UCLA Lab School, Principal

LAB SCHOOL CONTEXT

UCLA Lab School is a research-based, elementary school serving 430 students, ages 4 through 12. Located on UCLA’s main Westwood Campus, UCLA Lab School has a long, rich history spanning over 142 years of innovating, implementing, and sharing school-based opportunities to support children’s academic, social, and emotional development within a diverse society in a way that promotes multilingualism and multiculturalism.

The mission of UCLA Lab School is to promote innovation and excellence in education through research, and teaching and learning. It is dedicated to addressing the needs of children from diverse backgrounds, and values teaching and learning environments that honor each child’s natural joy of learning. It encourages creativity and supports a disciplined approach to intellectual inquiry. It is a caring community of learners–students, teachers, staff, administrators, researchers, and families. UCLA Lab School is committed to educating the whole child.

To learn more about UCLA Lab School, please visit www.labschool.ucla.edu. 

OPPORTUNITY

UCLA Lab School seeks a collaborative, innovative Principal well-versed in cutting-edge, best-practice pedagogy to lead the school into its next chapters of success. This individual will oversee daily school operations, finances, fundraising, academic policies, human resources, teaching and learning, and strategic planning and implementation. Reporting to the Associate Dean, University Partnership Schools at UCLA School of Education & Information Studies (SE&IS), UCLA Lab School’s next Principal will focus on sharing and integrating relevant educational trends; supporting teachers and staff; collaborating with researchers; building relationships with students and families; and regularly communicating with SE&IS on all strategic, academic, operational, and financial matters. 

The ideal candidate is an experienced school leader and expert people manager with a proven dedication to social justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. The successful candidate must have a deep interest in student-centered learning, familiarity with dual-language environments, the constructivist model, and SafeSchools or similar behavioral philosophies. They should be skilled in collaborating with researchers, implementing pioneering practices in a lab school setting, and demonstrating strong teachers and respect for children and their families.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The primary responsibilities of the Principal include but are not limited to the following:

Educational Leadership

• Guide the implementation of a progressive, inquiry-based curriculum.
• Prioritize a whole-child approach, with emphasis on social-emotional learning, diversity, and inclusion.
• Inspire students, teachers, families, and other partners to be their best selves every day, always keeping the community’s moral compass pointing in the right direction, and ensuring an unyielding focus at all times on what is best and equitable for UCLA Lab School students and their futures.

Faculty & Staff Support

• Lead and mentor a diverse team of educators and support staff with various job classifications, promoting a collaborative, democratic work environment.
• Address faculty needs in the classroom, including support for neurodiverse and socioeconomically diverse student populations.
• Act not only as a supervisor but also as a coach and thought partner, remaining deeply committed to the value of developing and bringing out the strengths of all people while also holding them accountable for their goals and student success.

Stakeholder & Community Engagement

• Foster strong, supportive relationships with students, parents, faculty, and the broader UCLA community.
• Serve as a bridge between UCLA’s School of Education & Information Studies and Lab School faculty, facilitating research integration and public engagement.
• Facilitate highly engaged parental participation. 
• Collaborate with UCLA Lab School Board of Advisors.

Operational & Financial Oversight

• Oversee day-to-day operations, budgeting, and resource allocation, in collaboration with administrative teams.
• Coordinate with development staff to drive fundraising efforts, including managing an annual fund and pursuing additional financial resources to support tuition diversity and facility needs.

Strategic Leadership

• Support UCLA Lab School’s broader mission of implementing and experimenting with research-based educational approaches to serve students representative of California state demographics.
• Develop and implement a strategic plan that reflects the school’s mission and long-term goals, while aligning with the vision of UCLA’s School of Education and Information Studies.
• Driving the vision for UCLA Lab Schools’ success, including ensuring that school operations, the instructional program, school culture and climate, community engagement, and external partnerships are highly effective and tightly aligned to the school’s mission and goals.

KEY COMPETENCIES

Strong Communication Skills (The successful candidate will be able to communicate clearly and effectively with students, parents, and staff in both English and Spanish)

• Able to communicate clearly and effectively with students, parents, and staff. 
• Excellent listener who can navigate multiple perspectives.
• Able to facilitate large group presentations/sessions with a diverse audience.

