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Every school deserves the best school leaders. Our goal is to match high-quality principals and assistant principals with each of our schools and continue to support those leaders so they have what they need to grow and succeed.
Becoming a principal
Interested in becoming a principal? To become a principal, you will need to complete the following steps:
Step 1: Online application
Read the full job description (elementary principal for 2022-23 or secondary principal for 2022-23) and complete the online application at least 30 days before a Career Assessment Day (see step 3 for details). You may apply to one or both positions.
You'll need to upload the following documents to be considered:
- MSDE Administrator II Certification
- Resume with at least 5 years supervisory/leadership experience
- All higher education transcripts
Step 2: Vision and strategic planning activity
If you meet the requirements outlined in step 1, you'll receive instructions to complete an electronic task. You must complete the task by the deadline and receive a passing score to move to the next step.
Step 3: Career Assessment Day
During the Career Assessment Day, your leadership skills will be assessed by a panel of Transformational Principals and/or Instructional Leadership Executive Directors (ILED) through interviews, role plays, and data analysis tasks. To prepare, we encourage you to review the Principal Leadership Framework which will be used as the basis for the assessments.
In 2022, Career Assessment Days will be held on February 4, March 4, April 1, and May 6 (tentative).
Step 4: Chief of Schools and Chief of Human Capital interview
After you successfully complete the Career Assessment Day, you'll be invited to interview with the Chief of Schools and Chief of Human Capital.
Step 5: Profile session
After you successfully complete the interviews, you'll be invited to participate in a guided session to create a candidate profile that highlights your strengths and interests to facilitate the school matching process.
In 2022, Profiling Sessions will be held on February 9, March 9, April 6, and May 11 (tentative).
Step 6: Determining school fit
If you are interested in leading certain schools, let us know. When a school leadership position becomes available that matches your profile, you'll be invited to meet with various stakeholders from the school community. Schools will submit feedback to the Chief of Schools.
Step 7: Final interviews and approval
After you've been successfully matched with a school, you may be asked to meet with staff from the Schools Office, who will make a recommendation to the CEO. The CEO will conduct a final interview before submitting a recommendation to the Board of School Commissioners for final approval.
Once we've established your eligibility, you'll be placed in a pool of eligible principals for two years.
Becoming an assistant principal
Step 1: Online application
Read the full job description (elementary assistant principal for 2022-23 or secondary assistant principal for 2022-23) and complete the online application at least 30 days before a Career Assessment Day (see Step 3 for details). You may apply to one or both positions.
You'll need to upload the following documents to be considered:
- MSDE Administrator I Certification (see requirements)
- Resume with 3 years of teaching experience and 3 years supervisory or leadership experience
- All higher education transcripts
Step 2: Pre-screen activity
If you meet the requirements outlined in step 1, you'll receive instructions to complete an electronic data task. You must complete the task by the deadline and receive a passing score to move to the next step.
Step 3: Career Assessment Day
During the Career Assessment Day, your leadership skills will be assessed through a classroom observation task, data review, and interviews. To prepare, we encourage you to review the Assistant Principal Leadership Framework which will be used as the basis for the assessments.
In 2022, the Career Assessment Days will be held on January 28, March 25, May 27 (tentative).
Step 4: Profile session
After you successfully complete the interviews, you'll be invited to participate in a guided session to create a candidate profile that highlights your strengths and interests to facilitate the school matching process.
In 2022, Profiling Sessions will be held on February 2, March 30, June 1 (tentative).
Step 5: Principal interviews
Principals at schools with assistant principal vacancies will conduct interviews throughout the spring and summer. Principals will reach out to the email address provided on your resume.
Step 6: Approval
If the principal would like to move forward with you as a candidate (and you are in agreement), he or she will submit an official recommendation to the Schools Office. When staff in the Schools Office approves the recommendation, it will be submitted to the Board of School Commissioners for final approval.
Once we've established your eligibility, you'll be placed in a pool of eligible assistant principals for three years.
Why work for City Schools?
There are lots of reasons to join the City Schools leadership team - it's an opportunity to shape the lives of hundreds of Baltimore's young people, to build a generation of leaders, and to grow as a professional.
City Schools also offers an extensive benefits package that includes:
Competitive salary
City Schools recognizes the professionalism of staff with excellent starting salaries and opportunities for growth for school leaders.
Health insurance
- Employees can choose medical plans from Kaiser, BlueChoice, and CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield.
- Dental coverage includes a dental HMO and a buy-up plan.
- No-cost vision coverage provides for services every two years, with an optional buy-up plan.
- Prescription medication coverage is available with a modest co-pay.
Retirement and pension
- In addition to pension plans through the State of Maryland or City of Baltimore (depending on position and bargaining unit), employees can participate in 403(b) tax-sheltered savings plans.
Support and development
School leaders are offered support, professional development, and opportunities for growth throughout their career trajectories.
Additional benefits
All staff can access the following at no or modest cost:
- Life insurance
- Long-term disability insurance
- Flexible Spending Account for childcare or healthcare expenses
- Employee Assistance Plan offering confidential counseling services and legal services
- Dependent child tuition waiver (for employees who live outside the city but want to enroll their children in City Schools)
- Higher education tuition reimbursement
