FOLK ARTS–CULTURAL TREASURES CHARTER SCHOOL (FACTS)

www.factschool.org

The Folk Arts-Cultural Treasures Charter School (FACTS) celebrated its grand opening ceremony at its new building – and also AAU’s new home – at 1023 Callowhill Street in the fall of 2007. The building represents one of the first investments of public dollars into the 140-year-old Chinatown community.

After years of dreaming, planning, and organizing, AAU in partnership with the Philadelphia Folklore Project won a charter for FACTS on March 9, 2005. The school opened in September 2005 and realizes an alternative vision of education rooted in community and folk arts as vehicles for academic learning and social change. With a multiracial student body and innovative academic programs such as Singapore Math, the school provides a nurturing, culturally rich learning environment for diverse children and families.

AAU has worked for more than two decades in the Philadelphia public schools to fight for quality education opportunities for Asian American and immigrant students and families. The charter school came out of the desire of many of our constituents for a school that that would respond to the needs of immigrant children and would serve as a public resource to the Chinatown community.

FACTS was won with the support of over a thousand petitioners, dozens of organizations that wrote letters of support, and hundreds of people who attended public hearings. Those who mobilized in support of the school included Fujianese leaders and Chinatown community organizations, allies from our multiracial/multiethnic South Philadelphia work, alumni from AAU’s youth programs, veterans of AAU’s Chinatown Parents’ Association, folk artists, and citywide allies.

As the school continues to grow, AAU looks forward to helping support and build an institution which functions as a place of learning and growth and of building community not only for FACT children and families but also the broader communities in which we work.

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Folk Arts-Cultural Treasures Charter School
Principal and Executive Director
Philadelphia, PA

The Folk Arts–Cultural Treasures Charter School (FACTS) seeks nominations and applications for the position of Principal and Executive Director. Founded in 2005, FACTS is the first public K–8 charter school in the Chinatown neighborhood. FACTS students develop strong academic skills through a curriculum that integrates folk arts, social justice, respect for languages, and the histories of many cultures. There are approximately 440 students enrolled at FACTS, with nearly one-third of the students receiving ESL services.

Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the Principal and Executive Director is the instructional leader, overall manager, and ambassador of FACTS. With fiduciary responsibilities of nearly $6M, the Principal and Executive Director oversees all aspects of the school including oversight of approximately 60 staff. The Principal and Executive Director provides leadership to teachers, staff, volunteers and students, in addition to overseeing all aspects of the school operations. Additionally, (s)he must be a strong leader capable of effectively representing FACTS to both internal and external constituents.

Requirements include a bachelor’s degree; advanced degree preferred. Bilingual preferred. Must currently hold or be eligible for Pennsylvania Principal Certification. Additional requirements include demonstrated leadership, managerial and supervisory experience as well as the ability to work effectively with various constituents and stakeholders.

FACTS is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
To apply please submit credentials to:
Jo-Ann Zoll
jzoll @ zollsearch.com
610 565-3831 (phone)
610 565-3021 (fax)

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