Transformational Leadership

• Capable of modeling expectations for faculty, staff, and the school community. Ability to build a culture of trust, collaboration, and inclusivity.

Empathy & Emotional Intelligence

• Understanding and managing one’s own emotions and those of others. Must demonstrate warmth and care toward all stakeholders.

Commitment to Inclusivity & Equity

• Proven dedication to social justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Experience in supporting diverse student populations and addressing socioeconomic disparities.

Strategic & Data-Driven Decision-Making

• Ability to utilize data to inform decisions and improve educational outcomes. Strong problem-solving skills, capable of navigating complex challenges.

Knowledge of Progressive Education Practices

• Deep understanding of inquiry-based and progressive educational models. Familiarity with curriculum development and assessment strategies.

KEY PRIORITIES FOR YEAR-1

Relationship Building & Development

• Focus on strengthening relationships with teachers, students, parents, and the broader community. 

Academic Excellence & Curriculum Improvement

• Work with teachers and staff to ensure that all students meet their learning objectives through differentiated instruction and periodic assessments.

Support for Diverse Learning Needs

• Promote inclusive practices and ensure that all children receive the resources they need to thrive academically and socially.

Infrastructure & Campus Improvements

• Advocate for and secure funding for necessary campus upgrades and maintenance, including completing existing projects like HVAC installations.

Community Outreach & Engagement

• Enhance community outreach efforts to engage families and encourage their involvement in school activities. 

Strategic Planning & Vision Development

• Collaborate with stakeholders to establish a clear vision and mission for the school, ensuring accountability and transparency in decision-making processes.

Requirements

In order to fulfill these responsibilities, the ideal Principal candidate will bring:

• A minimum of five years of experience in an educational leadership role, ideally within diverse or progressive school settings.
• A relevant terminal degree (i.e. Ph.D., Ed.D.) related field required.
• Professional fluency in Spanish to engage with dual-language programs and diverse family backgrounds.
• Educational leadership and teaching experience with elementary education, ideally including experience with special education and neurodiverse students within inclusive classrooms.
• Cultural competency and self-reflectiveness, understanding the effects of race, class, ethnicity, income, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and other issues of difference in society and is able to lead direct conversations about them.
• A practice of building authentic relationships with the ability to meaningfully engage and communicate with a variety of school-related stakeholders, including community partners, parents and caregivers, philanthropists and other supporters, university administration and faculty.
• Proven success in school-based fundraising with the ability to motivate, inspire, and bring diverse groups toward a common goal. 
• Experience leading change management and consensus-building among various stakeholders. Ability to foster healthy dialogue and maintain positive relationships within the school community.
• Familiarity with the dynamics of working within a large, public university setting including labor relations and risk management. Knowledge of higher education policies related to special education and inclusive practices is highly preferred.

Benefits

The posted Academic Administrator VII Salary Table (T.34) sets the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. A reasonable range for this position is: $127,815-$225,000. More details can be provided upon request.

TO APPLY

Please submit a resume online at https://apply.workable.com/j/4508C87463/.

Note that the application process includes specific steps and additional materials that will be required if moved forward through the UCLA applicant portal: https://recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF10042.

PROCESS DETAILS & EXPECTED TIMELINE

Introductory Calls: November 18 - January 10

Video Interviews: November 18 - January 17

If you are invited to a Video Interview, you will be required to submit your application and a set of materials through UCLA's applicant tracking system, including:

• CV/Resume: An all-encompassing resume that includes sections on work experience, education (including credentials), publications (if any), and professional memberships.
• Self-Statement/Cover Letter: A 2-5 page statement summarizing your work experience, leadership successes, and relevant accomplishments. Please also include a section on your teaching experience and teaching philosophy.
• EDI Statement: A statement describing your past, present, and future contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion. For more details on UCLA’s approach to EDI, please review our EDI Statement FAQ document.
• Letters of Recommendation: Names and contact information for 3-4 references. References will not be contacted until later stages. Letters will be requested if you proceed to the Final Round Interviews.

Phone Interviews: December 2 - January 25

Semifinalist Interviews: February 3 - February 14

Finalist Interviews: March 3 - March 14

UCLA Lab School is an equal opportunity employer and an organization that values diversity. Recruiting staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds. Candidates are evaluated solely on their qualifications to perform the work required.