Oxford Preparatory Academy seeks an Executive Director to lead its K-8, tuition-free charter campuses. Reporting to the Board, the Executive Director will oversee academic and operational leadership, fiscal management, staff supervision, charter compliance, fundraising, and community relations. The ideal candidate has charter school experience, strong leadership and interpersonal skills, and a commitment to academic excellence and ethical governance. Salary is competitive & negotiable – STRS compliant.

Apply at Education Leadership Services (ELS): educationleadershipservices.org (under the current openings tab)

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Job Description

About Oxford Preparatory Academy

Oxford Preparatory Academy (OPA), believes that all students are unique and gifted individuals. OPA is committed to working collaboratively to develop learning in a safe and caring educational environment where students are challenged, scholarship is expected, and differences are valued.

OPA’s vision is to create a center for higher learning where students from transitional kindergarten to eighth grade are prepared to pursue university level academic studies, as well as gain skills to be successful in the global community of the 21st century.  OPA provides support for its students to not just meet, but exceed grade level expectations, and become critical thinkers as they engage with dynamic teaching that supports self-motivated, competent, and lifelong learners.

OPA serves its community tuition-free through educating TK-8 children  in south Orange County.  OPA has thefirst 7-year charter renewal in California, illustrating its high academic performance. With a strong fiscal foundation, OPA’s accomplishments and strategic planning allowed it to expand into its third campus in recent years. 

Definition

Reporting directly to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director (ED)  is the general manager and educational leader of the organization and supervises and directs the organization’s activities, affairs, and officers. The ED directly supervises senior administrators to lead the on-site implementation of the program at each operating campus. The ED is responsible for ensuring the mission and vision is being successfully implemented at each campus. The ED shall have such other powers and duties as the Board or the bylaws may require.

Board Work:  The ED reports to the Board and maintains a positive working relationship with its members.

• Works with the Board as a “governance team” and assures collective responsibility for building unity of purpose, communicating a common vision, and creating a positive organizational culture. 
• Develops operational plans, programs, and procedures to fulfill the Board’s Mission and Vision
• Prepares and presents board meeting agendas and supporting documentation.
• Acts as a liaison between school operations and the Board, providing regular, transparent reporting on academic performance, personnel matters, financial health, and legal issues.
• Advises the board on necessary policies, educational trends, and legal requirements.
• Work with members on any Board committees.

Overall Leadership Responsibilities:  As the chief executive of OPA, many of the ED’s responsibilities are cumulative and involve organization-wide leadership.

• Share the development and execution of the Mission and Vision and policies established by the Board.
• Partner with the Board, staff and other stakeholders to develop a strategic plan for the next phase of growth.
• Act as the senior administrative staff member, under the direction of the Board.
• Manage senior administrators and assign duties as appropriate to carry out organization mission, vision and goals.
• Provide leadership in identifying school needs and in determining goals.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as are customary of the Executive Director and as assigned by the Board.

Internal Management

• Ensure that the organization is fiscally sound; works with appropriate agencies to support,develop and implement school budget, analyze and control expenditures, with an understanding of the relationship between the instructional program and the budget process and rely on cost-benefit analysis for budgetary decisions.
• Update and inform the Board of staff performance as related to specific program
• Assist in the development, implementation, and enforcement of all Board Policy.
• Facilitate appropriate and legally sound responses to escalated student behavior incidents.
• Evaluate performance of senior administrators.
• Make personnel determinations in cases of hiring and termination, and set job performance
• Review evaluations of all other staff members, as prepared by senior administrators.
• Coordinate ongoing student assessment activities, with the goal of maximizing each campuses educational achievement, focusing on California Assessment of Student Progress and Performance (CAASPP) scores for each campus and all statistically significant subgroups.
• Direct the preparation and maintenance of the accreditation process with staff and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
• Implement programs and solutions to increase and maintain academic excellence for all.
• Direct and assist staff in the development of an effective instructional program through conferences, meetings, and in-service workshops; provide leadership in supporting certificated and classified staff to academic success.
• Provide leadership and direction in the identification and interpretation of needs and the establishment of priorities and application of statutes and regulations related to Special Education services; initiate and assist in coordinating the planning, development and implementation of programs and activities designed to meet such needs and priorities.

