POSITION: Principal (12 Months)
NATURE OF WORK:
Travis Hill NOLA Schools (THN) provide students residing in secure settings, Orleans Justice Center (OJC) and the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center (JJIC), with a high-quality education rooted in restorative, trauma-informed care. The high-quality education is delivered through a curricular and instructional design that emphasizes relevance, meaning, and engagement and an approach to learning centered around relationships, trust, mutual respect, and accountability. THN also provides significant optional transition support for students when they return home by offering support with school placement and retention, workforce development, and day-to-day case management.
Through this work with families, community partners, and scores of individuals, we work to create an invaluable network of support for pre-adjudicated teens and young adults that will enable them to return to their community as successful, positive, contributing members of society.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Additional Duties may be assigned.
The Principal at Travis Hill NOLA Schools is responsible for overseeing all educational operations, including academic, behavioral, and administrative functions, ensuring that students receive high-quality instruction and support. This position involves managing a team of educators, providing leadership in curriculum development, and maintaining a safe and positive learning environment. The Principal will ensure that all teaching and learning activities align with organizational, state, and federal regulations while simultaneously meeting the diverse needs of students. Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Leadership and School Management: Lead and manage all aspects of the educational operations of the school, including staffing, curriculum development and delivery, student performance, teacher development, and behavioral support. Ensure the school environment is safe, structured, and conducive to both academic achievement and social-emotional development and growth for students. Foster a positive school culture that supports restorative practices, respect, and accountability while promoting student engagement and academic success. Develop and implement school-wide policies and procedures that align with organizational, state, federal, and facility regulations.
Instructional Leadership: Oversee the implementation of the core curriculum in multiple subject areas for students across various grade and academic levels. Collaborate with teachers to design and evaluate instructional plans, ensuring that lessons are engaging, effective, and meet organization, state, and federal standards. Lead professional development for school and facility staff, ensuring they have the tools and resources needed to meet the academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs of students. Conduct staff observations and evaluations and provide meaningful feedback to staff to improve instructional practices and support their professional growth.
Student Support and Restorative Practices: Develop and implement programs and initiatives aimed at improving student behavior, engagement, and academic performance. Use restorative practices to address conflicts, resolve behavioral issues, and build a positive, respectful school culture. Support teachers and staff in managing student behavior and ensuring that all students have access to an equitable and supportive learning environment. Ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed academically and socially while adhering to organization and facility protocols.
Collaboration with School and Facility Staff: Work closely with school and facility personnel to ensure a comprehensive approach to student success and safety. Participate in team meetings to address the academic and behavioral needs of students, making adjustments to instructions, strategies, and behavioral plans as necessary. Foster a strong partnership between the educational team and facility staff to address student needs and challenges.
Data Analysis and Reporting: Monitor and analyze student progress, attendance, and behavior using data to inform instructional decisions and interventions. Prepare regular reports on student performance, school operations, and safety for all necessary parties. Track and report on the success, or lack thereof, of school initiatives, including academic progress, student behavior, and the effectiveness of restorative practices.
Compliance and Safety: Ensure that all educational practices comply with organization and facility regulations, state and federal educational standards, and security protocols. Maintain a safe, secure, and structured environment for both students and staff, ensuring that all school activities adhere to the safety and security procedures of the school and facility.
Other Duties as Assigned: Tasks that may not directly align with your job description but are vital and serve to maintain a safe and effective teaching and learning environment for students and staff.
QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
Five or more Years of Experience in Education
Must be Certified in Louisiana
Ability to Pass an Extensive Background Check
SALARY AND BENEFITS:
We seek to hire and retain top-tier individuals and intend for our compensation and benefits package to be competitive and at a rate that allows us to recruit and retain individuals who align with our core values, purpose, mission, and vision. Final total compensation is based on a multitude of factors, including but not limited to skill level, relevant experience to the position, level of education, and cost of labor.
Travis Hill NOLA Schools is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.
In the spring of 2016, BreakFree Education—now known as Travis Hill NOLA—submitted a proposal to launch a new school within the New Orleans juvenile detention center, the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center. Just a few months later, in August 2016, we officially opened our doors. As a team, our school staff chose to name it the Travis Hill School.
One year later, BreakFree—now known as Travis Hill NOLA—applied to open a second campus, this time within the New Orleans adult jail, the Orleans Justice Center. We officially began serving students there on August 28, 2017.
As we step into the 2025–26 school year—nine years since we first opened our doors—we’re proud to continue serving students at both facilities. Our commitment to strengthening the quality of our schools and meeting the evolving needs of our students remains as strong as ever.
Travis Hill, also known as "Trumpet Black" was a New Orleans jazz musician from a long linage of renown musicians. He spent time at the youth detention center and in prison early in his life, but upon release, returned to his roots and used his music and talent to mentor teens and support nonviolence in the city. He popularized the phrase “Trumpets Not Guns” through a song released in 2015. Travis Hill died tragically at the age of 28. His mother and relatives continue to carry on his legacy by actively staying involved in the schools that bear his name.
The Travis Hill Schools are student-centered, with an intensive focus on making school relevant and meaningful, on creating a culture of high achievement, and developing a school climate based on mutual respect and understanding. We work closely with the custodial care staff at both the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center and the Orleans Justice Center, engage with the families of our students and invite them to be active participants in the life of the school, and partner with members of the greater New Orleans community--building relationships that will support students when they return home.