About the Role
MS/HS VICE-PRINCIPAL - ACADEMICS
Position: MS/HS Vice-Principal - Academics (Teaching & Learning)
Department: Upper School
Reports to: Middle/High School Principal
Location: International American School of Cancún
Employment Type: Full-Time
Language: English/Spanish
Position Overview
The International American School of Cancún (IAS) is seeking an experienced and proactive educational leader to serve as its MS/HS Vice-Principal for Academics (Teaching and Learning).
This position combines curriculum coordination, instructional leadership, faculty development, and oversight over the academic program and student learning across Middle School and High School.
Working closely with the MS/HS Principal, the Vice-Principal for Academics will provide academic and instructional leadership, ensuring strong curriculum implementation and alignment, supporting teacher growth, monitoring student achievement, and advancing key program initiatives in service learning, student leadership, innovation, and other areas of academic development.
Key Responsibilities
Curriculum Development and Academic Alignment
Lead the implementation, review, and alignment of the MS/HS curriculum across Grades 6–12, ensuring consistency with school standards, institutional priorities, and the IAS graduate profile.
Guide teachers in curriculum planning, unit design, and interdisciplinary learning while maintaining accurate curriculum documentation.
Coordinate curriculum reviews and identify opportunities to strengthen academic programs.
Instructional Leadership and Teacher Development
Conduct classroom observations and provide constructive, actionable feedback to improve instructional quality and student learning.
Support teachers in curriculum planning, differentiated instruction, assessment, and effective teaching practices.
Identify professional development needs, facilitate faculty learning, and support new teachers in meeting academic expectations.
Collaborate with the Principal to address instructional concerns and implement appropriate teacher development and improvement strategies.
Assessment and Academic Performance
Ensure consistent assessment and grading practices aligned with curriculum objectives and school policies.
Analyze student achievement data, monitor academic progress, and coordinate interventions with teachers and student support personnel.
Prepare academic performance reports and provide evidence-based recommendations to school leadership.
Support academic credit tracking and graduation requirements in collaboration with the registrar and college counselor.
Academic Leadership and School Improvement
Serve as a strategic academic partner to the Principal, providing informed guidance and recommendations on curriculum, instructional quality, faculty development, and student achievement.
Lead academic improvement initiatives, establishing clear objectives, timelines, responsibilities, and measurable outcomes.
Collaborate with department heads and faculty to ensure consistent academic expectations and effective implementation of improvement plans.
Contribute to academic policy development, strategic planning, and continuous school improvement.
Coordinate with the Vice-Principal when operational or student-related matters affect academic progress, while maintaining clearly defined areas of responsibility.
Student and Family Academic Support
Meet with students as needed to provide guidance and support toward meeting academic expectations.
Build and maintain positive, professional relationships with students and their families.
Provide leadership and support in addressing student achievement concerns, curriculum-related questions, and academic interventions.
Facilitate meetings with students, families, teachers, and learning support personnel to address academic challenges and develop appropriate intervention plans.
Ensure families receive clear and timely information regarding academic expectations, assessment practices, student progress, and agreed-upon support strategies.
Support the Principal in addressing complex academic concerns through evidence-based recommendations and constructive communication.
Maintain appropriate documentation and confidentiality in all student and family matters.
Academic Program Oversight
Oversee the development, implementation, and periodic review of curriculum maps, scope and sequence documents, syllabi, assessment frameworks, and other academic program documentation.
Monitor consistent implementation of academic policies, grading and assessment practices, instructional standards, and applicable SEP and UNAM academic requirements.
Coordinate academic program reviews and use student learning data and other evidence to evaluate curriculum effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.
Support academic calendar planning, examination schedules, and assessment coordination in collaboration with the Principal and relevant school personnel.
Participate in the recruitment and onboarding of academic staff and support instructional evaluation and professional development.
Contribute to accreditation, self-study, strategic planning, and continuous improvement processes, including the collection and organization of relevant academic evidence.
