Organization: St. Hope Public Schools
Job Title: Chief Academic Officer
Location: Sacramento

Posted: 11/30/07

Job Description:

Summary
We are seeking a Chief Academic Officer (CAO) to set the tone and direction across the St. HOPE Public School system to focus on student achievement. The CAO oversees academic policies, structure, and management. The CAO sets the vision for academic and extracurricular programs and fosters an atmosphere of learning, achievement, involvement, and unity system wide.

Organization Overview
St. HOPE, founded by NBA All-Star Kevin Johnson, is a national nonprofit community development company with the mission of revitalizing inner city communities through public education, civic leadership, economic development and the arts.

Education is at the heart of our revitalization model. We believe the key is educating and empowering youth to change the landscape of their communities. St. HOPE began in 1989 as an after school program and developed into a rapidly growing community development company that currently operates a pre K-12 grade school system in Oak Park, Sacramento. In 2008, St. HOPE will expand its education model opening the New York Leadership Academy serving students in Harlem. Our schools are guided by the promise to ensure our students leave for college with the desire to serve their community and the ability to succeed academically. The Neighborhood Corp program (Hood Corp) complements our education focus by providing students the opportunity to gain valuable leadership skills while serving the community. The program educates, trains and empowers individuals of all ages to become civic leaders through community service. Hood Corps continues to grow its membership each year and has gained national recognition as a model service program.

We understand that sustainable revitalization efforts must take place from within. Our development projects draw on the culture and assets of the communities in which we work. In May 2003, St. HOPE opened the 40 Acres Art and Cultural Center, a mixed-use retail complex located in the heart of the Oak Park commercial district. Today, 40 Acres serve as a catalyst for economic and cultural renewal.

Combining the four components of our revitalization model has greatly benefited the Oak Park neighborhood. We are excited by the opportunity to take our model to other deserving communities throughout the United States. As a rapidly growing organization we are dependent upon attracting committed individuals to join our efforts. For more information on St. HOPE visit our website www.sthope.org.

Supervision Received

The CAO reports directly to the St. HOPE Inc President.

Salary

Commensurate with experience

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Academic Program Design. The CAO will work with the St. HOPE management team, local and national experts to carry out overall school design and execution. Specifically, the CAO is responsible for the following:

• Ensuring School Leaders develop school cultures characterized by a focus on academic achievement, individual and group reflection and the continuous improvement of instructional practice leading to measurable increases in academic achievement.
• Designing and providing professional development for staff that includes lesson development, adjustment and implementation.
• Researching model practices from across the country.
• Developing an overall system design plan that provides a unifying framework for our individual schools and outlines school wide activities and services.

Data Management. The CAO is accountable for establishing and managing an information system for student data and records. Specifically, responsibilities include:

• Implementing provisions for ensuring confidentiality of all student records as required by statute.
• Establishing and managing student accounting and attendance procedures.
• Overseeing the reporting of student academic data.
• Ensuring data is used to drive instructional goals.

School Wide Leadership and Organization. The CAO is responsible for articulating the school’s vision and mission and monitoring implementation across all St HOPE schools. Specifically, the CAO is responsible for the following:

• Operation of the school under a decentralized management system.
• Working with the School Council to develop and set annual performance objectives.
• Developing and conducting performance evaluations to ensure that school wide goals and objectives are achieved.
• Developing, maintaining, and using information systems and records to show progress.
• Understanding local, state, and federal policies and laws relating to minors.
• Provide for two-way communication with principals, staff, students, parents, and community.
• Coordination of the supervision of all campus functions and programs including extracurricular activities and athletics.
• Managing the use of shared campus facilities.

Student Support and Management. The CAO is accountable for working with each school to establish and manage student support and management systems including discipline. Specifically, the CAO is responsible for the following:

• Working with Principals and School Site Council to plan, develop, administer, and evaluate student support systems that provide optimal educational opportunities for high school age students.
• Working with Principals and School Site Council to ensure each small school has a discipline policy and that a school wide discipline management system is in place that aligns the small schools’ policies.
• Supporting Principals to ensure the school rules are uniformly observed and that student discipline is appropriate and equitable in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct and student handbook.

Staff Management and Development. The CAO hires and supervises all faculty, staff, and administrative personnel associated with system wide operations. The CAO is also accountable for supporting the professional growth needs of the school staff. Specifically, the CAO is responsible for the following:

• Coaching and supporting all Principals.
• Fostering collegiality and team building among the small schools administrators and school wide staff members as well as support the Principals’ efforts to build community and collaboration within the small schools.
• Working with Principals and School Site Councils to create professional learning plans and plan learning and development activities.
• Oversight of the school’s professional development center and supporting staff in attending professional development sponsored by Sacramento City Unified School District and other organizations.
• Supporting Principals in interviewing, selecting, orienting, and assigning staff in small schools as needed.
• Defining expectations for staff performance with regard to instruction, classroom management, student relations, and community relations in collaboration with Principals.
• Working with Principals to develop and implement an employee evaluation system.
• Terminating, suspending, and/or non-renewal of employees in collaboration with Principals when appropriate.

Qualifications
Required knowledge, skills & abilities:

• Demonstrated success in developing programs that improve student achievement
• Strong communication and community-building skills
• Demonstrated knowledge of curriculum development and program design
• Strong problem analysis and problem resolution at both a strategic and functional level
• Solid analytical, communication, influencing and negotiating skills
• Proven leadership skills with the ability to attract, develop and inspire a team; exceptional ability to bridge and enhance cooperative working relationships
• Demonstrated P&L responsibility

Minimum educational level:

• Bachelor's Degree; Masters and/or Doctorate in Education preferred

Experience required:

• 4+ years curriculum development experience with at least 2 years at the executive level
• Experience in K-12 public education
• Proficiency with MS Office

To Apply
St. HOPE Public Schools is strongly committed to hiring a diverse and multicultural staff. If interested in this job opening, please access our careers page at www.sthope.org. For more information, contact Lara Knight, Recruitment and Selection Manager at lknight@sthope.org.

To learn more about St. HOPE visit us online at www.sthope.org.