Al-Hamra Academy Job Description
Principal of Elementary and Middle School
Al-Hamra Academy’s mission is to promote academic excellence and apply the rich
Islamic tradition of intellectual, moral and spiritual learning. We strive to nurture future
leaders who are proud of their identity and contribute responsibly to global society.
Al-Hamra Academy is the first full-time accredited Islamic school in New England. Our
goal is to raise children with a strong intellectual and moral background. We strive to
provide an environment that encourages the cognitive, spiritual, moral, emotional, and
physical growth of every student. We have a well-defined, effective and evolving
curriculum that follows the Massachusetts State Curriculum Frameworks. We foster
spiritual and moral growth in a progressive Islamic environment – an environment that
instills in our students the universal values of love, compassion, peace, tolerance,
equality, and justice. Our philosophy reflects our commitment to educate our students to
become responsible and productive members of society through education and social
partnership. Our pursuit of Excellence in Education is built on our core values:
● Commitment to our Children: We are dedicated to each child's holistic
development and well-being.
● Islamic Identity: We celebrate Islamic teachings, nurturing spiritual growth and
moral virtues.
● Academic Excellence: We strive for high standards of education and foster a love
for learning.
● Decisively Innovative: We encourage bold initiatives to enhance teaching and
learning.
● Succeeding as a Community: We foster a collaborative and supportive school
community that empowers students to lead with confidence, compassion and
respect for diverse perspectives.
Al-Hamra Academy is seeking a highly capable, execution-driven Principal to lead the
Elementary and Middle School program with clarity, accountability, and operational rigor.
The Principal is the senior instructional and operational leader of the school, responsible
for ensuring:
● Consistent execution of academic programs.
● Strong instructional leadership and teacher accountability.
● Effective student support systems.
● Reliable day-to-day operations.
● Clear, timely communication with staff and families.
This role requires a leader who can set expectations, ensure follow-through, and build a
culture of accountability and excellence, while remaining deeply committed to the
school’s Islamic mission and values.
Core Responsibilities
1. Instructional Leadership and Academic Excellence
● Establish and enforce clear instructional expectations across all classrooms.
● Ensure consistent curriculum implementation, pacing, and academic rigor.
● Coordinate with and provide oversight over Curriculum Coordinators to:
o Provide direct instructional leadership and coaching to teachers to ensure
academic rigor, alignment, and consistent instructional practices.
o Use student data (MAP, DIBELS, formative assessments, behavior data) to
identify academic and social-emotional needs and drive timely
interventions.
o Lead or co-lead student support processes, including:
▪ At-risk student identification.
▪ Behavioral intervention plans.
▪ Coordination with counselors, specialists, and teachers.
o Play an active leadership role in IEP and special education processes,
ensuring timelines, documentation, and parent communication are
executed correctly and promptly.
o Support effective implementation of SEL programs and ensure consistency
across classrooms and specials.
2. Staff Leadership, Supervision and Accountability
● Directly supervise, evaluate, and develop teaching and administrative staff.
● Ensure clear expectations, accountability, and follow-through across staff.
● Conduct:
o Formal and informal observations.
o Written feedback and coaching.
o Performance improvement plans (PIPs).
o Follow-through to resolution of action items (stemming from observations).
● Address staff performance concerns, misalignment, or non-compliance with
expectations.
● Work with Curriculum Coordinators to support planning and facilitation of
professional development aligned to school priorities.
● Lead hiring, onboarding, and retention of high-quality educators
● Build a professional culture grounded in:
o Ownership.
o Consistency.
o Continuous improvement.
3. Operational Leadership and Execution
● Understand, implement and maintain the Staff Handbook, Parent Student
Handbook and all school policies, procedures and/or guidelines.
● Own and ensure execution of all key school operations, including:
o Student enrollment
▪ Establish a consistent, timely, and professional admissions process.
▪ Ensure a positive family experience, as well as timely and effective
communication.