Prepare academic reports, analysis, and recommendations to support the Principal and school leadership in decision-making.
Monitor assigned academic initiatives, ensuring agreed-upon actions are implemented, documented, and evaluated for effectiveness.
Requirements
Education and Experience
Required Qualifications
Master’s degree in Education, Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Leadership, Educational Administration, or a closely related field.
Recognized teaching certification or licensure appropriate for secondary education.
Minimum of five years of successful teaching experience at the Middle School or High School level.
Minimum of three years of successful leadership experience at the Middle School or High School level.
Demonstrated experience in curriculum development, instructional leadership, teacher coaching, or academic program coordination.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
Preferred Qualifications
Previous experience as an Assistant Principal, Academic Coordinator, Curriculum Coordinator, Department Head, or in a comparable academic leadership role.
Experience in an international, bilingual, or American-curriculum school.
Demonstrated experience and strong understanding of curriculum design and mapping, vertical and horizontal alignment, standards-based instruction, assessment, instructional supervision, and adolescent learning.
Experience analyzing student achievement data and implementing strategies to improve teaching and learning.
Experience designing and facilitating professional development for teachers.
Skills and Competencies
Strong instructional leadership and the ability to guide, coach, and support teachers across different subject areas.
Expertise in curriculum design, standards alignment, assessment, and academic program evaluation.
Ability to analyze student achievement data and translate findings into actionable improvement strategies.
Strong strategic thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to establish clear academic expectations, provide constructive feedback, and ensure accountability and follow-through.
Effective organizational and project management skills, with the ability to lead multiple academic initiatives.
Ability to facilitate professional learning and promote collaborative instructional improvement.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to navigate sensitive academic and professional conversations with discretion.
Proficiency in educational technology, curriculum management systems, assessment platforms, and student information systems.
Personal Attributes
Demonstrates integrity, professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment.
Takes initiative, anticipates academic challenges, and approaches complex situations with practical, solution-oriented thinking.
Maintains high expectations for instructional quality, academic achievement, and professional accountability.
Is approachable and supportive while demonstrating confidence and firmness when addressing instructional concerns.
Is collaborative and communicates clearly, respectfully, and effectively with faculty, students, families, and school leadership.
Demonstrates cultural sensitivity and the ability to work effectively in a diverse international school community.
Is highly organized, dependable, adaptable, and capable of managing multiple academic initiatives.
Models the school’s Mission, Vision and Values and demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement.
About the Company
School Overview
The International American School of Cancun, Mexico, is a private, non-profit, non-sectarian, co-educational institution offering a bilingual, bicultural education for students from preschool through high school. The school was founded in 1990 and is dedicated to an American style education, high academic standards and the caring environment a small school can offer. The International American School of Cancun is accredited by Cognia (SACS/AdvanCED) and SAIS in the United States and by Mexico’s Ministry of Education (SEP) and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
Mission and Vision
The International American School of Cancun is a values-driven, multicultural community committed to bilingualism and academic excellence. IAS promotes an environment of meaningful learning experiences with strong emphasis on character development, emphasizing our six core values and graduate profile. Our Vision is to Innovate, Achieve and Serve. Our Core Values are Responsibility, fairness, caring, trustworthiness, respect, and citizenship. Our Profile of a Graduate emphasizes the development of active, community-centered, lifelong bilingual learners who are also values-driven student leaders who have a positive impact on the world around them.
Faculty
The International American School of Cancun maintains a highly trained professional staff, composed of teachers from the U.S., Mexico, England, and Canada. Thirty-three percent of the teachers hold a graduate degree. These teachers support the efforts of the school community to provide an American model of education in a bilingual, bicultural setting. The school enjoys a blend of staff members who are permanent residents of Cancun and others with shorter time commitments, as well as diversity in age and experience. This is yet another aspect that helps create a professional atmosphere where ideas are exchanged freely and challenges and goals are addressed in many different and unique ways.