Assistant Superintendent in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at Universal Companies

Assistant Superintendent Job Description

Reports To: Superintendent/Chief Executive Officer
Employment Status: Full-Time, 12-Month Administrator

Position Summary

The Assistant Superintendent serves as a key member of the Superintendent's Executive Leadership Team and provides strategic leadership to ensure excellence in teaching, learning, school operations, and organizational performance. The Assistant Superintendent supports school principals, supports district-wide initiatives, monitors school improvement efforts, and helps ensure every scholar has access to a high-quality educational experience.

This position requires a visionary instructional leader who can build leadership capacity, drive continuous improvement, foster accountability, and cultivate a culture of excellence across all schools.

The Assistant Superintendent is a transformational leader who champions academic excellence, develops outstanding school leaders, and ensures every school operates with a relentless focus on student success. Through strategic leadership, coaching, accountability, and collaboration, the Assistant Superintendent helps fulfill the organization's mission of preparing every scholar for college, career, and life

Essential Responsibilities

Executive Leadership

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the Superintendent.
• Participate in developing and implementing the organization's strategic plan.
• Assist with organizational decision-making and policy implementation.
• Represent the Superintendent at meetings, community events, and Board meetings as assigned.
• Lead network initiatives that support organizational priorities.
• Collaborate with executive leadership on long-term planning

Principal Development

Coach assigned principals through:

• Weekly or bi-weekly leadership meetings
• School visits and instructional walkthroughs
• Data review meetings
• Performance feedback
• Professional growth planning

Responsibilities include:

• Monitoring implementation of improvement plans
• Supporting leadership decision-making
• Building leadership capacity
• Developing succession plans
• Providing crisis coaching when necessary

Instructional Leadership

Provide leadership to improve teaching and learning by:

• Monitoring curriculum implementation
• Supporting effective instructional practices
• Leading instructional walkthroughs
• Monitoring classroom observations
• Ensuring rigorous academic expectations
• Supporting professional learning communities (PLCs)
• Monitoring intervention systems (MTSS)
• Supporting literacy and mathematics initiatives
• Promoting equitable instructional practices

School Improvement

Lead continuous improvement efforts through:

• School Improvement Plans
• Data-driven decision making
• Achievement goal setting
• Progress monitoring
• Root cause analysis
• Academic intervention planning
• Continuous improvement cycle

Scholar Achievement

Monitor:

• State assessment performance
• Benchmark assessments
• Attendance
• Graduation rates
• College and career readiness
• Early literacy outcomes
• Achievement gaps

Develop strategies that improve measurable student outcomes.

School Operations

Support principals with:

• Safety planning
• Student discipline
• Family engagement
• School climate
• Operational efficiency

Professional Learning

Design and facilitate professional learning for:

• Principals
• Assistant Principals
• Instructional Coaches
• Leadership Teams

Topics may include:

• Instructional leadership
• Coaching teachers
• Data analysis
• School culture
• Equity
• Strategic planning
• Leadership development

Prepare reports for the Superintendent and Board of Directors.

Family and Community Engagement

Support schools in developing strong partnerships with:

• Families
• Community organizations
• Higher education institutions
• Business partners
• Civic leaders

Promote transparent communication and meaningful stakeholder engagement.

Crisis Leadership

Provide leadership during emergencies involving:

• School safety
• Student crises
• Personnel matters
• Community concerns
• Emergency response
• Media coordination as directed

Leadership Competencies

The Assistant Superintendent demonstrates:

• Visionary Leadership
• Strategic Thinking
• Ethical Leadership
• Political Acumen
• Change Management
• Systems Thinking
• Cultural Competence
• Communication Excellence
• Relationship Building
• Coaching and Mentoring
• Conflict Resolution
• Organizational Leadership
• Results Orientation

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• Master's degree required
• Pennsylvania Principal Certification
• Pennsylvania Letter of Eligibility or Superintendent Letter of Eligibility preferred

Experience

Minimum of:

• Seven years successful Central office leadership experience preferred
• Experience supporting/supervising principals strongly preferred
• Experience leading organizational change
• Experience managing multiple schools preferred

Knowledge

Extensive knowledge of:

• Curriculum and instruction
• Educational leadership
• School improvement
• Data analysis
• Educational law
• Charter school governance
• Special education
• Federal and state accountability
• Teacher evaluation systems
• School finance
• Strategic planning
• Organizational leadership

Skills

Outstanding ability to:

• Lead teams
• Coach executive leaders
• Analyze data
• Solve complex problems
• Facilitate meetings
• Build collaborative cultures
• Manage competing priorities
• Communicate effectively
• Develop leaders
• Build consensus
• Lead organizational change

Performance Indicators

Success in this role is measured by:

• Student achievement growth
• Principal effectiveness
• School performance ratings
• Successful implementation of strategic initiatives
• School climate improvements
• Staff retention
• Family satisfaction
• Compliance outcomes
• Organizational efficiency
• Leadership development of principals

Physical Requirements

• Frequent travel between schools
• Ability to conduct classroom observations
• Occasional evening and weekend meetings
• Ability to attend community events and Board meetings

Core Beliefs

The Assistant Superintendent believes:

• Every scholar can achieve at high levels.
• Excellent leadership produces excellent schools.
• Equity must drive decision-making.
• Relationships are foundational to success.
• Continuous improvement is essential.
• Data should inform—not replace—professional judgment.
• Collaboration strengthens organizations.
• High expectations produce high performance.
• Every educator deserves meaningful coaching and support.