Northwest Classical Academy (NCA) seeks a full-time Upper School Principal. NCA will serve students in grades K-11 in 2025-2026 and will add 12th grade in 2026-2027. The Upper School Principal is responsible for academic performance, culture, and discipline in grades 7-12. The Principal reports to the Head of School and is supported by a Dean of Academics and a Dean of Students.

Responsibilities include the following: 

• Lead students and teachers in the pursuit of the school’s mission to form knowledgeable, virtuous citizens
  • Serve as the principal teacher by hiring, developing, and inspiring the faculty
  • Articulate and enforce age-appropriate standards and consistency in the following areas: homework type and amount, grading standards, relative difficulty, expectations for communication with parents, timeliness of grade inputs, culture, discipline, decorum, and emphasis on virtue
  • Organize and lead faculty meetings and ongoing training sessions
  • Create a culture of coaching that supports the professional development of both new and experienced teachers
  • Lead student culture and oversee disciplinary and extracurricular processes
• Oversee daily operations of the Upper School, including faculty assignments, class schedules, and academic calendars
• Collaborate with the Head of School to implement strategic initiatives
• Communicate with parents proactively and effectively
• Ensure the school meets academic benchmarks required by law and the Charter Agreement
• Cooperate with other members of the leadership and staff with special attention to the importance of teamwork with the Lower School Principal
• Engage professionally with a broad base of constituents including employees, the public, and students and their families
• Direct significant Upper School activities such as multi-day field trips, student council, awards ceremonies, and graduation
• Oversee and direct an academic plan that embraces and upholds the following key characteristics:
  • The centrality of the Western tradition in the study of history, literature, philosophy, and fine arts
  • A rich and recurring examination of the American literary, moral, philosophical, political, and historical traditions
  • The use of explicit grammar instruction leading to English language mastery
  • The teaching of Latin
  • The acknowledgement of objective standards of correctness, logic, beauty, weightiness, and truth intrinsic to the liberal arts and sciences
  • A school culture demanding moral virtue, decorum, respect, discipline, and studiousness among the students and faculty
  • A curriculum that is content-rich, balanced, and strong across the four core disciplines of math, science, literature, and history
  • A faculty of well-educated and articulate teachers who explicitly convey real knowledge to students using traditional teaching methods
  • The appropriate and effective use of technology without diminishing the faculty leadership that is crucial to academic growth

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Ideal candidates will have:

• Demonstrable success in producing sustained academic outcomes and the desired school culture in a similarly-sized classical school; 
• The ability to teach well and to coach teachers to greater degrees of effectiveness;
• Skill in fostering positive, productive relationships and outcomes in a small school environment;
• Experience in personnel management, including recruiting, hiring, supervising, and evaluating;
• An understanding of state accountability systems for K-12 public schools and laws relevant to charter schools;
• Experience dealing with people of diverse backgrounds and constituents with competing interests;
• A graduate degree in one or more of the liberal arts or a related field of study.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

The Upper School Principal will be expected to:

• Have enthusiasm for NCA’s mission and the ability to promote classical education as a speaker, writer, and teacher;
• Have an authentic interest in becoming part of the fabric of the geographic region and the school community;
• Possess the highest standards of integrity and a strong moral and ethical character;
• Possess a strong sense of organizational ownership;
• Foster an intellectual atmosphere that calls students towards a serious depth of inquiry and sense of wonder;
• Generate trust and confidence by others in his or her leadership by exhibiting the following characteristics: integrity, transparency, decisiveness, equanimity, approachability, kindness, and a collaborative leadership style;
• Possess intellectual curiosity, a cooperative spirit, and an eagerness to improve;
• Communicate effectively in both oral and written forms;
• Maintain a high degree of energy and personal productivity and effectively manage the productivity of others;
• Model the virtues we aim to teach our students: courage, courtesy, honesty, humility, perseverance, self-government, and service.

Strong candidates will support the school’s Mission: to develop students in mind and character through a classical, content-rich curriculum that emphasizes the principles of virtuous living, traditional learning, and civic responsibility.  They will have enthusiasm for the Vision: to be a nationally regarded K-12 classical school and serve as a local and national incubator for growth and promotion of classical education. They will embody the school’s organizational values:

• the tenets of classical, liberal arts education;
• community and partnership in the common pursuit of forming knowledgeable, virtuous citizens;
• excellence in teaching and learning.

Why Northwest Classical Academy?

Full-time, benefits-eligible employees are offered the following:

• Competitive medical, dental, and vision insurance options
• Long-term and Short-term disability
• Life insurance
• Participation in the Teachers Retirement System of GA for eligible positions
• Professional development opportunities
• Priority enrollment for children in the school

About Northwest Classical Academy:

Northwest Classical Academy (NCA) is a public charter school located in Kennesaw, Georgia, for grades K-11 for the 2025-2026 school year; 12th grade will be added in 2026-2027. All Georgia families are eligible to apply; the school is tuition-free, and no entrance testing is required. 

Northwest Classical Academy is an equal-opportunity employer. Interested candidates should apply via the school’s career site. Candidates must attach a letter of introduction, a C.V. or resume, and three character references to their application. For staff positions, please also attach a 300-500 word answer to how your work will contribute to fulfilling the school’s mission. For faculty positions, please attach a 300-500 word “statement of educational philosophy.”