Durham Charter School, High School Principal

THE OPPORTUNITY

Durham Charter School seeks a High School Principal to lead a growing, high-performing school with a proven track record and a clear trajectory. In 2026, DCS will graduate its first senior class, marking the completion of a true K-12 model and the beginning of the school's next phase of growth. The high school is expanding from 250 to 400 students over the next two years, as part of a 1,450-student K-12 campus on 50 acres in Durham, North Carolina.

The incoming principal will work alongside the Middle School Principal and operations teams in a brand new 80,000 square foot facility that includes a gymnasium, orchestra, dance, choir, and robotics rooms, as well as soccer and baseball facilities. The High School Principal will also play a central role in the school's athletics program, which is a growing and visible part of DCS's identity.

The next High School Principal will inherit strong academic momentum, a distinctive school model, and a staff that is committed to the mission. The work of this first phase has built a strong foundation. The next principal will be charged with building on it to define what excellence looks like at the high school level.

Who We Are

Durham Charter School, formerly Healthy Start Academy, serves more than 1250 scholars, grades K-12, in Durham, North Carolina. We are the oldest public charter school in the state and a 2022 National Title I School of Distinction. For the last seven years, DCS has ranked in the top 5% of all public schools in the state in terms of academic growth. To learn more about Durham Charter School, please visit www.durhamcharter.org.

OUR MISSION

To build a world-class school in Durham that empowers our scholars to thrive in college, career, and life.

Who We Serve

Our school seeks a diverse student body with a priority on closing the achievement gaps that persist by socioeconomic status and race. We commit to providing transportation and free lunch at levels comparable to traditional public schools in North Carolina. We also advocate for and work to expand high-quality school choice across the state, especially for children and families who have historically had few options for an excellent education.

OUR 10-YEAR VISION

By 2035 DCS will be one of the highest performing schools in the country and a worldwide model for excellence in closing achievement gaps. Serving over 2000 students in grades K-12, the school will annually graduate seniors with associate's degrees who pursue 4-year college completion and skilled career certifications enabling them to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation.

Our arts majors will travel nationally and internationally showcasing their talents and our athletics teams will have won multiple conferences and at least one state championship. The school will have an annual waitlist of over 1500 applicants, and three separate elementary, middle, and high school facilities.

DCS will be a model of operational and fiscal stability, with over $10 million cash on hand and a foundation that awards scholarships for graduates to attend college and/or launch their own business in skilled trades. DCS will routinely train teachers and leaders from around the state and have expanded choice in North Carolina either through seeding another charter school or replication.

OUR PILLARS

Our school's design and success rest on six pillars that make DCS distinct. As a K-12 school, these foundations guide our work across every grade. The high school principal will play a critical role in threading these pillars through the high school program.

• Academics First: We invest in great teachers, high-quality curriculum, and consistent instructional practices so every student experiences focused, rigorous, and rich learning every day
• Comprehensive Arts, Athletics, \& Sciences: Students experience athletics and sciences throughout their K-12 journey, select an arts major in middle school, and have the option to pursue a high school arts pathway leading to the North Carolina Arts Proficiency Endorsement
• Disciplined Culture: We maintain high expectations and explicitly teach culture norms so every student learns in a safe, structured environment
• Sense of Belonging: We create an emotional climate for learning that activates every student's ability to excel, ensuring each scholar feels known, loved, and connected to a community that believes in their potential
• Operational Excellence: Families experience a school that communicates clearly, responds quickly, and maintains facilities to rigorous standards every single day
• Early College \& Career: Students have the opportunity to attend an early college and career program through a structured dual enrollment model at Durham Tech in 11th and 12th grade, earning college credits or career certifications before graduation

THE ROLE

The High School Principal reports directly to the Chief Academic Officer and is responsible for the academic outcomes, culture, operations, and growth of the 9-12 program at Durham Charter School. He/She will be a member of the Senior Leadership Team, working closely with the Executive Director, Chief Academic Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Middle and Elementary School Principals.

The High School Principal will directly manage a leadership team that includes two Assistant Principals, a High School Counselor, College Counselor, and Discipline Coordinator.

