Mt. Edgecumbe High School
Mar 30, 2026
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Academic Principal/Assistant Director of Instruction and Housing, MEHS Sitka, Alaska
Academic Principal at Mt. Edgecumbe High School (MEHS)
Department of Education and Early Development (DEED)
Position Summary
The Academic Principal serves as a key member of the Mt. Edgecumbe High School leadership team, providing strategic, culturally responsive, and mission-driven leadership at Alaska’s statewide public boarding school. The position integrates the responsibilities of the MEHS Academic Principal with the broader expectations for Alaska school leaders, emphasizing high academic standards, increased academic rigor, and strong systems of accountability.
The Academic Principal is the lead administrator for the academic program and holds primary decision-making authority for curriculum, instruction, assessment, academic scheduling, and academic staffing. The Academic Principal collaborates with and supports the Residential Principal, who oversees the residential program, and the superintendent/director, who oversees the entire campus operations. Together, they operate as a unified administrative team to ensure that the academic and residential components function cohesively within the MEHS boarding school model while maintaining clear accountability for academic outcomes.
As a division of the State of Alaska, MEHS follows state systems, policies, and administrative structures. The Academic Principal is required to understand and effectively use these processes and systems, and to work closely with the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) to ensure alignment, regulatory compliance, and statewide coordination.
Minimum Qualifications
The position requires a current Alaska Type B Administrative Certificate or verified eligibility prior to the first contract day. Alaska experience as a school administrator, high school teaching or administrative experience, and familiarity with academic scheduling, master schedule development, course pathway design, and staffing plans are preferred. Candidates should have experience as a classroom teacher, with demonstrated success in supporting rigorous instruction and student learning, and cultural sensitivity and knowledge of Alaska Native cultures and communities.
We prefer candidates with experience in rural Alaska and working with geographically diverse student populations. Preferred qualifications also include experience supervising and evaluating certificated staff and demonstrated ability to use student achievement data to guide instructional improvement and school-wide decisions.
Instructional Leadership
The Academic Principal is responsible for creating and sustaining a positive learning environment that fosters growth, promotes academic excellence, and aligns with MEHS's mission. The position leads school-wide efforts to increase academic rigor and ensures that curriculum, instruction, and assessment challenge students and prepare them for college and careers. The Academic Principal uses multiple data sources to guide decision-making, set priorities, and monitor student progress, thereby strengthening systems of academic and operational accountability.
The Academic Principal ensures the use of current instructional practices and the implementation of standards-aligned evaluation systems. This role involves leading curriculum alignment, development, and review in line with the MEHS six-year cycle, with active teacher involvement and adherence to state processes. The Academic Principal evaluates teachers and staff using the State of Alaska evaluation system, conducts regular classroom observations, provides feedback, documents staff growth, and ensures accountability for instructional outcomes. The Academic Principal also supervises academic personnel, makes staffing recommendations, assigns teachers, and develops the annual master schedule.
Additionally, the position monitors student progress toward graduation and coordinates academic supports, including tutoring, advising, credit recovery, and intervention programs.
Schoolwide Leadership and Staff Development
The Academic Principal leads staff in collaborative work to establish school goals, measure progress, and build capacity for improvement. The position develops annual staff development plans aligned with school priorities, data trends, and educator input. The Academic Principal establishes and maintains routines, structures, and procedures that promote rigorous instruction and consistent accountability. The role includes recruiting, hiring, and recommending qualified staff to support school goals; supervising academic staff; organizing instructional teams; leading professional learning communities; and guiding staff development aligned with instructional improvement needs.
Student Support and School Climate
The Academic Principal supports students in meeting high expectations for behavior and engagement through consistent guidance and follow-through. The position promotes a culture of responsibility, academic engagement, and excellence. When discipline is required, the Academic Principal ensures fair, student-centered practices. The role includes facilitating opportunities for student leadership and student voice through activities, organizations, committees, and leadership roles that contribute to a positive school culture.
The Academic Principal promotes a safe, supportive, and culturally respectful environment where students feel connected, valued, and supported in both academic and personal development.
Operational and Residential Program Leadership
The Academic Principal works with the Residential Principal, the Superintendent, and the broader Administrative Team to oversee the full operations of the MEHS boarding program. The position assists with school-wide operations, including admissions, student activities, grounds and maintenance, food service, and dormitory coordination. The Academic Principal strategically plans for personnel assignments, resource allocation, and operational alignment to support rigorous academic programming and a high-quality boarding environment.
The position oversees academic budgets and monitors the use of instructional resources. The Academic Principal also coordinates with the State of Alaska procurement processes when purchasing curriculum materials, educational equipment, and other instructional resources.
Stakeholder Engagement and Communication
The Academic Principal communicates regularly with parents, staff, state officials, partner districts, and all MEHS stakeholders. The role prepares reports as needed to meet regulatory requirements and keeps stakeholders informed of academic progress and needs. The Academic Principal builds and maintains strong relationships with Alaska schools, communities, tribes, and organizations that support MEHS's statewide mission.
Leadership Expectations for Alaska Principals
The Academic Principal demonstrates ethical leadership, integrity, and professionalism; promotes equitable and culturally responsive practices supporting Alaska Native and rural students; leads and evaluates school improvement initiatives with a focus on rigor, accountability, and continual improvement; and maintains safe, trauma-informed, and prepared school operations. Continual reflection and professional growth are expected components of the role.
Position Details
This is an exempt position classified as Assistant Director of Instruction and Housing within the MEHS division of DEED. The Academic Principal serves at the discretion of the appointing authority and is not part of a collective bargaining agreement. The position is expected to work on campus for 220 days per year, plus an additional 10 flexible days to meet summer hiring needs.
Accepting International Visa Applicants?
No
Start Date
Jul 01, 2026
About
Mt. Edgecumbe High School is a public boarding school operated by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED). Initially established in 1947 by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Mt. Edgecumbe High School provided Alaska Native students in grades 9-12 with the opportunity to acquire a traditional education that was unavailable in rural Alaska. Serving as many as 600 students at its largest, the school closed temporarily in 1983 as the Bureau of Indian Affairs reduced its role in Alaskan Education. In 1985, the school reopened under the governance of the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development.
The central role of Mt. Edgecumbe High School in Alaskan education is to provide a broad range of academic and extra-curricular opportunities that are unavailable to students in isolated home schools and communities. Academic expectations are high, and students who attend are expected to enroll in higher education or other vocational training. The official governing body charged with oversight is the Alaska State Board of Education.
Demographics: Typically, over 400 students from approximately 110 villages throughout Alaska attend Mt. Edgecumbe High School. Approximately 65% of the student body is female, and 35% is male. Alaska Native students comprise 80-95% of the student population, 6-10% are typically Caucasian, and we usually have a population that includes students of Asian, Hispanic, and African American descent. Between 60-80% of students in attendance generally meet federal guidelines for free & reduced lunches. Annually, between 75% and 90% of graduates are accepted into post-secondary institutions, the military, or career and technical education.
Selection Criteria: Applicants must be Alaska residents of high school age who demonstrate a strong interest in learning and are capable of living successfully in a residential setting. The State Board of Education has established the following criteria for acceptance at Mt. Edgecumbe High School: availability of a high school program in the student's home community, any particular requirements (educational, emotional or family) that make the structured, residential setting provided at Mt. Edgecumbe High School advisable, degree to which the student is expected to benefit from the academic and social programs, the degree to which the student will bring background experiences, skills and abilities that will enhance the educational potential of the student body and academic performance as demonstrated by transcripts and test scores.