Position: Executive Director
Organization: The Ewing Marion Kauffman School
Location: Kansas City, MO
The Ewing Marion Kauffman School, a charter public school opening in fall 2011, seeks a visionary and highly effective Executive Director to join its leadership team. The Executive Director is responsible for the overall start-up, administration, and management of the Kauffman School, including school philosophy, school design, academic programs, staffing, operations, and culture. This person will be charged with founding a high-performing urban charter school unrelentingly focused on student achievement. The mission of the Kauffman School is to prepare students to excel academically, graduate college, and apply their unique talents in the world to create economically independent and personally fulfilling lives.
Areas of responsibility include board relations, policy development, staff and organization evaluation, fiscal management, and outreach to internal and external stakeholders. The Executive Director reports to the Kauffman School Board of Directors. This is a full-time, exempt position located in Kansas City, MO.
Responsibilities:
Communications and Outreach
- Play leadership role at local, state and national levels regarding charter schools and urban education
- Actively participate in Kauffman Foundation-supported research and evaluation of the charter school
- Serve as key spokesperson for the Kauffman School and liaison to the community
- In conjunction with Director of Curriculum and Instruction, develop “school report card” format and distribution system for dissemination of school information to media, general public, and key stakeholders
- In conjunction with Director of Curriculum and Instruction, coordinate all staff communications related to academic programming, assessment, and outcomes
- Build and support a strong school culture focused on academic achievement
- Supervise direction of teaching and learning in the school
- Manage and support the Director of Curriculum and Instruction in the following areas:
- Manage and evaluate teaching staff
- Provide instructional leadership to advance proven teaching and learning practices
- Observe classes and teachers regularly
- Set standards for student achievement and monitor progress of all students
- Facilitate data-driven discussions and planning regarding student performance
- Design professional development plans and programming for individual teachers to address deficits, build on strengths, and become more effective and successful team members
- Work with parents and the community to achieve maximum involvement in support of student performance
- Guide curriculum development, implementation, and evaluation
Organizational Leadership
- Be the standard bearer of the school’s philosophy and culture – personally exceeding expectations the school has for students and staff
- Work with the Director of Curriculum and Instruction to create a team of teachers and administrators sharing the Kauffman School philosophy and willing to do “whatever it takes” to help students succeed
- Ensure coherence of school philosophy, mission, goals, and activities
- Identify and implement ways to enhance and enrich the school’s shared values and principles
- Work with Kauffman School Board to develop policies and set organizational priorities
- Coordinate and report at all board meetings
- Develop succession planning strategies and build on the leadership potential of teaching staff
- Work with the Kauffman School Board of Directors to develop and manage the school’s budget and annual cash flow projections
- Present budget and cash flow updates at monthly school board meetings, including explanations for budget variances
- Develop relationships with finance staff at Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
- Monitor policy and funding changes and aligned training opportunities
- Oversee all programs, services, and activities to ensure school goals and objectives are met
- Ensure compliance with all statutory regulations and requirements
- Manage human resources
- Manage student recruitment and enrollment process
- Facilitate a safe and orderly school environment
Qualifications, Skills, and Experience:
- Previous school leadership experience working in charter school sector, or comparable public/private school
- Deep experience in charter school operations (start-up, fiscal responsibility, development, charter renewal, academics)
- Commitment to quality education for all students
- Demonstrated success in public education reform efforts and nonprofit organizational leadership.
- Executive team leadership and organizational management experience
- Master’s Degree preferred
- Leadership that reflects shared values and beliefs embedded in Kauffman School philosophy
- A results-oriented approach with a track record of achieving goals
- A strategic approach and highly motivated personality; capable of seeing projects through from beginning to end
- Solid analytical, communication, and negotiation skills
- Maturity, humility, professionalism, confidence, and a strong work ethic
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience, and includes excellent benefits.
To Apply:
The Kauffman School has engaged Koya Consulting to help in this hiring process. Please send a compelling cover letter and resume to Molly Brennan at executivesearch@koyaconsulting.com.
The Kauffman School is an equal opportunity employer and diverse candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
About The Ewing Marion Kauffman School:
Inspired by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and set to open in fall 2011, the Kauffman School prepares students to be intellectually curious, economically independent, and confidently self-directed. The Kauffman School will enroll seventy-five fifth graders in the first year and grow one grade per year initially to serve grades five through twelve. In addition, the school will explore future development of a K-4 component. At full capacity, the Kauffman School will graduate about one hundred high school seniors each year. The target population is urban students residing in low-income households, with a focus on college prep and life prep curriculum. The Kauffman Foundation will provide funding for start-up and early operations, as well as help identify and acquire a facility for the school. The Kauffman Foundation will make application for the school’s charter in spring 2010. The school’s opening in fall 2011 is subject to approval of the application by a sponsor and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. For more information about the Kauffman Foundation, please visit http://www.kauffman.org.