Senior Executive Director of Schools (2025-2026)

Salary Range: Executive Director

Length of Contract: 12 months

Deadline for application: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled

Starting Date: 2025-2026 School Year

College transcripts, three references, and a copy of appropriate credentials should also be submitted during the application process.

Prior to employment, the District will request a criminal record history check for past action of crimes. For this reason, information about date of birth, gender, and race is requested as a part of the application process.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Senior Executive Director of Schools

Primary Purpose

The Senior Executive Director of Schools provides visionary leadership and strategic oversight to ensure the schooling experience is defined by operational efficiency, transformative leadership, and effective management. This role focuses on improving student outcomes by empowering and supporting school leaders, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and aligning school goals with the resources necessary to nurture student well-being. The role supports developing, planning, and implementing all aspects of school renewal plans.

Reporting Structure: This role reports to the Associate Superintendent of School Innovation and Operations

Salary Scale: Executive Director Scale

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute a comprehensive strategic vision to drive academic and operational excellence across all schools.

• Ensure seamless alignment between district goals, strategic initiatives, and individual school priorities.

• Lead initiatives in school planning to optimize resource allocation, facilities usage, and student placement across the district.

School Planning, Demography, and Attendance

• Analyze demographic trends and enrollment patterns to inform strategic planning for school zones, attendance areas, and resource distribution.

• Collaborate with relevant departments to develop and implement strategies to improve student attendance and reduce chronic absenteeism.

• Provide oversight for school facility planning to ensure alignment with projected enrollment and community needs.

• Use data-driven insights to make recommendations for adjustments in school capacity, boundaries, and programming based on population trends and district priorities.

School Leadership Support

• Provide guidance, coaching, and supervision to school principals and leadership teams, focusing on instructional leadership, organizational management, school culture, and community engagement.

• Conduct regular school visits and meetings to assess and enhance performance in key areas, including student achievement, safety, school renewal efforts, and family engagement.

• Lead professional development for principals, assistant principals, and deans, ensuring alignment with district priorities and best practices.

Performance Management and Accountability

• Establish and monitor clear metrics and accountability systems to evaluate and improve school effectiveness.

• Analyze district and school performance data to identify trends and develop actionable plans for continuous improvement.

• Prepare and present progress reports to the district leadership, highlighting achievements, challenges, and strategies.

Operational Oversight

• Supervise and support the effective management of specialized programs, including Central Child Development, the Applied Technology Center, School Program Options, and Alternative Programs.

• Collaborate with departments such as HR, Accountability, Finance, Operations, and Technology to ensure schools receive necessary resources and support.

• Oversee school compliance with district and state policies, including school renewal plans and School Improvement Councils.

Community and Stakeholder Engagement

• Build strong relationships with parents, students, teachers, and community partners to foster trust and collaboration.

• Collaborate with school leaders to manage PTA/PTO, booster clubs, and community support programs.

• Support the engagement with school and community partnerships, programs, and resources.

Innovation and Strategic Initiatives

• Lead the implementation of innovative initiatives, such as school choice programs, to prepare students for college, career, and workforce readiness.

• Facilitate the Deans of Student Leadership PLC, ensuring consistent gains and dynamic support for student behavior and healthy classroom environments across the district.

• Support in the facilitation of the Assistant Principal Leadership PLC, ensuring consistent academic, operational, and organizational management, and development of the school.

Leadership and Representation

• Act as a liaison between schools and the central office to facilitate effective communication and collaboration.

• Represent the Office of School Innovation and Operations at public meetings, events, and forums.

• Provide coaching, feedback, and evaluations for school principals, assistant principals, and deans to ensure high-impact leadership at all levels.

Required Skills and Qualifications

Leadership Competencies

• PLANFUL

Invests time in planning, discovery, and reflection. Engages in active mindfulness to identify and adjust mental shortcuts. Seeks out the perspectives and experiences of others to test assumptions. Proactively anticipates and plans for the reactions of others, multiple outcomes, potential issues, and trends.

• DECISION MAKING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING

Simplifies complex problems using critical thinking to evaluate issues, gather information, incorporate multiple perspectives, understand causes, and identify best-possible solutions. Invests time in planning, discovery, and reflection to drive better decisions and more efficient implementations. Adopts an audience-centric approach, understanding the audience's needs and incorporating them, as appropriate, into the decision.

• LEARNING FOCUSED

Continuously seeks opportunities to learn, displays curiosity, demonstrates an ability to operate in uncertainty, questions the applicability of past approaches in the current environment, owns growth, persists when faced with obstacles, and embraces failure and mistakes as a learning opportunity by being open to feedback and constructive criticism.?

• EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT

Demonstrates self-awareness in identifying their emotions, understanding triggers, and choosing their behavior. Recognizes when their own biases may be impacting their decisions. Seeks understanding and empathizing with others' emotions, needs, and perspectives to guide their interactions.

• DATA LITERATE

Leverages multiple data sources to challenge assumptions and make data-informed decisions by identifying, analyzing, and interpreting qualitative and quantitative data to develop insights based on an understanding of organizational context, and uses data to tell a story and influence key players.

• ACCOUNTABLE

Takes ownership of positive or negative outcomes without blaming others within the team or cross-functionally recognizing when they are not approaching a situation with accountability but instead with a blame mindset. Takes accountability for assigned tasks and executes on deliverables promptly.

Education and Certification

• Master's or Doctoral degree in Education, Educational Leadership, or a related field.

• Valid administrative credential or equivalent certification.

Experience

• Extensive experience in school leadership, including roles such as principal, instructional administrator, or district-level leader.

• Proven track record of improving student outcomes, driving school effectiveness, and leading transformational change.

• A minimum of five years of experience as a principal is preferred.

Skills and Competencies

• Exceptional leadership, management, and interpersonal skills.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.

• Expertise in demographic analysis, strategic school planning, and attendance improvement strategies.

• Deep knowledge of instructional best practices and school improvement strategies.

• Outstanding communication and relationship-building capabilities.

Work Environment

This role operates in a dynamic setting, requiring a balance between office-based responsibilities and regular school visits. Attendance at evening and weekend meetings or events may be necessary to engage with stakeholders and community members.

Impact of the Role

The Senior Executive Director of Schools plays a pivotal role in shaping the educational experience and success of students across the district. By driving academic excellence, fostering innovation, optimizing school planning, and improving attendance, this leader directly influences the district's ability to achieve its mission and vision.