2026-2027 PRINCIPAL: THE ATLANTA SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

About the job

2026-2027 PRINCIPAL: THE ATLANTA SCHOOL OF THE ARTS JobID: 5416

• Position Type: SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION/PRINCIPAL

• Date Posted: 10/8/2026

• Location: Division of Academics ROLE OVERVIEW: The Principal provides instructional, organizational, and operational leadership to ensure high levels of academic achievement, student well-being, and success for all students. The Principal establishes and advances a clear schoolwide vision, leads the development of effective instructional practices, and uses student and school performance data to drive continuous improvement. The Principal builds and develops a high-performing staff, fosters a safe, inclusive, and supportive school culture, engages families and community partners, and strategically manages school resources and operations in alignment with district priorities.

For The Atlanta School of the Arts, the Principal leads the planning, development, and successful opening of a premier arts-based learning environment in Fall 2028.

The Principal brings students, staff, families, community stakeholders, and key partners together to create a shared vision for rigorous academics and exceptional arts programming, and translates that vision into curriculum, staffing, student recruitment, partnerships, and operational readiness.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITES:

• Establishes and communicates a clear schoolwide vision, goals, and improvement priorities aligned with district strategy and student achievement expectations

• Leads the implementation of rigorous curriculum, instruction, assessment, intervention, and student-support practices that promote academic achievement and student success

• Monitors instructional quality through classroom observations, coaching, feedback, professional learning, and ongoing evaluation of instructional practices

• Leads the analysis and use of student achievement and school performance data to identify needs, establish priorities, monitor progress, and guide continuous improvement

• Oversight of school operations and administrative functions to ensure efficient day-to-day school operations, effective use of resources, compliance with district policies and procedures, and a safe, organized, and effective learning environment

• Develops the capacity of assistant principals, instructional coaches, teacher leaders, and other staff to effectively lead instruction, professional learning, and school improvement efforts

• Establishes systems and structures that promote effective collaboration, professional learning communities, shared accountability, and continuous improvement

• Builds and sustains a safe, inclusive, supportive, and academically focused school culture that promotes student engagement, belonging, well-being, and high expectations

• Recruits, selects, develops, evaluates, and retains highly effective staff while cultivating leadership capacity and a pipeline of future school leaders

• Provides strategic oversight of school operations, including staffing, scheduling, budgeting, facilities, testing, student services, and resource allocation

• Ensures school programs, practices, and operations comply with applicable federal and state laws, Georgia Department of Education requirements, Board policies, and district procedures

• Engages families, the GO Team, community organizations, and other stakeholders as partners in advancing school priorities and improving student outcomes

• Communicates school performance, priorities, needs, and progress effectively to students, employees, families, district leadership, and community stakeholders

• Establishes and implements systems that support student attendance, behavior, safety, academic progress, successful transitions, and readiness for the next level of education, career, and life

• Participates in district professional learning and leadership development and pursues ongoing professional growth to strengthen leadership effectiveness

• Required to have prompt, regular attendance in person and be available to work on-site during regular business hours and as needed

• Leads visioning and strategic planning for The Atlanta School of the Arts, establishing a shared North Star for academic excellence, artistic development, student opportunity, and school culture in preparation for opening Fall 2028.

• Develops and implements a comprehensive school-opening plan with district leadership, including milestones, responsibilities, staffing, programming, enrollment, budget, and operational readiness; monitors progress and addresses barriers to a successful Fall 2028 launch.

• Establishes and sustains key partnerships with arts organizations, professional artists, cultural institutions, colleges and universities, employers, and community organizations to strengthen programming and expand student opportunities

• Leads curriculum design and arts programming in collaboration with district curriculum teams and arts experts, aligning rigorous academic standards with sequential, discipline-specific arts instruction, interdisciplinary learning, college preparation, and career pathways.

• Works collaboratively with the project management team, Capital Improvements, architects, and other district partners throughout renovation to ensure instructional and artistic programming informs the design, functionality, equipment, storage, technology, and readiness of learning, rehearsal, performance, and exhibition spaces.

