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17 May
2022
Principal or Vice Principal Executive Director
Job Description
Vista Charter School Executive Director Job Description
ORGANIZATION
Vista Charter School Mission:
The mission of Montrose’s Vista Charter School is to ensure that all students master the skills required to earn a high school diploma and that they acquire the tools necessary for future success.
About Vista Charter School:
To learn more about Vista Charter School, please visit our website https://www.vistacharter.org/
THE OPPORTUNITY
Job Overview
Under limited supervision, the Executive Director performs a variety of supervisory roles and is responsible for the successful leadership and management of Vista Charter School according to the strategic direction set by the Board of Directors.
RESPONSIBILITIES
General Leadership and Management Qualities
- Provides visionary, collaborative and innovative educational leadership.
- Demonstrates leadership experience and success in challenging and engaging students at all points along the path to graduation continuum.
- Demonstrates strong financial intelligence and long term vision for fiscal stewardship; allocates resources according to school and board goals.
- Demonstrates exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities of the Executive Director include:
*The Executive Director is expected to successfully perform the following:
Governance Leadership
- Participate with the Board of Directors in carrying out the three-year vision and strategic plan to guide the school.
- Identify, assess, and inform the Board of Directors (the Board) of internal and external issues that affect the school and its achievement of the vision and mission outlined within the strategic plan.
- Act as a professional advisor to the Board on all aspects of the school’s activities.
- Foster effective teamwork between the Board, staff and school stakeholders.
- Draft policies for the approval of the Board and prepare procedures to implement the organizational policies
- Review existing policies on an annual basis and recommend changes to the Board as appropriate
Organizational Leadership & Management
- Continue to build on the established operational plan which incorporates goals and objectives that work towards the strategic direction of the school.
- Oversee the efficient and effective day-to-day operations of the school.
- Ensure that personnel, students and volunteer files are securely stored and privacy/confidentiality is maintained.
- Possess considerable knowledge of:
- Local, state and federal policies and procedures regarding career and technical education, alternative education, and competency-based learning models.
- The organization and communication channels of the school system.
- The ethical guidelines applicable to the position as outlined by professional organizations and/or federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations.
- Plan, develop, implement and evaluate large programs.
- Develop and implement policies, procedures and standards for services offered.
- Maintain complete and accurate records and statistics and to develop meaningful reports from that information.
- Effectively express ideas orally and in writing.
- Build strategic relationships with local business partners, local advocacy partners, and local and statewide representatives to enlist support for Vista Career Pathway partnerships.
- Establish systems and protocols to ensure the operational and financial health of the school and its associated pathways programming region.
- Coordinate feedback of community stakeholders including: parents, local business and industry partnerships, and students.
Instructional Leadership & Planning
- Oversee the planning, implementation and evaluation of the organization’s curricula, programs and services.
- Ensure that the curricula, programs and services offered by the school contribute to the organization’s mission and reflect the priorities of the Board.
- Monitor the delivery of instruction, programs and services of the school to maintain or improve quality.
- Plan, develop, and implement a comprehensive program for students in career and technical education (CTE).
- Works in conjunction with the State Department of Education, and various other agencies to meet the needs of students;
- Ensure compliance of programs with federal, state, and local regulations, including oversight of Vista’s special education programming.
- Possess considerable knowledge of the current literature, trends, methods and developments in the area of career and technical education, alternative education and competency-based educational models.
- Assess the needs of students and prioritize necessary actions as they align with Vista’s three-year strategic plan.
- Utilize data to support a system of continual improvement of programs and services.
- Lead ongoing curriculum development among CTE/pathway programs, in alignment with school’s curriculum, advisory committee recommendations, and state requirements to ensure Vista’s pathway programs engage student interests and meet the current needs of business and industry within the community.
- Support the development and implementation of course-level competencies required within a competency-based graduation plan.
- Develop and implement action plans in partnership with business and community stakeholders to increase the number of industry-recognized credentials within Vista’s pathway program
- Develop and implement high-quality professional development to maintain the use of expert content knowledge and high-proficiency instructional practices amongst CTE/pathways teachers.
- Monitor the attainment of Vista’s School Performance Framework annually.
- Develop and manage processes and structures (such as program reviews, and performance goals) to support high-quality and consistent implementation of standards in every pathway program.
- Run and implement a research-aligned MTSS model within a trauma-informed care school system.
- Work with staff and school stakeholders to develop an effective school schedule.
Human Resources & Management
- Determine staffing requirements for organizational management and program delivery.
- Oversee the implementation of the human resources policies, procedures and practices including the development of job description for all staff.
- Recruit, interview and select staff that have the right technical and personal abilities to help further the school’s mission.
- Ensure that all staff receive an orientation to the school and that appropriate training is provided.
- Run the performance management process for all staff which includes monitoring the performance of staff on an on-going basis and conducting an annual performance review
- Coach and mentor staff as appropriate to improve performance.
- Supervise and conduct personnel administration duties for staff, including hiring and firing, evaluating, assigning special duties, monitoring attendance and travel reports, and granting leave.
