflection, self-assessment, and professional development; open to new ideas and opinions.

Requirements

• Valid California Teaching Credential (required) & California Administrative Services Credential (preferred).
• Master's degree from an accredited college or university.
• CPR & First Aid certification.
• Must be able to pass a TB test and background check, at the time of offer.
• A valid Class C California driver's license and reliable transportation with state-required automobile.

Application and Hiring Process

We're thrilled to review your application! To apply, please visit the Join Our Team page at www.ParaLosNinos.org and submit your resume along with a letter of interest. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with interviews expected to begin at the end of July.

Compensation and Benefits

The compensation range is $115,000 - $145,000 and is commensurate with experience. This is a 12-month position with 230 workdays.

Para Los Niños is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

It is the established policy of Para Los Niños (PLN) to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without discrimination with regard to race, religious belief (including dress or grooming practices), color, sex, sex stereotype, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions (including breastfeeding), age, national origin (including possessing a driver's license issued under Vehicle Code § 12801.9), ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identification and expression, transgender status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristics, genetic information, family care, marital status, enrollment in any public assistance program, status as military, a veteran or qualified disabled veteran, status as an unpaid intern or volunteer, or any other classification protected by law. PLN also prohibits discrimination based on the perception that anyone has any of those characteristics, or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics.