Latin School of Chicago It is a co-ed day school, serving 1,190 students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Latin University boasts a vibrant community of 179 faculty, 114 staff, and approximately 5,000 live and active alumni. Founded in 1888, The Latin School is one of Chicago’s oldest independent schools and provides its students with a rigorous and innovative liberal arts education program. Latin inspires its students to pursue their passions and live lives of purpose and excellence.

The values ​​of excellence, community and integrity stand at the heart of the Latin language. They affirm our collective purpose, guide our decisions and actions, and unite generations of students, teachers, parents, and alumni in a shared tradition of learning and belonging.

The school is looking for an exceptional, confident and collaborative teacher to become the next teacher Middle school principal. This role reports to the Head of School and is a member of the senior administrative team and works with all constituents: students, teachers, staff, parents, Board of Trustees and alumni to support the mission of the school. The successful candidate will be a proven teacher and leader who finds joy in working with adolescents and possesses the vision, creativity, and organizational skills to lead a community of highly skilled faculty and staff.

Strategic priorities

The Middle School Director will be a strategic partner and thought leader who will help advance and develop Latin School of Chicago’s vision and strategic plan for the Middle School. Working in close partnership with key constituencies, the Middle School Principal will prioritize the following:

• Integrate, deepen and personalize the Latin learning experience for everyone in the Latin Middle School community;
• Embedding belonging and inclusion into all aspects of the Latinx middle school experience from curriculum to recruitment to professional development;
• Investing in middle school leadership, faculty and staff as the most important Latino assets in the development of their students;
• Partner in improving the recruitment and retention of faculty and staff from underrepresented communities, so that the Latino community better reflects the student body and the city of Chicago;
• Focus on engaging with middle school families, school alumni, and the city of Chicago to make students’ learning more connected to the professional world and the communities in which they live;
• Work with the Middle School Dean to support the restorative justice approach to discipline currently used in the Middle School; and
• Aligning “developmentally appropriate” educational philosophies and practices with lower and upper school departments.

Basic functions

• Oversee curriculum development, alignment, and evaluation in collaboration with the school’s instructional leadership team;
• Work cross-functionally across the academic and administrative departments in planning and managing the school;
• Support the Middle School Department to various stakeholder audiences, including students, parents, prospective families, Board of Trustees, alumni, visitors, and the like;
• Work in close partnership with others in the Principal’s Office, including the Middle School Assistant Principal and Administrative Assistant;
• Participate in the admissions process, including open meetings, membership of the Middle School Admissions Committee, and interviewing candidates;
• Prepare middle school students for the difficulties and expectations of graduate school;
• Maintain academic and extracurricular excellence across the department;
• Plan and allocate the department’s annual budget;
• Embed belonging, equity, inclusion, and justice into middle school curriculum, culture, recruiting, and admissions activities in partnership with key stakeholders;
• Meet regularly with middle school parents in a variety of formal and informal formats;
• Meet regularly with the Board of Trustees to update and answer questions regarding the Middle School Division, when needed; and
• Communicate regularly with students, parents, prospective families, faculty, and other audiences.

Traits and attributes

The ideal candidate will be:

• A persuasive and confident leader who can win hearts and minds and build trust and community
• A passionate advocate for the needs of middle school students
• An intelligent, dynamic and transparent innovator in the field of communication, focused on enriching academic and community experiences
• Agent of accountability, integrity and action
• An excellent conflict management facilitator with the skills and ability to navigate difficult conversations
• An analytical thinker, uses data to make decisions about student support
• A joyful and cheerful motivator who sees the best in others
• Someone who embraces technological innovation and supports teachers who want to do and try new things
• An organized, calm and balanced leader
• Collaborative team player

Qualifications and requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree preferred
• At least 8-10 years of relevant experience working with students in grades 5-8
• Experience as a middle school teacher
• Experience in integrating and supporting the principles of inclusion and belonging
• Experience leading and managing a large faculty
• Experience in restorative justice practices in student disciplinary matters
• Experience developing/designing curriculum in a rigorous academic environment
• Experience in the enrollment management process and admissions activities
• Experience in budget planning, allocation and management
• Successful experience navigating between small and large-scale change
• Experience successfully serving in an educational leadership role in a school with a diverse and rigorous constituency

Preferred qualifications

• Significant teaching and administrative experience in middle schools
• Independent school experience
• Knowledge and experience in working with unions
• K12 experience in grades other than middle school

For further consideration:

Chicago Latin School is committed to bringing together a diverse faculty, staff and student body. We encourage candidates who represent the broad and diverse community to which we aspire.

The Latin School of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing an inclusive school experience for all.

Interested candidate must submit the following materials by the application deadline of November 3, 2025:

• The cover letter states the candidate’s special interests and qualifications for the position
• Current CV
• Statement of educational philosophy

The salary range for this position is $175,000 to $185,000, plus a comprehensive insurance and benefits package.

Return to search results