Academic Leadership

• Drive rigorous, standards-aligned instruction across all high school classrooms using our Teach Like a Champion and Leverage Leadership frameworks;
• Coach and develop teachers through consistent observation, feedback, and professional development cycles;
• Monitor and respond to student performance data to accelerate growth and close gaps;
• Oversee the 9th and 10th grade course sequence that prepares every scholar for Durham Tech dual enrollment;
• Ensure scholars are enrolled, supported, and succeeding in the dual enrollment program

Culture \& Community

• Model and uphold DCS's culture norms, behavior expectations, across the high school;
• Work closely with the Middle School Principal, who shares an 80,000 square foot facility;
• Build strong relationships with scholars, families, and staff grounded in high expectations and genuine care;
• Ensure every scholar feels known, loved, and connected to a school that believes in their future;
• Lead family engagement and communication for the high school program

Program Building

• Grow the high school from 250 to 400\+ students while maintaining quality and culture;
• Build a competitive, values-driven athletics program across multiple sports;
• Expand and strengthen the Arts Pathway, including the NC Arts Proficiency Endorsement pipeline;
• Develop the systems, structures, and people that will define the high school for years to come;
• Partner with Durham Tech to deepen the dual enrollment relationship and increase scholar completion rates

Operations \& Team Leadership

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the high school with excellence and consistency;
• Recruit, hire, develop, and retain exceptional teachers and staff;
• Collaborate with the Executive Director and school leadership team on strategic priorities;
• Represent DCS with external partners, including Durham Tech, community organizations, and prospective families

Requirements

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Durham Charter School is seeking a leader with the skills to lead a high-performing high school and the mindset to make everyone around them better. A humble, hungry, and smart mindset matters as much as résumé.

Humble leaders put the mission and the scholars ahead of personal recognition. They are quick to acknowledge what they don't know, hungry for feedback, and willing to subordinate their own preferences and ego for the good of the team and the school. Hungry leaders bring relentless drive, see feedback as a gift, and don't need to be managed toward excellence. Smart leaders read people well, build trust across differences, and understand that relationships are the infrastructure of a high-performing school. A leader who checks every technical box but lacks these qualities is not the right fit. A leader who embodies them and brings strong skills is exactly who we are looking for.

The right person for this role will also bring:

• Instructional leadership. A deep knowledge of what great teaching looks like, the ability to develop it in others, and high expectations held without apology
• Experience in a high-performing, structured school culture. A track record of building or sustaining a culture where expectations are high, norms are taught explicitly, and scholars feel both challenged and cared for
• A builder's mindset. An orientation toward shaping a program, not just maintaining one, thinking in systems, planning ahead, and executing with discipline
• Commitment to college and career access. A genuine belief that every scholar deserves real post-secondary opportunity, and the knowledge of how to build the structures that make it happen
• Relational excellence. The ability to earn trust with scholars, families, staff, and partners, leading with warmth while holding firm on what matters
• Alignment with our values. The heart of a lion, leading with integrity, approaching the work with optimism, and never settling for good when better is possible

Preferred qualifications are a minimum of three years of successful teaching experience, preferably in high school and prior experience as a school administrator or secondary leader (academic dean, instructional coach, assistant principal, dean of students). High School leadership experience is strongly preferred. Applicants with only elementary experience will not be considered unless they have managed high school or middle school leaders.

WHY DURHAM CHARTER SCHOOL

Durham is one of the fastest growing regions in the country. The Durham-Chapel Hill metro area has grown by more than 6% since 2020 and is part of a Research Triangle region that is a national hub for technology, life sciences, higher education, and healthcare. It is a diverse, dynamic city with a young population, a strong job market, and a cost of living that remains competitive relative to comparable metros.

DCS is at the center of that story. As the oldest public charter school in North Carolina, the school will celebrate its 30th year in June 2027 — a milestone that reflects an institutional stability rare in the charter sector. The incoming principal will join a highly competent and supportive board of directors that is committed to building something that lasts, a senior leadership team that is mission-aligned and experienced, and a school with the academic track record, facilities, and financial foundation to back up its ambitions.

Benefits

COMPENSATION \& BENEFITS

This position offers a competitive salary range of $90,000 - $110,000, and robust benefits including:

• State of North Carolina benefits including TSERS retirement pension;
• Signing bonus available for exceptional candidates;
• Access to Relay National Principal Academy Fellows (NPAF) professional development

More details can be provided upon request.

TO APPLY

Please submit a resume online at https://apply.workable.com/j/A73A400A8D/.

Durham Charter S chool is an equal opportunity employer and an organization that values diversity. Recruiting staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds. Candidates are evaluated solely on their qualifications to perform the work required.