The Biome – A YLC STEAM School Title: Principal and Instructional Leader Reports To: President and CEO Mission We engage children in an individualized and challenging educational environment, enriching minds and cultivating confident and creative builders of the future. Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate for this position must be a fearless innovator who is willing and capable of enacting the necessary processes to create and continually enhance our school’s learning environment and learning opportunities for children. We are searching for a “responsible maverick” who will challenge the status quo and do what is best for children. The goals for educating our children are changing and The Biome aims to cultivate future leaders who will design the assembly lines of the future, not work on them. All candidates who fit this description and wish to apply must provide examples of their past innovative approaches to education‐related challenges. Position Description The Principal and Instructional Leader is part of The Biome’s leadership team. The Principal and Instructional Leader will keep The Biome’s leadership team and classroom leaders aware of the changing conceptions of curriculum and identify or develop curricular resources that are aligned to the educational philosophies and beliefs of the school. In keeping with the school’s educational philosophies, the Principal and Instructional Leader will adopt a student‐centered model of teaching and ensure that the classroom leaders are tuned in to issues relating to curriculum, effective pedagogical strategies, and assessment. Lastly, the Principal and Instructional Leader will stay abreast of assessment procedures, including alternative assessment methods, and assessments that aim to:  Identify and value every student’s unique academic abilities and talents  Provide valid data to guide the school’s instructional practices and administrative resource allocations  Meet the academic goals defined in The Biome’s performance contract  Guide the continual improvement of student learning School Description The Biome reflects our belief that the learning environment is critical to student success and must be responsive to the talents and individual academic needs of children. Just as a savannah biome supports a diverse array of life, The Biome will support the diverse academic needs and abilities of our students, and will encourage meaningful interaction of students and adults who will contribute positively to the school and larger communities. The Biome will be a model for integrating student‐centered learning, project‐based opportunities, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) within a nurturing, academic ecosystem. The Biome’s curriculum and overall course of study will include the following core features:  Intensive provision of concentrated literacy and math instruction in the early grades  Ongoing use of integrated/multidisciplinary units and lessons from kindergarten through grade 8  Annual STEAM‐focused and project‐based thematic units, beginning in kindergarten and increasing in rigor through grade 8  Year‐end culminating portfolio presentations for 3rd – 8th graders Page 1 of 3 The Biome – A YLC STEAM School Initially, school leadership will use research‐based purchased curriculum in literacy, math, science, and social studies to provide a foundation for ongoing curriculum development; however, the curriculum will ultimately be customized by experts with the aid of experienced classroom and school leaders, thereby ensuring that the curriculum remains rigorous and applicable to real‐world settings. Responsibilities and Duties  Student Performance o Set and enforce rigorous and relevant standards for student achievement that are in line with the goals and philosophies of The Biome o Ensure the academic program meets or exceeds yearly student individual goals and school‐
wide goals as defined by The Biome’s performance contract o Ensure the academic program supports the growth of every student’s academic strengths and weaknesses  Instructional Leadership o Manage, evaluate and develop a team of classroom leaders o Work with classroom leaders to regularly assess and improve student achievement results o Ensure use of effective, research‐based teaching methodologies and practices o Implement data‐driven instruction and lead discussions about student performance o Work with classroom leaders to improve their teaching practice through coaching, professional development, modeling, and collaborative planning o Keep abreast of successful instructional methodologies and practices o Provide high‐quality curricular training and resources to staff o Provide relevant information to The Biome School Board as directed by the President and CEO o Ensure consistencies in instruction and practice among The Biome’s team of classroom leaders o Foster a culture of professionalism among classroom leaders and staff o Ensure that the learning environment and classroom instruction maximizes student learning o Supervise and mentor all classroom leaders o Create a culture of shared leadership and success among all staff  Personnel o Assist in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of classroom leaders and school‐based support staff o Continually monitor progress on all academic measures of school and classroom leader performance o Administer The Biome’s approved personnel policies and procedures o Oversee any and all disciplinary actions related to classroom leaders o Provide for adequate supervision, training, and evaluation of all teaching staff o Assist in communicating the vision that supports The Biome’s goals and values o Assist in creating an effective team of classroom leaders and staff responsible for the attainment of The Biome’s academic goals and commitment to achieving excellence o Other activities as deemed necessary and/or assigned by the President and CEO Qualifications  3‐5 years of teaching experience and a record of success, demonstrated by student achievement, test scores, portfolios, references, and other indicators  1‐3 years of experience as a school leader (principal or vice principal preferred) with significant areas of responsibility  Bachelor’s degree required; MAT, MEd, EdS, EdD preferred Page 2 of 3 The Biome – A YLC STEAM School 
Possesses or currently obtaining a Missouri or transferable School Administrator/Principal certification  Knowledge of Project Based Learning and STEAM integration Skills and Characteristics  Ability to develop, inspire, and ensure a cooperative learning team  Ability to analyze data, draw strategic conclusions and design tactical recommendations  Demonstrable record of innovation  Possesses a good sense of humor and charisma  Is flexible, self‐confident, resilient, performance‐focused, reliable, consistent, optimistic, and results oriented TO APPLY: Please submit the following items: 1. Resume (not to exceed two pages, 12 pt. font) 2. Brief Bio (not to exceed one page, 12 pt. font) 3. Cover Letter explaining your interest in the position and the following (not to exceed three pages, 12 pt. font): a. examples of past innovative approaches to education‐ related challenges b. examples of past usage of data to improve student achievement To: YLC Attn: The Biome 4471 Olive St. St. Louis, MO 63108 ‐ OR ‐ Email To: thebiome@ylc‐stl.org No phone calls will be accepted. Page 3 of 3