Chief Schools Officer
Role Summary:
Phoenix is seeking a seasoned and entrepreneurial education leader to partner with the organization's Founder and CEO. The organization, which was founded in 2006, is entering into an new phase of innovation and iteration. This phase, Phoenix Forward, includes the development of a new strategic plan with deeper connections to post secondary opportunities at the center, the integration of a focused investment in network wide diversity, equity and inclusion goals, and a network-wide shift to competency based learning and student personalization, as well as regrounding in youth development and restorative practice. With a strong historical foundation and with multiple investments from the Barr Foundation, Phoenix is positioned to continue it’s legacy of pushing education reform for the state’s most underserved students. The Chief of Schools will provide leadership and management for the network’s transition from planning to execution.
Philosophy
Phoenix Charter Academy's mission is to challenge young people in our area with an academically rigorous and individually tailored curriculum. Phoenix scholars will have the support, resources and training needed to succeed academically in high school and college, and become economically secure in their future. Phoenix Charter Academy is named after a mythological figure of strength, healing and renewal.
Phoenix schools challenge resilient, disconnected young people with rigorous academics and relentless supports, so they take ownership of their futures and succeed in high school, college, and as self-sufficient adults.
Leadership Commitments
All leaders model the core values and mission of Phoenix Charter Academy in every piece of their work.. In order to be successful at Phoenix, leaders must be innovative, relentless, humble and communicative with all members of the Phoenix Charter Academy community. Further, leaders should have a strong desire to take ownership of various projects and should possess an entrepreneurial spirit.
Qualities of a Phoenix staff member
Unwavering Belief in Phoenix Scholars - Phoenix staff operate with the deeply held belief that all young people want to and can succeed even in the face of what can seem like insurmountable barriers and societal constraints.
Ability to Put Scholars First - Phoenix staff go above and beyond to ensure mastery of the skills and development of positive self-identity that will ensure success for college, careers and beyond. Phoenix staff find every opportunity to engage in teaching and learning with scholars, using conflict to build supportive relationships with scholars and never taking things personally.
Eager to Learn Under Pressure - Phoenix staff must be able to learn as they go in a fast paced, ever evolving, urgent environment. They have the desire to receive direct feedback and the ability to implement the feedback into practice quickly.
Humility - Phoenix staff approach problem solving with curiosity and desire to understand the perspectives of others. They carry an internalized sense of “I can always learn more” from others, and know that adults at Phoenix must model the qualities of being open-minded and willing to make mistakes and learn from them.
Experience with Low Income Communities - Staff have the proven ability to work across cultures and experience serving low-income communities and/or academically-disconnected adolescents.
Ability to Find Inspiration In the Small Things - In the face of challenge and hard work, Phoenix staff must have the ability to find humor, inspiration, success and joy in the day to day interactions with scholars and the larger Phoenix Community.
Personal Commitment to Cultural Proficiency and Ongoing Development - Phoenix staff are ongoing learners about diversity, equity and inclusion and seek to understand the ways that their self-identity and experiences impacts and interacts with their daily work, colleagues and scholars.
Specific Responsibilities
- Supervise Heads of School (HOS) at each Phoenix location (Chelsea, Lawrence and Springfield), supporting each leader with developing their impact as instructional and school wide leaders;
- Collaborate with school leaders to set goals and build annualized accountability and performance metrics;
- Work with each individual HOS to align school goals with corresponding in-network supports and out of network resources in order to achieve maximum results;
- Ensure consistent and strategic focus on instruction and alignment with multi-year instructional plan towards mastery-based learning and competency-based instruction;
- Directly support Heads of School with the transition to network-wide set of practices grounded in youth development, positive behavioral intervention, and restorative justice.
- Develop a comprehensive knowledge agenda that will support the sharing of best practices within the Phoenix network of schools and with Phoenix sending school districts, funders, and partnering agencies;
- Lead a culture of collaboration, learning and improvement across Phoenix schools that is aligned with the Phoenix Network Theory of Action while promoting student responsive school practices within each Phoenix school;
- Establish a vision for ongoing outcomes measurement and quality indicators that align with Phoenix’s evolving school based practices across the network and within schools;
- Serve as a lead ambassador for Phoenix with a variety of key constituencies, including local community leaders, the Board of Trustees, state policy leaders, and other education leaders across Massachusetts;
- Support Heads of School to comply with all state-mandated accountability structures and processes
- Provide oversight and accountability for Phoenix’s network wide multi-year diversity, equity and inclusion implementation plan.
- Work in partnership with the CEO and HOS to drive school based pathways to post-secondary opportunities and build this into the core of school programming
- Perform other related responsibilities as required.
Qualifications
- A minimum of 10 years of experience leading a school, instructional leadership and/or managing school leaders
- Experience in alternative pathways or post secondary settings a plus
- A passion for the Phoenix mission and our student population
- Experience managing and supporting teams through organizational change initiatives
- Strong data fluency; demonstrated ability to lead instructional teams in designing and implementing strong data-driven goals and evaluation methods
- Demonstrated ability to build consensus and facilitate collaboration
- Experience with strategic planning in complex, dynamic settings
- Ability to clearly define strategic issues and make tough decisions in the face of ambiguity and incomplete information
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
- Sense of humor
We seek a diverse workforce. Phoenix Charter Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Phoenix Charter Academy is committed to providing equal opportunity to staff and applicants in all areas of employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status, or any other area protected by federal, state or local law. Phoenix Charter Academy is committed to making any reasonable accommodation necessary to support an individual's employment.
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