- Directly supervise and coaching all staff members to achieve key goals and metrics aligned with Vista’s strategic plan.
- Cultivate a cohesive, values-aligned team (inclusive of business partners & school stakeholders) that demonstrates strong team culture, communication, and role clarity.
Fiscal Planning & Management
- Work with staff and the Board to prepare a comprehensive budget.
- Work with the Board to secure adequate funding for the operation of the school.
- Research funding sources, oversee the development of fundraising plans.
- Approve expenditures within the authority delegated by the Board.
- Ensure that sound bookkeeping and accounting procedures are followed.
- Administer the funds of the organization according to the approved budget and monitor the monthly cash flow of the organization.
- Provide the Board with comprehensive, regular reports on the revenues and expenditure of the organization.
Community Relations/advocacy Leadership
- Communicate with stakeholders to keep them informed of the work of the school and its impact to local economic development.
- Develop and expand partnerships with community businesses, industries, post-secondary institutions, and apprenticeship programs to extend and enrich learning experiences available to students.
- Participate in community and family informational activities to help improve understanding of the key elements of Vista’s pathway offerings, the skills and interests of Vista students, and to generate support for Vista and the opportunities that can be made available to students through the pathway model.
- Provide frequent and ongoing communications about the Vista program to the community at large, including overseeing the school’s social media strategy.
Risk Management
- Identify and evaluate the risks to the organization’s people (teachers, staff, management and volunteers), property, finances, goodwill, and image and implement measures to control risks
- Maintain Safety and Health Plans, including Emergency/Evacuation Plans.
- Establish a positive, healthy and safe work environment in accordance with all appropriate legislation and regulations.
FIRST YEAR ACTIVITIES
Within the first year, the Vista Charter School Executive Director will focus on the following activities:
- Engaging with all stakeholders to listen, learn and establish trust. This includes assessing the needs of the school with a commitment to maintaining the current strategic three-year plan for the school.
- Maintaining a strong commitment to the school’s vision and refining the strategic plan aligned to the organization’s three-year plan that addresses local needs. This will include integrating feedback from a variety of stakeholders and ensuring resources are distributed across the pathways programming in ways that maximize impact.
- Building a coherent, collaborative and high-functioning team that balances the need to work efficiently with intentionality in how they support the school and students.
QUALIFICATIONS
*In order to fulfill these responsibilities, the ideal Executive Director candidate will be/have:
Education
Minimum: Master’s Degree in a related field and/or equivalent combination of education, training and experience sufficient to perform the essential functions of the job. Active Colorado School Principal’s license.
Preferred: Active CTE Director Qualification
Experience
- 3-5+ years of successful teaching, as demonstrated by student results and other relevant data strongly preferred.
- 3-5+ years of successful experience as a principal, as demonstrated in student results and other relevant data strongly preferred.
- 2+ years CTE teaching/director experience preferred with a track record of student success preferred.
Desired Leadership Attributes
- Requires the ability to apply principles of influence systems, such as motivation, incentive, teaching pedagogy, and leadership.
- Ability to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to problem resolution.
- Requires the ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness and creativity required in situations involving the direction, control and planning of instructional programs.
- Upholds and enforces district policies, administrative procedures and district rules and regulations.
- Actively seek out and attend approved local and national professional meetings, conferences and institutes to keep abreast of current research, trends, and practices in education.
- Maintains appropriate work habits, including regular and punctual attendance, and maintains appropriate relationships with other staff and leaders.
- Strives to communicate the positive aspects of Vista Charter to the public in word and deed.
- Thoughtfully and actively represents Vista as an effective, approachable, and responsive leader.
- Attends and participates in council, board and committee meetings as required.
- The ability to attract, cultivate, develop, and inspire a diverse team, build trust through authentic interaction, and cultivate a positive work environment and school culture.
- Demonstrated success as an instructional leader, including professional development of teachers in public charter schools serving highly-impacted students.
- Demonstrated command of the intricacies of charter school operations and planning.
- Deep knowledge and understanding of the complexities of trauma and its impact to student learning and performance school; sensitivity to issues and concerns of communities of diverse groups including students with disabilities and disenfranchised students; passion and extensive experience in leading for equity;
- Commitment to personal learning, growth, and development.
- Knowledge of characteristics of successful alternative schools and how to implement high fidelity wrap-around services.
- Knowledge of Colorado charter school law, finance, and regulations.
- Strong problem analysis and problem resolution at both a strategic and functional level.
- Successful track record of working within an alternative school setting with students and families from diverse racial, ethnic, linguistic and socio-economic backgrounds.
- Proven track record of sound judgment, communication and creative problem solving skills.
- Team oriented and collaborative.
- Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively, and possess excellent organizational skills.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
This position offers a competitive salary range. Additionally, Vista Charter School offers its employees competitive benefits, including generous paid time off, 100% core health benefits coverage on select plans, life insurance/long-term disability, participation in a CO state retirement plan.