External Management

• Represent OPA to the external community. While the ED may not be the primary point person for every relationship, the ED must be aware of, connected to, and nurture relationships with all organizations. 
• Maintain professional relationships with and ensure that all necessary reports and documents are submitted to the authorizer(s), County Office of Education(s) (COE), and California Department of Education (CDE).
• Lead and oversee Oxford Preparatory Charter School Petitions, Memorandums of Understandings (MOUs), and Facilities Use Agreements (FUAs).
• Oversee, conduct, and direct the implementation of all charter documents, including but not limited to,preparation of audits and reports; pertaining to charter renewals, material revisions, MOUs, and/or = FUAs.
• Develop new funding streams including fundraising, capital campaigns, and private and public grants.
• Act as the spokesperson for organizational affairs; coordinate communication and marketing efforts for the organization.
• Represent the charter at local, state and national
• Perform related duties as

Additional Qualifications – Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Board governance, including its roles, responsibilities, decision-making processes, and the legal framework within which it functions.
• Understanding of charter school operations, and organization, rules, regulations, and laws governing charter schools.
• Effectively manage the organization budget with a focus on strategic goals, professional development and identifying additional revenue streams.
• Charter school applications and renewals; Proposition 39 facilities use agreements.
• Assessment development and content standards; laws and administrative regulation application to TK-8 public instruction; principles of organization, supervision and training.
• Principles, practices, trends, goals and objectives of public charter school education.
• Data-driven decision making utilizing educational research to maximize student learning; data management tools and computer programs (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
• Building community and consensus, particularly through soliciting and responding to feedback.
• Conflict resolution and team building methods and techniques.
• Local community in which the students and their families live and work in orderto assist students in reaching their academic potential.
• Principles of equity, inclusion, and diversity. Strategies to educate students from diverse backgrounds and educational needs.
• Multiple Intelligences approaches to learning in teaching strategies.
• Evidence-based, innovative educational research that may be applied to strengthen student learning.

Ability to:

• Demonstrate interpersonal and political skills working with a variety of entities including authorizers, legislative bodies, state and federal agencies, educational associations and
• Demonstrate the highest level of motivation and professionalism and exhibit a high level of integrity, ethics, honesty and transparency.
• Work collaboratively with the Board on strategy implementation, marketing and fundraising, and communications and outreach.
• Continuously cultivate positive community relationships.
• Provide proactive communication with the school community to build trust through transparency and information sharing.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with
• Encourage and foster inclusion in a diverse organization.

Education and Experience:

• Possession of a valid California Administrative Services Credential.
• Master’s degree from an accredited college/university; Doctorate degree highly desirable. A minimum offive years of administrative experience in addition to a minimum of five years successful teaching.
• Experience developing new funding streams including fundraising, capital campaigns, and private and public grants highly desirable.

Physical and Mental Demands: 

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. 

Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, talk or hear, and taste or smell. The employee frequently is required to use their hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. 

Mental Demands: While performing the duties of this class, the employee must be able to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret data, information, and documents; interpret policies and procedures; use math and mathematical reasoning; learn and apply new information or new skills; work under deadlines with constant interruptions; and interact with organization staff, managers, instructors, vendors, and other organizations and the public; occasionally required to deal with staff or community members in conflict situations. 

 Work environment:

The employee typically works in an office or school environment where the noise level is quiet or moderately quiet.  The employee travels to a variety of school and off-site facilities for meetings and job-related functions. 

• Possession of a valid California Administrative Services Credential.
• Master’s degree from an accredited college/university; Doctorate degree highly desirable. A minimum offive years of administrative experience in addition to a minimum of five years successful teaching.
• Experience developing new funding streams including fundraising, capital campaigns, and private and public grants highly desirable.

About Education Leadership Services

Education Leadership Services is a business founded by experienced professionals who are committed to helping California school districts enhance their leadership. We work in partnership with board members and district leaders to find the right executive candidates, elevate your leadership team, provide professional services to all facets of your organization, and contribute to the success of your district!

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