Head of School

The Head of School is responsible for the overall instructional, organizational and operations of the academy. The Head of School reports to the CEO and serves as executive lead of the Preschool-5th grade. In partnership with the Dean of School Performance is responsible for the success of the school. The Head of School's primary job is to cultivate an academically excellent school for our students. The Head of School provides direction for integrating the organization's vision, mission, and strategy; provides leadership for establishing and implementing its annual goals and objectives. The actions of the Head of School must always be aligned with our mission, vision, and core values.

Overall Responsibilities:

Share responsibility with a team of colleagues and parents to honor the mission:

• To eliminate the prolific racial achievement and opportunity gaps by cultivating confident, creative and compassionate leaders;
• Practice the values of KairosPDX in professional conduct and daily interactions:
  • respect, responsibility, honesty, excellence and service to community
• Incorporate the beliefs of KairosPDX in all approaches and instruction
  • Every child is uniquely capable, innately curious and inherently creative,
  • Character and agency are essential to achievement and are developed through relationships and service to others,
  • A multi- cultural context delivers a strong sense of self and is a requirement for participation in our global society,
  • Children must be supported in the context of their families;
• Support multicultural practice and inquiry-based approaches that are:
• Actively anti-racist - confronting bias in all of its forms,
• Education for social justice - acknowledging history and studying the present to make informed decisions regarding a more equitable future,
• Pervasive- Examining practices in all levels of school culture and organization,
• Personal -Beginning with the necessary consideration of self as a cultural being,
• Critical Pedagogy- Pursuing multiple perspectives, anticipating contradictions and challenging assumptions,
• Empowering- Providing children the ego strength to challenge racist societal views,
• Helping children think deeply about themselves and others.

Head of School Core Responsibilities:

1. Educational Leadership

• Implements a high-quality, vigorous, joyful elementary school program that is consistent with KairosPDX's mission and vision.
• Sets ambitious school goals for student achievement and performance and holds staff members accountable for achieving results
• Develops, oversees, and continually evaluates and improves the school's instructional model and curriculum.
• Uses data to inform practice and drive decision-making and instruction at the school
• Develop systems and structures to cultivate, develop, and retain diverse, highly-effective staff
• Key contributor in establishing school wide policy, systems, and structures.

2. Policy and Planning and Compliance

• Works with the Dean of School Performance to oversee the growth of the school to its full capacity with grades PK-5 and 285 students.
• Assures the filing of all legal and regulatory documents and monitoring compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
• Oversees the charter renewal and site visit process and development of the school's Annual Report.
• Develops, implements, and ensures adherence to the school's accountability plan.
• Collaborating with school leadership to implement mission consistent systems, strategies and language for cultivating behavior support/change;

3. Coaching/Support:

• Overseeing training, evaluation and protocols related to the effective execution of KairosPDX approved curriculum and continuous improvement practices by instructors;
• Build school staff's knowledge and expertise in effective instructional design and academic standards
• Develop teachers' conceptual understanding of what students must know and be able to do and what instructional methods drive student mastery
• Develop knowledge of how standards map to curriculum and assessment
• Lead analysis of and develop teachers' ability to analyze student data to identify strategies that will move students toward mastery
• Regularly observe and coach instructional coaches to ensure they are providing high-impact, actionable and bite sized feedback to teachers on a weekly basis
• Ensure teachers can collaborate, analyze their practice and their student data, and adjust instruction in content teams
• Lead whole-school professional development workshops and content/department meetings that drive the highest-impact improvements in teacher practice
• Lead, coach, develop and manage a team of leaders (team leads and dean) in support of schoolwide goals and initiatives.
• Overseeing KairosPDX staff collaboration with PPS school Psychologist to create consistency within the Student Intervention Team (SIT) processes and systems;
• Overseeing KairosPDX staff collaboration with the PPS Special Education team on specific instruction and strategies for children on Individualized Education Plans and 504 plans;
• Overseeing KairosPDX staff team in supporting teachers in meeting the needs of children identified as Talented and Gifted;
• Overseeing the use of data to assess student progress, formulate instructional practices and to differentiate instruction; focus on narrowing disparities between the highest and lowest performing students in order to meet the academic needs of individual students;

