School Network Staff President
Job Description
President, Colorado League of Charter Schools
Our history leading to our future
The Colorado League of Charter Schools (referred herein as “the League”) is one of the oldest and most established charter support organizations (CSO) in the country. Established in 1994, the League was the third CSO to form after charter public schools began in the U.S. and was supporting Colorado charter public schools within a year after the passage of the Colorado Charter Schools Act.
Over the years, the League has helped to give Colorado some of the nation’s strongest charter public school laws—consistently ranked in the top 10 in the U.S.—paving the way for continued growth and evolution of quality education throughout the state. The League has played a critical role in creating a bipartisan climate for new charter public schools and in shaping the overall operating environment for established charter public schools. It has also been instrumental in providing insight and support to the state’s public school landscape.
The League has expanded from its advocacy roots and today offers an array of services designed to support Colorado’s charter public schools from the moment they open their doors through each stage of their growth and development. With a budget of $2.8 million and 18 employees, the League has members from 92% of Colorado’s 238 charter public schools, which, in turn, serve nearly 115,000 students.
The League is poised to continue to build upon its strong history of pedagogical leadership, bipartisan relationships, and its unwavering advocacy for school choice, the charter public school concept and, most importantly, quality public education for all. To support that end, the Board of Directors now seeks an energetic, experienced and entrepreneurial leader to become the League’s next President.
The Role: Opportunities and Challenges
The League has a solid foundation of leadership. This position will follow only two predecessors during its nearly 25 years in existence—including almost 20 years of direction from its founder. Cultivated over the decades, the League looks to its new President to maintain the high degree of respect and esteem held for the League within the state and national communities.
With this in mind, the incoming President will recognize that relationships are key in this position and effectively maintain such relationships require regular attention and honest communication. He or she will be comfortable operating within complicated political contexts, be aware of the nuances within membership organizations, and be able to recognize and capitalize on strategic partnerships. Our leader will be bipartisan and able to build and sustain relationships with a variety of stakeholders.
The League is a seeker and champion of both renowned and innovative practices that support student learning. Given the strong level of commitment to and experience within the education sector, many of its peers, including the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, look to the League to provide guidance and share expertise. The President will seamlessly fill this role of being a trusted and tested resource to League members, colleagues and partners.
The League and its staff have historically been very entrepreneurial. The new President will thrive within a complex and ever-changing landscape and enjoy finding new ways of serving charter public schools and the charter sector as a whole.
The League cares deeply about its vision: for all Colorado students to have access to high-quality, publicly-funded school options. The President will share this commitment and be willing to work with other sectors within the public school community to reach this vision.
Essential Job Duties
The President is responsible for overseeing the organization’s general development, management and operations, including: all initiatives, strategic planning, membership development and services, fundraising, financial planning and management, personnel matters, policy activities, communications, Board relations, and external relations.
Characteristics and Qualifications
As with all League employees, the President should be self-motivated, flexible and service-oriented. Additionally, the League will be best served by a dynamic leader who has the following characteristics and qualifications:
Values
- Open-minded, honest and collaborative, with a strong belief in and passion for the League’s mission and who values a focus on outcomes and accountability
Strengths and Talents
- Leader: Confident, charismatic, enthusiastic and energetic; respects and values multiple views and input; unites staff toward a common vision; manages organizational growth while continuing commitment to organizational compassion, passion and empathy
- Communicator: An exceptional written and verbal communicator; a good listener; a clear, direct and succinct communicator; well spoken and comfortable with public speaking
- Team builder: Open, supportive and empathetic; someone who can help his or her direct reports grow; ability to build a high performance team
- Strategist: Visionary; a long-term strategic thinker; a problem-solver
- Unifier: The ability to synthesize multiple, competing agendas into a unified strategy; the ability to inspire and mobilize others
- Influencer: The ability to influence and persuade others
- Manager: Well organized; disciplined; comfortable with delegating
Experience
- Demonstrated leadership experience with specific experience leading a team to accomplish challenging goals
- Experience in developing and implementing a strategic vision for an organization and building buy-in to that vision with diverse stakeholders
- Experience in working with and cultivating relationships with major funders including foundations and corporations
- Demonstrated experience in working with a governing board
- Leadership experience in managing financial operations, building revenue streams, and recruiting and leading a high performing staff
- Experience in developing education or other public policy preferred.
Skills and Knowledge
- Understanding and appreciation for the education reform and charter policy landscape
- Networking and consensus building skills
- Ability to be credible and build relationships with diverse constituents across Colorado and nationally
- Understanding of how to deliver effective customer service; knowledge of how to build and support membership preferred
- Human resources/supervisory skills.
Other Attributes
- A self-starter with a strong work ethic who has the ability to work across the political spectrum, and who has the ability and willingness to make tough decisions
- Undergraduate degree required; advanced degree preferred.
Compensation and more
Reports to: The Board of Directors
Compensation: The Colorado League of Charter Schools offers an excellent benefits package and a salary that is commensurate with experience.
Location: Denver, Colorado. Occasional travel across the state and nation is required.
