Achievement First

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Closing the achievement gap is the civil rights issue of our time. From the moment students arrive at Achievement First schools, they are held to high expectations built around the belief that they can and will achieve academic success.

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All Achievement First students know they can and will go to college.

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The culture at our schools is one of rigor and joy—you can sense the urgency and energy when you enter an Achievement First school. Our lessons are geared to engage students and foster a lifelong love of learning.

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Achievement First schools emphasize the REACH values—Respect, Enthusiasm, Achievement, Citizenship and Hard Work.

Across Achievement First In Connecticut In New York

At Achievement First, we believe all children can succeed when presented with the right educational opportunities. Across the Achievement First network, our students—low-income, African-American and Latino students—are outpacing their state and district peers.

For the third consecutive year in as many graduating classes, 100 percent of seniors have gained acceptance to four-year colleges and universities.

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We work hard every day to close the achievement gap and deliver on the promise of equal educational opportunity for all children, regardless of race, economic status or zip code. Our first priority is to provide a truly outstanding, gap-closing education to our thousands of students.

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We believe a great education can level the playing field, break the cycle of poverty and create a brighter future for all of us.

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Achievement First is proud to serve special education students, English Language Learners, talented and gifted students, and all other students accepted through our blind lotteries. We don’t have admission requirements or interviews, and there are no admission or tuition fees.

Students, teachers and parents work as a team to achieve success.

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At Achievement First, we help individual students, entire schools and partner districts close the achievement gap. We are committed to engaging volunteer tutors, increasing public awareness, and advocating for public policies that would support education reform and the expansion of high-quality school choices.

We host hundreds of visitors—including community members, elected officials and educators—in our schools each year.

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People matter mightily at Achievement First. We spare no effort to recruit the best teachers, school leaders, subject-area and functional experts, and operations specialists from around the country, provide them with outstanding professional development, and create opportunities that will inspire and support them in their careers.

We develop, recognize and reward teachers through constant professional development and the Teacher Career Pathway.

School Leader Careers at Achievement First

While Achievement First recognizes that the number one factor impacting student achievement is teacher quality, we also know that teacher effectiveness and satisfaction are heavily influenced by the quality of school leaders.

School Leader Immersion Program

The Achievement First School Leader Immersion program (SLI) is an exclusive opportunity for aspiring school leaders to develop the skills and mindset necessary to lead at a high-performing charter school. SLI participants will join a cohort of rising school leaders from around the country in an intensive clinic, featuring professional development, observation and coaching led by Achievement First staff members. The selected group of exceptional educators will engage deeply in every aspect of a school leader's work and leave with an "insider’s perspective" on school leadership at Achievement First. Participants will also have the opportunity to fast track their application.

Check back this fall for more information on our 2014 School Leader Immersion events!

Please contact CJ Crowder, director of school leader recruitment, with questions. We also invite you to read our brief program description.

Leadership Positions

Each scaled Achievement First school has a principal, an academic dean, a dean of students/culture and a director of school operations. These leaders work together to ensure that all students show dramatic student achievement gains and develop strong character skills necessary for success in college. While each Achievement First school offers the following leadership positions, exact responsibilities vary based on the talent, experiences and interests of individual team members.

Principal

The principal is responsible for the overall management of their school while leading academic initiatives and programs related to school culture. She or he also oversees the professional development of all instructional staff and coaches a portfolio of teachers and deans.

Principal Job Description

Academic Dean

The academic dean works to ensure that every student reaches ambitious achievement goals for school-wide levels of mastery. She or he coaches a portfolio of teachers and frequently assumes ownership of a particular subject or grade level.

Academic Dean Job Description

Dean of College

The dean of college, found only at our high schools, leads the school-based college team to ensure 100 percent college acceptance and matriculation. Using the six levers of our college access and success program, she or he manages the college counselor(s) and alumni counselor(s), coaches a portfolio of teachers, and manages the major programmatic components of "AF High School Through College Completion."

Dean of College Job Description

Dean of School Culture

The dean of school culture leads school-wide efforts to build and maintain a strong, positive, achievement-oriented school culture where students grow in a warm and joyful environment. She or he coaches a portfolio of teachers and frequently assumes ownership of a particular subject or grade level.

Dean of School Culture Job Description

Principal-in-Residence

The principal-in-residence program is a two-year residency for future principals to grow, plan and learn as they prepare to lead an Achievement First school. Principals-in-residence are part of a cohort that provides many opportunities to collaborate, learn and exchange best practices throughout the two years.

Principal-in-Residence Job Description (Connecticut and New York)
Principal-in-Residence Job Description (Rhode Island)

Director of School Operations

The director of school operations designs and maintains smooth and efficient school-based systems and is responsible for all non-instructional services required to run the school. For example, she or he manages the day-to-day school financial operations, prepares the school campus for its launch year and each subsequent year, and administers critical data systems.

Director of School Operations Job Description (Connecticut)
Director of School Operations Job Description (New York)