Principal - Synergy School at Lad Lake Inc – Milwaukee, Wisconsin

For more than a century, Lad Lake has fostered the growth of children and young adults throughout Wisconsin and the Midwest, providing them with the opportunity to take their futures into their own hands by teaching responsibility and accountability. Most of all, Lad Lake has given boys and girls the chance to make a fresh start. Guiding growth has been our mission from the very beginning. It’s what we do best: guiding youth and their families on a path towards independence and achievement. JOB SUMMARY The principal serves as the senior campus leader for the Synergy Behavioral Reassignment School, holding full accountability for academic outcomes, instructional quality, staff performance, operational effectiveness, and regulatory compliance. This role integrates strong instructional leadership with comprehensive administrative and operational oversight to ensure the school functions as a high-performing, trauma informed, and outcomes driven learning environment aligned with Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) requirements and Lad Lake’s mission. As both the instructional leader and campus administrator, the principal is responsible for selecting, developing, and supervising high-impact educators and support staff; designing and optimizing academic programs and schedules; improving math, reading, attendance, and credit attainment outcomes; preventing student disengagement and dropout; and ensuring safe, compliant, and fiscally responsible school operations. The principal oversees MPS behavioral reassignment contracts, ensures adherence to DPI and special education requirements, manages the education budget, and translates strategic goals into daily practice through data-driven decision making, staff coaching, and strong stakeholder partnerships. The principal directly supervises the Assistant Director of Operations and the Assistant Director of Culture and Student Success, providing clear direction, performance accountability, and alignment across academic, operational, and student support functions. ESSENTIAL DUTIES Instructional Leadership & Teacher Development

• Lead recruitment, selection, onboarding, supervision, evaluation, and retention of instructional staff in alignment with student needs, DPI licensure requirements, and Synergy’s mission.
• Establish and model clear expectations for effective instruction, classroom management, and trauma-informed, culturally responsive practices.
• Implement a consistent instructional coaching and observation framework, including walkthroughs, feedback cycles, performance evaluations, and targeted professional development.
• Develop and facilitate ongoing staff learning focused on literacy and math intervention, differentiated instruction, engagement strategies, and behavior responsive education.
• Address performance gaps through coaching plans, improvement strategies, and corrective action in collaboration with HR and education leadership.

Academic Program Design & Optimization

• Design and oversee class schedules, staffing models, intervention blocks, and student groupings to maximize instructional time, learning recovery, and credit attainment.
• Ensure curriculum, pacing guides, assessments, and instructional practices align with MPS standards and graduation requirements.
• Continuously evaluate and refine academic program structures to remove barriers to student engagement and achievement.
• Lead school improvement planning and continuous improvement cycles based on data and program evaluation.

Student Achievement, Retention & Dropout Prevention

• Drive measurable improvement in math and reading achievement using diagnostic data, formative assessments, and progress monitoring tools.
• Establish clear academic benchmarks and success indicators aligned with MPS contract measures.
• Monitor and improve attendance, engagement, behavior, and credit completion rates.
• Lead proactive dropout prevention strategies, including early warning indicator monitoring and coordinated interventions.
• Promote student voice, goal-setting, and ownership of learning.

Compliance, Operations & Risk Management

• Ensure strong cross-functional collaboration between instruction, operations, and student support to deliver a cohesive student-centered educational experience.
• Ensure full compliance with DPI regulations, MPS contractual requirements, special education law, and IEP/504 processes.
• Oversee accurate, timely, and secure documentation of student records, assessments, and reports.
• Lead safe and orderly school operations, including crisis response, de-escalation practices, and emergency preparedness.
• Coordinate school calendars, staffing plans, schedules, transportation, and daily operations as needed.
• Participate in accreditation reviews, audits, and regulatory inspections.

Budget, Contracts, and Resource Management

• Manage the education and school budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility, alignment of resources to priorities, and adherence to financial controls.
• Oversee Milwaukee Public Schools behavioral reassignment contracts, ensuring performance, compliance, and reporting requirements are met.
• Allocate staffing, materials, and instructional resources to support academic and operational goals.

Data, Accountability & Continuous Improvement

• Use data dashboards and reports to monitor instructional quality, staff performance, student outcomes, and program effectiveness.
• Lead regular data reviews with staff to inform instructional adjustments and operational decisions.
• Translate data insights into clear action plans with measurable results.

Stakeholder, Collaboration & Family Engagement

• Serve as the primary campus-level representative for MPS, DPI, auditors, and external partners related to academic performance, compliance, and contract fulfillment.
• Build and maintain strong partnerships with MPS, families, students, and internal Lad Lake departments(HR, Finance, PQI, Facilities, IT).
• Ensure consistent, clear communication with parents/guardians regarding student progress, expectations, and supports.
• Center family engagement and student empowerment in school culture and decision-making.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Education/Training: Master’s degree in education, Educational Leadership, Curriculum & Instruction, or related field required.

Skills: Demonstrated success improving academic outcomes, particularly in math and literacy. Working knowledge of IEP/504 processes and serving diverse learners. Strong instructional coaching and adult development skills. Excellent communication, organization, and collaboration skills.

Experience: Experience with MPS systems, behavioral reassignment programs, and contract-based education services strongly preferred. Minimum of five (5) years of instructional and/or school leadership experience, preferably in alternative, behavioral reassignment, residential, or special education settings. Wisconsin DPI Licenses #10 and #51 (or eligibility to obtain) strongly preferred.

JOB BENEFITS

• Medical, Dental, Life Insurance, STD, LTD Benefits
• PTO (up to 21 days annually to start)
• Holiday pay (up to 8 days)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Opportunities for advancement
• 401k plan
• Casual dress
• Company-paid training
• Ongoing paid training
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Employer