School Summary: 

Georgia Connections Academy is a tuition-free, full-time virtual school for students in grades K-12 throughout Georgia. The school is authorized by the Georgia Charter Schools Commission and governed by an independent Board of Directors, with a mission to maximize academic achievement for students who are seeking other academic options. The school is operated by Georgia Connections Academy, a nonprofit corporation, through a contract with Connections Academy of Georgia, LLC, to provide its educational program and other services. Connections Academy, a division of Connections Education, is accredited by Cognia. Georgia Connections Academy is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement. 

Position Overview: 

Working from the Duluth Office, the Assistant Principal of Curriculum and Instruction will collaborate with the Principal of Curriculum and Instruction to develop and implement innovative instructional programs across the district. This individual will collaborate with school and district leaders to successfully roll out new curricula and instructional initiatives and oversee the instructional coaching team. In addition, the role is critical in staying informed about legislative changes related to curriculum and educational standards, serving as a liaison between the school community and our partners at Pearson, and ensuring the success of instructional support programs. 

The Assistant Principal will also assist with data collection for district- and school-level meetings, as well as certification renewals, including Cognia/AdvancED. The ideal candidate will have strong qualifications in data collection and management, with extensive experience in coding and proficiency in data programs such as Excel, Google Sheets, and Power BI. 

All GACA staff must be able to participate in monthly in-person activities, including but not limited to: 

School and department meetings,  Student engagement opportunities,  Required training/development,  School-level events, such as state testing and graduation. 

This is a 12-month, full-time position.

Key Responsibilities: 

Curriculum and Instructional Program Development: 

Collaborate with the Principal of Curriculum and Instruction to design and implement high-impact instructional programs that align with district goals and educational standards. Stay up-to-date with relevant legislative priorities and new standards in education to ensure that curriculum and instructional programs meet state and federal requirements.  Assist in the development and implementation of innovative programs such as STEAM, IB, PLTW, and career academies to enhance student engagement and academic success. Serve as a liaison between Pearson and GACA to implement curriculum changes, manage course selection and course modification requests.  Conduct ongoing research and analysis to identify best practices and procedures in education and related fields.  Use findings to inform the development of future programs, ensuring continuous improvement and innovation within the organization. 

Data Collection and Reporting: 

Establish a comprehensive monitoring and tracking system for all signature programs across the district, collecting relevant data points to assess their effectiveness and impact.  Audit internal instructional support programs to ensure school processes and procedures are followed.  Collect, organize, and manage data required for certification renewals, including reporting for Cognia/AdvancED accreditation.  Monitor and report on the effectiveness of instructional programs, ensuring that all data is accurate and complies with district and accreditation standards.  Assist in managing student compliance with key academic program requirements. Instructional Support Programs:  Oversee instructional support initiatives such as Math Evening Tutoring and Saturday Learning Academy, ensuring they effectively support student academic achievement.  Collaborate with faculty and school leaders to track student progress, identify academic needs, and provide appropriate interventions. 

Staff Development and Leadership: 

Work closely with school leaders to design and implement an effective instructional coaching program, supporting professional development and enhancing instructional practices across the district.  Foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement by developing training opportunities for educators to refine their teaching strategies and incorporate new instructional technologies.  Help coordinate external training and development for staff. Monitor the effectiveness of the instructional coaching program through thorough oversight of the coaching cycle.  Collect and analyze data around the effectiveness of the instructional coaching program.  Work closely with the district leadership team to implement teacher recognition programs. 

Leadership and Innovation: 

Observe, supervise, and evaluate staff, as assigned, in accordance with district policies, including TKES.  Contribute to the ongoing improvement of the school’s instructional programs, implementing new educational technologies and processes that enhance student learning and teacher effectiveness.  Participate in the development of school improvement plans, working with the leadership team to monitor academic performance and ensure the successful implementation of new initiatives.  Responsible for gathering, organizing, and disseminating crucial data related to School Year Cycle tasks (SYC), contacts, grading, and other relevant information.  Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure accurate and up-to-date data collection, facilitating efficient decision-making processes.  Foster communication and collaboration among educators and staff to ensure seamless execution of planned activities. 

Streamline Communication: 

Take a proactive role in preparing and organizing meetings and agendas for Instructional Coaching meetings, ensuring that all pertinent topics are covered and objectives are met effectively.  Regularly update and maintain the Instructional Leaders IA every Friday, ensuring that it reflects the latest information, policies, and procedures.  Manage the instructional leader's resource page.  Serve as a major program information resource person, acting as liaison between schools, departments, District office, and other locations.  Attend meetings as a recorder, preparing minutes from notes. Compose a variety of materials from brief verbal and written instruction.  Refer specific communications or correspondence to appropriate staff members for the gathering of data or for a response.  Exercise diplomacy in answering questions and resolve situations involving school and district personnel through knowledge of school policies and general district rules and regulations. 

Other duties as assigned and needed by school administrators. 

Qualifications:

Valid teaching certification and GAPSC educational leadership certification or currently enrolled in a leadership program.  Must have received a rating of Effective or Highly Effective in the most recent performance reviews.  Must have no ethics violations  Previous experience in educational leadership (preferred).  Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.  Knowledge of curriculum development and instructional best practices. Commitment to student success and teacher support.  Must receive manager recommendation (if internal applicant).  Possesses a positive customer service attitude in interactions with all stakeholders. Flexible and willing to provide and receive constructive feedback.  Must be able and willing to conduct and participate in collaborative meetings, professional development sessions, and events at the GACA office and/or other locations as needed. Demonstrated ability to work well in a fast-paced environment. Willingness to travel on occasion for marketing and state testing events (may require occasional overnight travel).