• Provides timely programmatic input during renovation, participates in design reviews and project meetings, and coordinates school readiness needs with the project management team and district leadership in support of the Fall 2028 opening.

• Builds a cohesive founding staff through collaborative visioning, professional learning, and shared planning, creating collective ownership of a premier School of the Arts and a culture that supports staff retention.

• Plans and leads student auditions and portfolio reviews, as appropriate to each arts discipline, in coordination with Admissions and arts faculty; establishes clear criteria, trained review teams, accessible information, and consistent procedures aligned with district admissions requirements

• Performs other duties as assigned by the appropriate administrator or their representative

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Comprehensive knowledge of instructional leadership, curriculum, assessment, pedagogy, and evidence-based instructional practices
• Knowledge of academic standards, student development, accountability requirements, and practices that support academic achievement and student success
• Skill in analyzing student achievement, instructional, attendance, behavioral, and other school performance data to identify trends and guide improvement
• Ability to establish a clear schoolwide vision, set measurable goals, and lead continuous improvement efforts
• Ability to develop teachers and school leaders through observation, coaching, feedback, professional learning, and collaborative professional learning communities
• Ability to build and sustain a safe, inclusive, supportive, and academically focused school culture that promotes student achievement, engagement, and well-being
• Ability to recruit, develop, retain, evaluate, and manage high-performing staff while cultivating leadership capacity
• Ability to strategically manage staffing, budgets, schedules, facilities, programs, and other school resources
• Strong leadership, communication, collaboration, problem-solving, decision-making, and family and community engagement skills
• Knowledge of arts education, curriculum design, discipline-specific programming, and connections between academic learning, artistic practice, and industry pathways.
• Ability to lead school-opening planning, community visioning, partnership development, and coordination with renovation project teams.
• Ability to develop industry partnerships that support student internships, artist residencies, intensive workshops, and postsecondary opportunities.

Certification/License:

• GaPSC Certificate in a teaching or service field
• GaPSC Certificate Level 5 or higher in Educational Leadership required, or eligibility for certification through the Georgia Professional Standards Commission

Education

• Master's degree in Education or a related field from an accredited institution required

Experience

• 7 years of in a K�12 educational setting required
• 3 years in a school-based administrative leadership position required

COMPENSATION

• Salary Grade: Principal - Secondary
• Salary Range: Salary Schedules � Atlanta Public Schools
• Work Days: 252

PHYSICAL ABILITIES AND WORKING CONDITIONS The physical abilities, working conditions and other conditions of employment listed in this document are representative of, but are not intended to provide an exhaustive list of the requirements for positions in this classification.  In the event of an emergency or situation requiring guidance from Federal, State, or local or school district authorities, the requirements of this position may change temporarily or for the school year to best serve the needs of our students.

• Vision: Ability to read small print and view a computer screen for prolonged periods.
• Hearing: Ability to tolerate exposure to noisy conditions
• Speech: Ability to be understood in face-to-face communications, to speak with a level of proficiency and volume to be understood over a telephone or computer.
• Upper Body Mobility: Ability to use hands to grasp and manipulate small objects; manipulate fingers, twist and bend at wrist and elbow; extend arms to reach outward and upward; use hands and arms to lift objects; turn, raise, and lower head.
• Strength: Ability to lift, push, pull and/or carry objects which weigh as much as 15 or more pounds on a frequent basis.
• Environmental Requirements: Ability to encounter constant work interruptions; work cooperatively with others; work independently; work indoors.
• Mental Requirements: Ability to read, write, understand, interpret and apply information at a moderately complex level essential for successful job performance; math skills at a high school proficiency level; judgement and the ability to process information quickly; learn quickly and follow verbal procedures and standards; give verbal instruction; rank tasks in order of importance; copy, compare, compile and coordinate information and records. Understand how to manage stress
• Additional Work Conditions & Physical Abilities:  Will require travel to multiple sites.

The Atlanta Public School System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, citizenship, ethnic or national origin, age, disability, medical status, military status, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, ancestry, or any legally protected status in any of its employment practices, educational programs, services or activities.  Reasonable

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