▶️ The Relentless Instructional Driver A rising school leader who treats academic rigor as the non-negotiable center of every decision. They own instructional quality across their grade levels - conducting tight observation cycles, delivering real-time coaching, and using student achievement data to diagnose gaps and drive action. They move teachers and scholars toward mastery of grade-level content because they refuse to manage around the gap.

▶️ The Emerging People Developer A coach and developer of teachers who understands that a school's ceiling is set by the adults in the building. They build genuine relationships with the 3–9 instructional staff in their charge, creating cultures where feedback flows freely and teachers grow because someone actually invested in them. They are on a clear path to developing Deans, APs, and teacher leaders - and they treat this stage of their career as the foundation for that work.

▶️ The Culture Keeper A leader for whom school culture is never an accident. They build warm, predictable, high-expectation environments through tight systems and visible presence during the moments that matter most - arrival, dismissal, transitions, lunch, and every space in between. They hold the line on PREP values for every scholar and adult, every day.

▶️ The Mission-Bound Community Builder A leader whose commitment to the community is personal, not positional. They earn family trust through consistency and genuine care, ensuring parents feel deeply connected to their child's teacher and to school leadership. They understand that family partnership is not a nice-to-have - it is core to scholar success.

▶️ The Hungry, Grounded Learner A leader who takes full accountability without deflecting and sees this role for what it is: the most important developmental investment of their career. When things get hard, they get calm. They are genuinely open to coaching, hungry for feedback, and committed to getting a little better every day - because they know their scholars and their future campus are counting on it.

• May 3: Application Due Date

• May 5: Phone Screens End

• May 6 - 11: Project Phase

• May 14 & 15: Virtual Semi-Finalist Round

• May 18 - 22: Final Interview Days (in-person in Denver, CO)

About University Prep

Our Mission: Building a foundation of skills, knowledge, and character, University Prep educates every scholar for a four-year college degree and a life of opportunity.

Founded in 2011, University Prep is a network of public charter elementary schools serving scholars from Pre-K through 5th grade across Denver and Commerce City. Today, U Prep operates three elementary campuses, each grounded in the belief that all children - regardless of background - can achieve at the highest levels when adults hold high expectations and deliver excellent instruction.

With more than 90% of U Prep alumni on track for postsecondary success - nearly 3x the statewide rate - our scholars are beating the odds. Everything we do starts with our investment in the adults who lead our work. They are the game changers who make everything possible.

About the Opportunity

The Principal in Residence (PIR) is University Prep's advanced leadership development pathway for rising principals. This is not a passive training role. PIRs are full school-based leaders - carrying real responsibility for a campus while being intensively developed to assume a Principal role within one to two years.

The PIR works directly alongside a Principal with coaching and support from the network’s  Principal Manager, serving as a senior leader on a U Prep campus. In Year 1, PIRs own a significant portion of the school's instructional, cultural, and operational work - developing the habits, skills, and mindsets that define a U Prep principal. In Year 2, PIRs layer on additional responsibilities designed to prepare them to lead a campus independently. In select cases, the program may be accelerated to a single year based on the network's needs and the PIR's demonstrated readiness.

"We have been a part of the University Prep family from the beginning. Over the past school years, I've been so proud to see my child grow, learn, and get the support that I feel every child should receive." – U Prep Parent

What You'll Do

Lead Instruction on Your Grade Level(s)

• Own instructional quality for 1–3 grade levels, working closely with the Principal to implement the campus-wide academic vision.

• Conduct rigorous observation cycles, model lessons, co-plan unit and lesson plans, and deliver real-time coaching to 3–9 instructional staff.

• Analyze student achievement data to diagnose gaps and drive action planning at the teacher and grade-level.

• Ensure strong alignment to standards-aligned curriculum (Eureka Math, EL Education, CKLA, Amplify Science) across your grade levels.

Build Culture & Community

• Serve as a cultural and community leader for your grade levels - building teacher capacity in culture, classroom management , and family engagement.

• Maintain visible leadership presence during key moments: arrival, dismissal, transitions, lunch, recess, and celebrations.

• Support the implementation of school-wide culture systems and hold the line on expectations for every scholar and adult every day.

• Partner with families to ensure parents feel deeply connected to their child's educator and to the school's leadership.

Develop as a School Leader

• Receive weekly, personalized coaching from your Principal or Principal Manager - including observation debriefs, leadership planning, and 1:1 development meetings.

• Engage in targeted professional development aligned to your individual growth, including observation/debrief cycles, data days, Summer Institute, and quarterly leadership development.

• Take on stretch leadership opportunities including leading professional development, managing school-wide systems, and serving as acting principal in your mentor's absence.

• In cases where the PIR is identified to become a school leader in year two, prepare during the spring of Year 1 for full principal-level responsibilities.

Support School Operations & Systems

• Partner with the Dean of Operations to ensure smooth, effective school-wide systems and routines.

• Share responsibility with the school leadership team across professional development, common space culture, and special events (trips, community meetings, evening events).

• Manage logistical and operational structures that contribute to a safe, predictable, and joyful learning environment.

Why We'll Love You

• You are deeply committed to working with young people and are unwavering in your optimism about what they can achieve. You love children.

• You are obsessed with high-expectation school culture in which our PREP values - Pride, Responsibility, Enthusiasm, and Perseverance - are ever-present. You are mission and values-driven.

• Great teaching resulting in demonstrable scholar learning is your focus. You are relentless about scholar mastery of challenging, grade-level content. You believe academic rigor is the priority.

• You push people to achieve more than they could on their own because you genuinely care about them. You love working with adults.

• You get a little better every day because you are invested in truly mastering your craft. You want to be the best.

• When things feel impossible, you roll up your sleeves, stay calm, and find a way to the finish line. You never give up.

Qualifications & Experience

• Full commitment to University Prep's mission, vision, and core identity.

• Demonstrated success as a teacher in an urban setting (3+ years), as defined by academic achievement.

• 1–3 years of experience in a school-based leadership role (e.g., Instructional Coach, Dean, Assistant Principal, or equivalent).

• Elementary school experience preferred; charter school experience strongly valued.

• Deep knowledge of the Common Core State Standards (K–5).

• Experience with cohesive, standards-aligned curricula (e.g., Eureka Math, EL Education, CKLA, Amplify Science).

• Strong organizational skills as demonstrated through ability to consistently prioritize

• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills

• Proven ability to leverage data-analysis to drive strategic decision making

• A growth mindset and deep openness to feedback and coaching.

• Bachelor's degree required.

• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.

Our Investment in You

University Prep is committed to developing its next generation of principals. The PIR program is the clearest expression of that commitment.

Benefit Details

Salary: $100,000+

Relocation / Signing: Up to $10,000

Medical: 100% employer-paid medical insurance; dental, vision, critical illness, and accident options

Wellness: Up to $600 annually in a personal wellness account

Retirement: Colorado PERA retirement system, including a PERA 401(k) option

Coaching: Weekly, personalized coaching and development from your Principal and/or Principal Manager

Pathway: Clear, structured pathway to a Campus Principal role within 1–2 years