Phalen Leadership Academies
Principal in Residence (PIR) - 25'/ 26' School Year
Phalen Leadership Academies, Charleston, West Virginia, United States, 25364
Principal In Residence Program
The Principal In Residence (PIR) program at Phalen Leadership Academies (PLA) is a one-year leadership residency designed to prepare high-potential leaders to become principals of PLA schools. Through a combination of hands-on leadership experience, targeted professional development, and one-on-one coaching, PIRs gain the skills, knowledge, and mindset required to successfully lead a school. PIRs are placed at high-performing PLA schools and work closely with their regional director and national leadership coach. Throughout the residency, PIRs are active members of the school leadership team and are expected to lead key school initiatives, supervise staff, and contribute to the school's academic and operational success. Program Goals Complete a rigorous 12-month leadership residency while simultaneously fulfilling a full-time administrative role within the school or organization Attend all monthly professional development sessions and weekly coaching calls Help ensure the placement school achieves the following organizational goals: 7%+ increase in student proficiency in both Math and ELA 90% retention of Highly Effective and Effective teachers 100% student enrollment goals met, with 90% year-over-year student persistence Essential Job Task: Instructional Leadership Observe classrooms and deliver actionable feedback using PLA's coaching framework. Lead data-driven instructional planning and monitor academic progress Support intervention and enrichment efforts aligned to student needs and school goals Champion high-quality, standards-aligned instruction in all content areas Talent Management & Coaching Supervise and coach a team of teachers or instructional staff toward clear performance goals Lead weekly data meetings, PLCs, or department meetings Participate in and support teacher evaluation and coaching cycles Assist in onboarding and developing new instructional staff Culture & Climate Leadership Co-lead implementation of PLA's culture systems, ensuring consistency and equity Analyze behavior and attendance data to drive proactive student support strategies Manage family engagement initiatives, student discipline plans, and culture-building projects Plan and lead at least one school-wide event or initiative to strengthen student and family culture School Operations & Strategic Leadership Participate in school strategy meetings and contribute to the school improvement plan. Support or lead projects, including master scheduling, testing, or recruitment events Manage key logistics such as substitute coverage and operational compliance. Represent the school at board meetings, family forums, or community events. Leadership Development & Residency Commitments Attend and actively participate in monthly national training sessions and PLA's summer training institute Engage in weekly coaching sessions and apply feedback to improve practice Complete leadership assignments and build a portfolio of artifacts demonstrating readiness Exhibit initiative, coachability, and ownership over your leadership growth Minimum Job Qualifications Master's degree (or enrollment in a master's program) in education, leadership, or related field At least 5+ years of K12 teaching experience Experience managing adults (e.g., assistant principals, deans, coaches, department/grade level lead) Proven ability to lead teams to achieve strong student outcomes Strong track record of using data to drive decisions and improve results Commitment to equity, excellence, and the mission of closing the opportunity gap for all scholars Core Competencies Instructional Expertise:
Able to identify, model, and support high-quality instruction Data-Driven Decision Making:
Comfortable collecting, analyzing, and using data to drive action Adult Leadership & Management:
Skilled in building accountability and coaching others to grow Communication & Influence:
Communicates with clarity and impact across audiences Resilience & Growth Mindset:
Demonstrates persistence, humility, and a drive to improve continuously
The Principal In Residence (PIR) program at Phalen Leadership Academies (PLA) is a one-year leadership residency designed to prepare high-potential leaders to become principals of PLA schools. Through a combination of hands-on leadership experience, targeted professional development, and one-on-one coaching, PIRs gain the skills, knowledge, and mindset required to successfully lead a school. PIRs are placed at high-performing PLA schools and work closely with their regional director and national leadership coach. Throughout the residency, PIRs are active members of the school leadership team and are expected to lead key school initiatives, supervise staff, and contribute to the school's academic and operational success. Program Goals Complete a rigorous 12-month leadership residency while simultaneously fulfilling a full-time administrative role within the school or organization Attend all monthly professional development sessions and weekly coaching calls Help ensure the placement school achieves the following organizational goals: 7%+ increase in student proficiency in both Math and ELA 90% retention of Highly Effective and Effective teachers 100% student enrollment goals met, with 90% year-over-year student persistence Essential Job Task: Instructional Leadership Observe classrooms and deliver actionable feedback using PLA's coaching framework. Lead data-driven instructional planning and monitor academic progress Support intervention and enrichment efforts aligned to student needs and school goals Champion high-quality, standards-aligned instruction in all content areas Talent Management & Coaching Supervise and coach a team of teachers or instructional staff toward clear performance goals Lead weekly data meetings, PLCs, or department meetings Participate in and support teacher evaluation and coaching cycles Assist in onboarding and developing new instructional staff Culture & Climate Leadership Co-lead implementation of PLA's culture systems, ensuring consistency and equity Analyze behavior and attendance data to drive proactive student support strategies Manage family engagement initiatives, student discipline plans, and culture-building projects Plan and lead at least one school-wide event or initiative to strengthen student and family culture School Operations & Strategic Leadership Participate in school strategy meetings and contribute to the school improvement plan. Support or lead projects, including master scheduling, testing, or recruitment events Manage key logistics such as substitute coverage and operational compliance. Represent the school at board meetings, family forums, or community events. Leadership Development & Residency Commitments Attend and actively participate in monthly national training sessions and PLA's summer training institute Engage in weekly coaching sessions and apply feedback to improve practice Complete leadership assignments and build a portfolio of artifacts demonstrating readiness Exhibit initiative, coachability, and ownership over your leadership growth Minimum Job Qualifications Master's degree (or enrollment in a master's program) in education, leadership, or related field At least 5+ years of K12 teaching experience Experience managing adults (e.g., assistant principals, deans, coaches, department/grade level lead) Proven ability to lead teams to achieve strong student outcomes Strong track record of using data to drive decisions and improve results Commitment to equity, excellence, and the mission of closing the opportunity gap for all scholars Core Competencies Instructional Expertise:
Able to identify, model, and support high-quality instruction Data-Driven Decision Making:
Comfortable collecting, analyzing, and using data to drive action Adult Leadership & Management:
Skilled in building accountability and coaching others to grow Communication & Influence:
Communicates with clarity and impact across audiences Resilience & Growth Mindset:
Demonstrates persistence, humility, and a drive to improve continuously