4. Management and Administration

• Creates and sustains an environment of mutual respect, high standards, safety, and support for learning.
• Provides general oversight of all school activities, manages the day-to-day operation of the school, and develops a smoothly functioning, efficient organization through coordination with the Dean of School of Performance, committees, staff and volunteers.
• Ensures that the Dean of School Performance has the necessary resources and expertise to lead the school's behavior and learning supports as well as support daily operational functions.
• Leads recruiting efforts for all staff members. Recommends staffing and financing to the CEO.
• Evaluates and supervises direct reports and supervises evaluation of all members of the staff.

5. Strategic Project Initiatives

• Ensure alignment of school practices to school-wide priorities.
• Support day-to-day operations of the school, including regular data monitoring and progress towards goals.
• In partnership with the Dean of School Performance, model, promote, and coach others toward effective communication with families, cultivating engagement in their child's success and the school's mission.
• Lead projects related to a specific content area or aspect of their school.
• Lead school-wide working groups to solve problems.
• Represent the school at external events and/or meetings.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Participate in continuous improvement practices including observation, reflection and collaboration
• Participate in professional development (meeting, training and/or workshops) to facilitate growth of each student, staff member and the organization overall
• Participate in the school wide communication of instruction goals and perspectives with families
• Attend several KairosPDX staff and family events
  • Work hours may include evening and weekend activities
• Building opening and closing as needed for backup;
• Perform other related duties as needed.
• Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required for this position. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned with or without notice.

Required Qualifications

Education & Experience:

• Masters required;
• Valid administrative license issued by TSPC (or ability to obtain by start date);
• Ability to register for Site Director status of a Certified Early Child Care Center;
• A minimum of seven (7) years of elementary experience in a Head of School/ Principal leadership position is required;
• Successful experience leading and/or coaching teachers;
• Classroom experience that supported school improvement plans that resulted in improved academic performance for students, showing gains in closing the achievement gap;
• Experience in analyzing student data and using data to inform instruction;
• Ability to persevere with a sense of optimism, strong problem solving skills, and desire to learn and grow in a collaborative professional learning community;
• Ability to multi-task and work within an ambiguous, fast-moving, start-up type of environment, while driving toward clarity and solutions;
• Training in early education and/or human development preferred;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Extreme flexibility, with a strong work ethic and ability to accommodate high levels of responsibility and multiple priorities;
• Commitment to racial-equity practices;
• Commitment to professional reflection and ongoing collaboration;
• Current Food Handlers Card and CPR/First Aid Certificate required (cost paid by applicant);
• Ability to pass a criminal background check and drug screen;
• Share KairosPDX's stance that excellent public education is a civil right of all children and families;
• Experience working with diverse populations, specifically People of Color; and
• Passion for KairosPDX's mission.

Knowledge & Skills:

Comprehensive knowledge of the practices, methods and techniques used in the leadership, administration and supervision of an elementary school. The ideal candidate for Head of School:

Competencies:

Is self-reflective, self-aware, and has a 360view of what's going on;

Can see how a change in policy or new idea or event will be interpreted by others;

Welcome constructive criticism and feedback as a lifelong learner and leader;

Handles stress well, and accepts responsibility for problems and mistakes;

Inspires and motivates students and teachers;

Commitment to working to create the best school in the city and state;

Is solution-focused and sees potential problems before they arise;

Has confidence in what he or she is doing but the humility to know he or she can always do a better job.

Management:

Understands the unique nature of schools as organizations;

Is a strong manager of people meeting each staff member where they are and helping them to grow professionally;

Sees the forest daily, and not just the trees;

Prefers truth and honesty over avoidance and harmony;

Is able to give clear, direct, and tough feedback to students, teachers, staff and families;

Is able to make singularly tough decisions;

Is an excellent judge of talent.