School Network Staff Director of College Preparation, 2017-18
Job Description
Who We Are
RePublic Schools is a network of high-performing public charter schools based in Nashville, TN and Jackson, MS with a mission to reimagine public education in the South and prepare all of our scholars to graduate from college. In addition to providing a world-class traditional academic curriculum, we empower our students to be change-makers by teaching them to code – starting in the 5th grade.
Despite the fact that our scholars come from traditionally underserved communities (approximately 85% identify as low-income, and nearly 95% as students of color), we have seen them defy the odds to achieve outstanding results. RePublic’s schools have scored in the top 5% of all open-enrollment public schools across the state of Tennessee for both student growth and absolute achievement – making ours the first (and only) charter schools in state history to achieve this dual distinction.
At RePublic, we cultivate a cohesive community of families, staff, and scholars committed to doing whatever it takes to ensure our scholars succeed. We are looking for a dynamic, determined Director of College Preparation to lock arms with our school team at RePublic High School. Candidates must share our unwavering belief that all children can achieve at high levels and change the world. Sound like you?
What You’ll Do
Overview
RePublic’s mission is to ensure that 100% of our scholars are not only able to get accepted to and attend the highest-quality colleges and universities across the nation – but able to succeed once there, and graduate ready to serve as the change agents of their generation. The Director of College Preparation at RePublic High School is responsible for ensuring that our scholars and their families have the technical and interpersonal skills, resources and tools, and knowledge to apply to make this promise a reality. The Director of College Preparation will serve on the school’s leadership team, report directly to the Principal, and will consult with network leaders on topics related to college and career access, readiness, and persistence.
Key Responsibilities
- Bring it. Have the desire and the ability to set and achieve ambitious goals, and handle the intensity required to bring your best self each day as a leader to a very high-performing, dynamic, and collaborative school and network
- Cultivate the portfolio. Create opportunities for students to explore colleges and careers firsthand, including bringing in guest lecturers, facilitating college trips/tours, and more. Secure opportunities for students to participate in competitive and enriching summer programs, jobs, and internships. Ensure that scholars have the chance to engage with local, national, and even global communities in meaningful ways that build character, make our communities stronger, and help scholars see the relevance of the work they are doing at RHS.
- Perform when the lights come on. Manage the high school’s efforts to effectively prepare students to succeed on high-stakes college entry examinations, and lead the school to track data and progress against ambitious academic goals to ensure RHS boasts one of the highest average ACT scores among all public schools in Nashville.
- Own the content. Manage and coach a College Prep Teacher to design and develop a rigorous College Preparation curriculum that prepares students to research colleges and universities across the nation, perform excellently on high-stakes college entry assessments like the ACT and/or SAT, navigate the application and financial aid process, and research scholarship opportunities.
- Bridge the gap. Create opportunities to foster a sense of community and engage families in the process of learning about college and the college application process, and find ways to shine the light on topics or processes that might otherwise be difficult or intimidating to navigate. Maintain strong lines of communication with families about student progress, and go above and beyond to support and collaborate closely with other RePublic teammates in the united pursuit of college and career readiness.
- Make it personal. Support the College Prep Teacher to meet and consult with students one-on-one or in small groups to help identify schools that would be a great fit based on scholars’ academic performance, passions, and other personal preferences.
- Never stop growing. Offer and receive constructive feedback from colleagues in order to create a professional working atmosphere that aspires to excellence and is conducive to constant improvement; dive humbly into school-wide and individual professional development, including pre-service training over the summer and weekly sessions during the academic year.
Who You Are
- A steadfast believer that all students can achieve excellence, and a fighter for social justicewho believes fundamentally that equity in access to a high-quality college education and a successful career should not depend on a child’s race, socioeconomic status, or zip code
- A growth-minded tinkerer who is constantly learning, improving, and hungry for feedback
- A gritty problem-solver who approaches challenges with smart solutions in mind
- An eternal optimist who supports and motivates your teammates by having their back
- A detail maven who plans backwards diligently to meet timelines and manage complex projects
- A data-driven analyst who reflects and takes swift action based on results
- A proactive communicator who reaches out to students, families, and teammates to communicate about both positive wins and setbacks or challenges
The Fine Print
- Qualifications/Certification.
- All candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree; Master’s degree is preferred.
- Expertise and passion for content area is a must – a teaching certification/license in the state of Tennessee (or from a state with reciprocity with Tennessee state certification requirements) is strongly preferred, but not required for this role.
- Prior Experience.
- 3-5 years of prior experience working in the K-12 space in roles that relate to college readiness, access, or persistence required.
- Prior experience teaching, experience teaching or working in a low-income community, and a demonstrated ability to raise achievement levels of traditionally underserved students are highly preferred.
Salary is competitive and commensurate based on experience. Compensation at RePublic includes a comprehensive benefits package.
How to Apply
- Submit your resume and an optional cover letter online: http://grnh.se/ntrlj81
- Questions? We’re happy to chat. Contact us: careers@republiccharterschools.org.