Principal Apprentice 2026-2027 Pool

POSITION SUMMARY

As part of Houston ISD’s bold transformation and commitment to building a high-performance culture, the Principal Apprentice role offers aspiring leaders an unparalleled opportunity to grow within one of the most ambitious education reform efforts in the country.
 
The Principal Apprentice will receive immersive, hands-on leadership development through in-house training provided by the Leadership and Professional Development team and real-time mentoring under a sitting campus principal. This role is designed for growth-minded professionals who are ready to contribute to HISD’s mission of achieving excellent instruction in every classroom, every day. Apprentices will support the principal in driving academic achievement, fostering a positive school culture, and ensuring the implementation of NES (New Education System) principles and Year 2035 competencies.

Houston ISD Employee Value Proposition

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

List most important duties first
1. Leadership Development & School Operations Support
• Partner with a mentor principal to support the planning, implementation, and evaluation of school-wide priorities, systems, and policies.
• Assist in managing daily campus operations with a focus on time management, efficiency, and instructional alignment.
2. Instructional Leadership & Coaching
• Observe and support high-quality instruction by providing timely feedback to teachers, aligned with the district’s coaching expectations.
• Support implementation of NES instructional frameworks and help lead Professional Learning Communities (PLCs).
3.  Student Culture & Achievement
• Help cultivate a safe and orderly learning environment aligned to district-wide expectations.
• Assist in implementing data-driven interventions to improve academic outcomes, behavior systems, and student well-being.
4. Continuous Professional Growth
• Engage in rigorous professional development designed to build school leadership capacity.
• Exhibit continuous improvement and openness to feedback, modeling a growth mindset.
5. Family and Community Engagement
• Build strong relationships with families, staff, and community partners to create alignment around student success.
• Support communication strategies that foster transparency and shared responsibility.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES CONTINUED

6. Data-Driven Decision Making
• Collect, analyze, and present school and student data to inform decision-making and instructional adjustments.
• Use data to drive continuous improvement in alignment with campus goals.
7. Administrative & Compliance Duties
• Assist with responsibilities such as scheduling, compliance monitoring, facilities, budgeting, and enrollment management.
• Support implementation of HR, attendance, and safety policies with fidelity.
8. Support Strategic Priorities and Special Projects
• Participate in high-impact district initiatives and campus projects aligned to strategic goals.
• Support innovation and cross-functional collaboration in service of school transformation.
9.Other duties as assigned.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

N/A

Education

• Master’s degree
• Valid Texas Principal Certification
• 2-3 years of administrative experience as Principal, Assistant Principal, or Dean of Instruction required.     
• At least two years of exemplary teaching or comparable leadership experience is essential.                               
• Additional leadership experience on the campus or otherwise is essential. 

Experience

• 2-3 years of administrative experience as Principal, Assistant Principal, or Dean of Instruction required. 
• Additional leadership experience on the campus or otherwise is essential.

Other Requirements

TYPE OF SKILL AND/OR REQUIRED LICENSING/CERTIFICATION
Additional leadership experience on the campus or otherwise is essential.
LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES
No supervisory or direct people management responsibilities. May provide occasional work guidance, technical advice, and training to staff.
BUDGET AUTHORITY
No budget development activity is required.
PROBLEM SOLVING
Decisions are made on both routine and non-routine matters with some latitude but are still subject to approval. Job is occasionally expected to recommend new solutions to problems and improve existing methods or generate new ideas.
IMPACT OF DECISIONS
Follows rules and procedures. Decisions can have minimal or no impact to HISD. Errors can be readily detected, usually by the employee, and, if made, would result in minor expense for correction.
COMMUNICATION/INTERACTIONS
Information sharing - gives and receives information such as options, technical direction, instructions and reporting results. Interactions are mostly with customers, own supervisor and coworkers in own and other departments.
CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS
Follows through with customer inquiries, requests and complaints. Forwards difficult and non-routine inquiries or requests to appropriate level for resolution.
WORKING/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Work is normally performed in a typical interior work environment which does not subject the employee to any hazardous or unpleasant elements.
Ability to carry and/or lift less than 15 pounds.