About Acceleration Academies

At Acceleration Academies, we believe in transforming the lives of students who have disengaged from traditional schooling to achieve their high school diploma through personalized, flexible learning and innovative educational practices, we empower young adults to earn their high school diploma tuition-free. Partnering with school districts nationwide, our dropout recovery and student re-engagement programs are supported by cutting-edge technology and a commitment to compassionate, impactful teaching.

The Role
As an Academy Director (School Principal), you will serve as the operational and instructional leader of your academy site(s), ensuring alignment to our mission of helping young adults re-engage with their education and achieve postsecondary success. You will lead a team of educators and support staff, foster a positive and inclusive school culture, and collaborate with district partners and community stakeholders. This role blends strategic oversight with hands-on support, requiring a visionary leader who can coach staff, drive student outcomes, and manage academy operations with excellence.

This is a full-time, in-person position reporting to the Regional Vice President. (Exact location provided during the hiring process)

Key Responsibilities
Enrollment

• Lead student enrollment efforts through outreach and recruitment campaigns.
• Oversee onboarding and orientation of new Graduation Candidates (GCs).
• Partner with Career and Life Coaches to develop Personalized Learning Plans (PLPs) that align with each student’s goals and pathway to graduation.

Retention

• Lead implementation of the Retention Cycle Protocol to address disengagement.
• Build a strong academy culture that fosters attendance, perseverance, and belonging.
• Monitor daily attendance trends and partner with staff to proactively support struggling students.

Academics

• Supervise instructional planning, delivery, and assessment to ensure rigorous and relevant learning.
• Ensure compliance with all graduation requirements including course completions, GPA thresholds, and standardized testing.
• Support data-driven instructional decision-making through regular reviews of student progress.
  Ensure that all ESE and ELL documentation and supports are current and in compliance.

Leadership & Operations

• Coach and manage a team of instructional and support staff, ensuring clarity of roles, goals, and accountability.
• Conduct regular staff check-ins, performance evaluations, and provide professional development.
• Maintain fidelity to organizational procedures, district requirements, and contractual obligations.
• Manage schedules, resource allocation, and site-level logistics to ensure operational excellence.

Advocacy

• Serve as the academy’s primary liaison with district partners, families, and community organizations.
• Represent the academy at community events, school board meetings, and partner convenings.
• Champion student achievement and advocate for services that address both academic and non-academic barriers to success.

Other Duties

• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and mission alignment.
• Perform additional duties as needed to support the success of the academy and its students.

What We’re Looking For

Education: Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in education or a related field preferred.

Certification: Educational Leadership endorsement in the state of Ohio highly preferred not required

Experience: Minimum 7 years of relevant education experience, including at least 3 years in a direct supervisory role.

Skills: Visionary leadership, data-driven decision-making, staff development, and stakeholder engagement.

Passion: A deep commitment to serving non-traditional learners and improving student outcomes through innovative education models.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with competency-based learning, project-based education, and alternative school models
• Proficient in ESE, ELL, and behavior intervention practices
• Experience managing multi-site or alternative education programs
• Comfort using digital tools and data systems to drive instruction and operations

Why Join Us?
Being part of Acceleration Academies means joining a team dedicated to transforming student outcomes. Here, you’ll directly impact lives, championing students’ growth, resilience, and path to graduation.

We Value Our Team’s Well-being
We prioritize the holistic well-being of our team members and their families through comprehensive total rewards:

Competitive Compensation: up to $110,000

Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan with up to a 4% company match

Comprehensive Insurance Coverage: Medical, Dental, Vision, FSA, Company Paid Life Insurance, Supplemental Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, Hospital Indemnity, Critical Illness, and Accident insurance options are available to protect you and your loved ones.

Flexible Paid Time Off: Encouraging a healthy work-life balance through adaptable FTO.

Wellness Support: Employer-paid financial wellness programs and access to mental health resources

Employee Referral Incentives: Rewarding you for helping us grow our team

Professional Development: Certification reimbursement and ongoing learning opportunities

Bonus Opportunities: Celebrating milestones and achievements

Physical & Work Environment

• Regularly required to sit, talk, hear, and use hands
• Occasionally lift up to 20 pounds
• Work in a collaborative classroom or office setting and may involve exposure to outdoor weather during events
• Occasional travel between nearby academy sites may be required to support student needs or operational coverage

Ready to Make a Difference?
If you’re passionate about making a meaningful impact and shaping the future of education, we’d love to hear from you. Join us in redefining what’s possible for students everywhere.

Third-Party Agency & Recruiter Notice for Acceleration Academies
Agencies presenting candidates must have an active, nonexpired Master Services Agreement and be formally engaged by an Acceleration Academies Recruiter. Resumes submitted outside these terms will be considered the property of Acceleration Academies.

Equal Opportunity Employer
Acceleration Academies is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.

All roles at Acceleration Academies include core responsibilities that are fundamental to student success and overall academy operations. Applicants should carefully review the job description to ensure they can meet these requirements. Essential duties typically include:

• Consistent, reliable attendance during scheduled work hours

• On-site presence (for roles designated as in-person/onsite)

• Management of assigned workload and productivity expectations

• Ability to perform job functions in an open, student-centered workspace

If you believe you may need a reasonable accommodation to perform the essential functions of the role, Acceleration Academies will engage in an interactive process in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Please note that accommodations cannot remove essential job functions or fundamentally alter the nature of the role.