POSITION: DSST: Green Valley Ranch HS School Director (Principal)
GRADE LEVEL: High School
LOCATION: Green Valley Ranch High School
SALARY: $117,000 - $135,500 based on up to 10 years of aligned experience. We also offer a relocation stipend if you are moving from a location greater than 75 miles from Denver!
STATUS: Full time, benefits eligible, exempt, in-person position (Denver, CO)
START: Summer 2026. You can view the current school year calendar here.
Key Roles & Responsibilities
SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
* Provide exemplary leadership to all members of the school community to achieve outstanding performance in the school’s mission of preparing each student for college and success in the 21st century.
* DSST Mission Driven: Shares a sense of urgency about achievement for ALL students and preparing every student for four-year college.
* Demonstrates tenacity and persistence in pursuit of solutions that maximize student achievement. Is willing to do whatever it takes to get the work done right.
* Inspires students, families, staff, and others to believe in and reflect the school’s mission, high expectations and values.
* Work to dramatically improve student achievement by leading the core model elements of DSST Public Schools.
* Effectively manage and support faculty and staff; supporting other members of the leadership team in their management and support of staff.
* Develop and communicate the School Plan: school’s systems, culture, and vision, and create a plan to achieve that vision
* Serve as point person for all students and families
INSTRUCTIONAL COACHING, EVALUATION, and LEADERSHIP
* Oversee staff of the school, including recruitment, selection, performance and evaluation, management, retention support, and termination.
* Create a professional learning community in which teachers regularly collaborate to reflect on and refine curriculum and instruction at the school using achievement data, student work, and their own observations/experiences.
* Oversee curriculum implementation and assessment
* Oversee the implementation of effective internal and external assessment systems
* Lead the school’s data driven instructional practice
* Ensure strong consistency within the school program and curricular alignment with state and other rigorous standards
* Demonstrates ability to provide teachers with specific, actionable, qualitative (i.e., narrative) and quantitative (i.e., rubric) feedback on their performance in all areas.
* Able to manage a data-driven instructional process that includes rigorous interim assessments that are effectively aligned with year-end assessments and college readiness. Able to align all other school leadership components to the data driven instructional process (professional development, curriculum development, teacher observation/supervision, etc.)
* Manage teaching staff, including professional development, observations, curriculum development, staff communication, and scheduling and program decisions
* Lead staff to ensure that all staff are providing well-managed and rigorous daily lessons
* Foster commitment among staff to the development and fulfillment of the school’s mission and objectives
* Work with staff on all curricular, instructional, assessment, and professional development issues and activities to ensure data drives classroom instruction
* Facilitate positive and strong adult culture
FAMILY and COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
* Maintain communication and relations with the families of the school, ensuring they are kept involved with and held accountable for their children’s academic and behavioral performance
* Communicate regularly with families regarding student performance and academic achievement
* Work with staff to correspond regularly with families regarding school policies, trips, events, and milestones
* Work with staff to plan, coordinate, and support family meetings and special events
* Respond to family concerns promptly and effectively
* Partner with school and network stakeholders to translate and execute a community engagement and recruitment plan into school-based strategies
STUDENT SUPPORT/SCHOOL CULTURE
* Able to establish a school culture that is centered on core values that ultimately deeply cares for each student and staff member and holds each student and staff member to the highest level of accountability.
* Lead school-based Morning Meetings multiple times per month.
* Collaborate with school staff to maximize the ability of the school to support students’ academic and socio-emotional development
* Provide leadership to all staff and students in establishing a positive, structured, achievement-oriented, and fun school culture
* Oversee students’ academic and behavioral program
* Foster consistency in academic and behavioral expectations in and out of class
ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP
* Work closely with the school’s Managing Director to partner closely in driving results
* Receive regular coaching and leadership development from the school's Managing Director aligned to the DSST Leadership Competencies and Skills
* Demonstrate a relentless drive to improve the minds and lives of students in and out of school
* Participate in network wide events and celebrations
* Serve on the DSST Public Schools School Director Team
* Oversee school-wide strategic planning and problem solving
* Able to implement systems that “sweat the small stuff,” maximize the programmatic goals of the school, and are scalable as the school grows. Develops solutions to complex problems that involve multiple stakeholders and steps.
* Manage with fiscal responsibility by developing a disciplined planning process that identifies the school’s highest-priorities.
Minimum Qualifications
* An unwavering belief that all students can succeed in high school, reach their most ambitious post‑secondary goals, and lead exemplary lives
* Desire to grow both personally and professionally in their practice of becoming an anti‑racist educator
* Self‑awareness, a regular practice of reflection, and a desire to continuously improve
* 3+ years teaching preferably in urban schools and/or communities
* 3+ years of experience as a Dean Students, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, or Associate School Director or equivalent leadership role
* Experience in a Principal/School Director Development Program
* Evidence of driving meaningful and lasting results at the school level
Ideal Qualifications
* Experience at a high‑performing charter school highly preferred but not required
* Experience in a Principal/School Director role preferred
Why Work at DSST?
* Comprehensive Compensation & Benefits: Competitive pay and a Total Rewards package that includes fertility and adoption support, educator‑focused mental‑health care, and everyday perks like Safeway grocery discounts.
* Growth & Opportunity: Weekly 1:1 coaching, data‑driven feedback, and clear career pathways such as Apprentice Teacher and Emerging Leader.
* Rewards & Recognition: Core Value and TOAST Awards, milestone celebrations, and the signature Flower Person Award honoring staff who help our community flourish.
* Whole Human Wellness: Access to the Therapist of Color Collaborative, Wellness Wednesdays, comprehensive health coverage, and six weeks of paid parental leave.
* Thriving in Colorado: Time to recharge with 11+ weeks off each year, relocation support for out of state applicants, and local discounts that help you enjoy life in our beautiful sunshine filled state.
Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
DSST Public Schools is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not exclude participation in, deny benefits to or discriminate on the basis of, race, color, religion, National origin, sex (including pregnancy and related conditions, sexual orientation, or gender identity), Age (40 and older), Disability, Genetic information (including employer requests for, or purchase, use, or disclosure of genetic tests, genetic services, or family medical history), retaliation for filing a charge, reasonably opposing discrimination, or participating in a discrimination lawsuit, investigation, or proceeding in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in its programs and activities.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. This position is active and may require standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, and crouching throughout the day. The employee must lift and/or move items up to 30 pounds. The employee must have sufficient hand, arm, and finger dexterity to operate a computer keyboard and other office equipment. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
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