Mundo Verde is indebted to Principals Netta and Jenn for all that they have contributed – over many years, in so many ways; and are continuing to contribute as school leaders reimagine how best to structure our academic leadership team. One priority that is clear from teacher, staff, family and academic leader feedback: the importance of ensuring that principals have a sustainable role and that students, families, and staff have access to their principal.
With between 500 to 600 students, each Mundo Verde campus is relatively large. Learning is directly supported by 55 to 75 instructional staff, along with 25-30 other staff supporting other critical school functions. Students are connected to as many as 800 individual parents and caregivers. While there are efficiencies that come from this structure, with campuses this large, it is difficult for school leaders, principals in particular to have personal contact — and deep relationships — with students, families, and staff.
Building on changes already in place – with academic deans, directors and managers of teaching and learning, and coaches in residence – we are capturing the spirit and intimacy of a smaller school by refining and narrowing the role of principal to focus on a smaller band of grades (either PreK-1st OR 2nd-5th). This shift will support Mundo Verde’s ongoing effort to improve school culture and better set its principals and other instructional leaders up for success in promoting student well-being and achievement:
Students will benefit from a team that more deeply knows their strengths, interests, and developmental stage
Parents and caregivers will be more quickly informed on time-sensitive topics and be more connected to the specific individual /team guiding their child’s teacher
Teaching staff have greater access to their principal and to a team that more deeply knows their specific curriculum
Principals will be able to focus more deeply on a narrower curriculum, and will have more time for guiding teachers, planning forward and implementing improvements
This approach — of placing principals in charge of smaller bands of grades within a single campus — has been used successfully by a range of other charter schools for a number of years. Their experience demonstrates that with the right execution, this model leads to increased efficacy in the work of leaders and deepens relationships between leaders and the community they serve.
Principals and Deans by Campus
At J.F. Cook, one principal and one dean will serve PreK-1st grade. A second principal and a second dean will serve 2nd-5th grade.
At Calle Ocho, one principal and one dean will serve PreK-1st grade. A second principal and a second dean will serve 2nd-4th grade (and then likely 2nd-5th grade beginning with SY24-25).
Principals at each campus will continue collaborating with each other and the Chief School Officer (to whom each principal reports) to ensure campus alignment with Mundo Verde culture and instructional vision. Principals will collaborate with the operations team and other non-instructional teams.