▪ Ensure accountability and tracking of all inquiries.
o Academic assessments (MAP, DRA, DIBELS) in coordination with Curriculum
Coordinators.
o Scheduling, substitute coverage and staffing logistics.
o Student supervision and daily routines.
o Health, safety, and emergency protocols.
o Ensure required compliance items (e.g., waivers, health communications,
parent notifications) are executed timely and accurately.
● Ensure operational readiness for:
o Testing cycles.
o Reporting periods.
o School events and milestones.
● Maintain strong systems of:
o Clear documentation.
o Tracking.
o Timelines and accountability for all assigned responsibilities.
● Ensure strong fiscal discipline and stewardship
o Ensure responsible stewardship of school resources, aligning spending with
academic priorities and strategic goals.
o Monitor and manage budgets to ensure adherence to approved financial
plans.
o Identify and address inefficiencies in staffing, scheduling, and resource
allocation to improve cost-effectiveness.
o Partner with the Board and school Bookkeeper to support budget planning,
forecasting, and variance analysis.
o Ensure that financial decisions reflect discipline, transparency, and long-
term sustainability.
o Maintain appropriate controls to ensure expenses are necessary, justified,
and aligned with school priorities.
o Support operational decisions (e.g., hiring, scheduling, programs) with an
understanding of their financial impact.
4. Student Support and School Culture
● Promote a positive, disciplined, and mission-aligned school culture rooted in
Islamic values.
● Demonstrate calm authority, sound judgment, and professionalism in challenging
situations.
● Support consistent implementation of school policies, discipline procedures, and
behavioral expectations.
● Model strong leadership presence, decisiveness, and accountability.
● Ensure consistent implementation of social-emotional learning (SEL) programs.
● Collaborate closely with counselors, specialists, and teachers regarding behavioral
interventions and special education plans/IEPs .
5. Parent Communication and Community Engagement
● Serve as the primary leader for parent communication and engagement.
● Communicate proactively, clearly, and professionally with parents regarding
academic, behavioral, and operational matters. Ensure:
o Effective resolution of concerns and escalations.
o Communication timelines and follow-ups are met, documented, and aligned
with school standards.
● Lead or participate in meetings involving:
o Academic concerns.
o Behavioral issues.
o Sensitive or complex situations.
● Maintain a visible and accessible leadership presence within the school community
by representing the Academy at important events, public and private.
6. Leadership Alignment and Board Partnership
● Report directly to the Board of Directors.
● Provide:
o Regular updates on school performance.
o Data-driven insights on academic and operational outcomes.
o Documentation to support leadership and Board oversight.
● Escalate risks, concerns, and systemic issues promptly and proactively.
● Ensure “no surprises” through early identification and communication of issues.
● Align school operations with Board priorities and strategic direction.
Qualifications
Required
● Master’s Degree or higher in Educational Leadership, Administration, Curriculum,
or a related field.
● Minimum 7–10 years of experience in elementary and/or middle school education.
● Demonstrated experience in:
o Teacher supervision and evaluation.
o Student behavior and support systems.
o Academic assessment and data-driven decision-making.
o Parent communication and conflict resolution.
● Strong organizational, documentation, and follow-through skills.
Preferred
● Prior experience as a Principal, Assistant Principal, Dean, or Instructional Leader.
● Experience working in independent, faith-based, or mission-driven schools.
● Training or experience in social-emotional learning and special education
processes.
Key Attributes for Success
● Highly organized and execution-driven.
● Decisive, with strong judgment and accountability.
● Strong written and verbal communicator.
● Calm, firm, and professional under pressure.
● Detail-oriented with strong follow-through.
● Mission-aligned and student-centered.
Position Details
● Job Type: Full-time contract.
● Reports to: Board of Directors.
● Benefits: 401K matching, employee discount, health insurance, paid time off, and
professional development assistance.
Pay: From $45,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
