Chief Schools Officer

Description

Role mission: 

The Chief Schools Officer serves as the driver of school culture and academic success. They will work to achieve the academic goals of the organization, drive the consistency of excellence at all schools, and support our school leaders to deliver on the promise of an exceptional education. This individual is a passionate and skilled leader, manager and coach who has a track record of achieving results with students by galvanizing teachers and leaders around a common mission of excellence.  This role reports to the CEO.

Your impact:

Leadership and Vision

• In partnership with the Vista senior leadership team, build and set a clear and inspiring vision for Vista’s K-8 academic program (curriculum/schedule, assessments, student experience, etc.) and  what a Vista College Prep classroom and campus should look like, grounded in our priorities of great teaching, academic excellence, and strong student and staff culture to ensure we are providing a truly world-class education to our scholars
• Manage the performance of all Vista schools through the direct management of five Vista Principals, along with teaching, learning and culture systems for a growing charter school network
• Manage a team of network leaders including management of Directors overseeing academic systems, student experiences, school leaders, culture and teaching and learning
• Collaborate with Vista team members and external partners to drive innovation and apply best practices which inform instruction, intervention programs, and delivery of support services.
• Ensure school teams have clearly articulated plans for daily operations and implementation of student services, including support services, discipline and management, and crisis intervention
• Strengthen the bond between the schools and the Network Support Team by being an effective liaison between schools and the network team 
• Serve as one of the most senior program leaders in our organization, helping us achieve our goals and exercising strong judgment in making critical decisions about what we prioritize and how we operate, keeping students at the center of all decision-making as we work to prepare 100% of our students for success at high performing high schools

Scholar Achievement and Results Orientation

• Ensure that curricula are aligned to the organization’s mission, values, and academic goals that meet the needs of all students.
• Build, create, secure and improve instructional materials and resources that allow for the delivery of high quality instruction and appropriate interventions.
• Build upon and structure the relationship between the network office and the schools by defining the network program expectations and the opportunities for school-based design;
• Develop a school health dashboard in partnership with network and school leaders to create a shared understanding of “healthy schools” at Vista so that efforts to drive school improvement are coordinated and aligned to a shared definition of success
• Oversee the goal-setting process with principals to ensure that academic and culture goals are ambitious and rigorous for all students
• Monitor and ensure systems, structures, and environments support the needs of diverse learners and the SEL needs of students that results in growth
• Collaborate with the Network Support Team and campus leadership around a strong vision for instructional excellence and associated training so that people grow rapidly and performance accelerates quickly
• Ensure school leaders are improving their practice as instructional leaders and managers of their teams
• Track student outcomes, diagnose trends and working to ensure campuses consistently reach equitable experiences and outcomes
• Assess and support the effectiveness of the academic programs through coaching conversations, regular observations and school walk-throughs and support principals in identifying appropriate resources to ensure alignment in implementation.
• Ensure vision for student experience is aligned with Vista core values, and ensure all members have clarity of vision for rewards and incentives
• Develop a palpably positive and inclusive school climate across the network 

Alignment, Professional Development, and Compliance

• Collaborate with the Network Support Team and campus leaders to plan and execute summer professional development for school leaders, new teachers, and returning staff
• Develop and lead professional development opportunities for principals and school leaders that increases leadership skills, performance, and organizational leadership
• Develop and coach principals and other school leaders to be strong leaders of school site leadership teams
• Ensure full compliance with state and federal guidelines in support for students and schools
• Collaborate intensively and strategically with organizational leaders in order to align support to schools and prioritization of student and teacher experience
• Drive the successful integration of evidence-based strategies to ensure the growth and success of all schools and create/oversee the systems/processes to assess progress against our vision and course correct when gaps develop
• Collaborate with Vista senior leadership to develop and refine with school expansion, growth, and development structures

Compensation: We offer a competitive compensation package, and comprehensive health and retirement benefits for qualifying employees.  All staff members are equipped with the tools needed to succeed, including all curricular materials, relevant and quality professional development, laptop computer, email, and all necessary supplies. 

Qualifications

• Passionate commitment to the mission of Vista College Prep
• Minimum of ten years leading or coaching leaders in urban public school setting preferred; experience as a principal at a high-performing school strongly preferred
• Experience as a trusted member of an organization's senior leadership team
• Exceptional capacity for managing people and leaders of teams, and building strong organizational and team cultures
• Outstanding strategic, analytical and critical thinking skills
• Excellent communication skills, able to present effectively
• Strong change management skills, and the ability to influence and facilitate decision-making among multiple, diverse parties
• Demonstrated ability to be proactive and take initiative
• Strong academic and instructional foundation
• Ability to build strong relationships and influence diverse groups of internal and external stakeholders
• Spanish proficiency or fluency beneficial, but not required
• Valid IVP fingerprint clearance card

Salary : $155,000