Chief Academic Officer

Responsibilities

Setting Academic Strategy:

Sets the vision and leads the implementation of Etoile Academy instructional vision, strategy, and program to achieve breakthrough student results, promotes a strong culture of teaching and learning excellence, and fosters educational equity for all students

Oversees the development of an effective change management plan to achieve this vision including metrics, indicators, and key initiatives that align to the broader strategic plan

Leads the development and selection of high-quality curricular materials and aligned assessments across academic disciplines and grade levels that are designed to serve students at all levels and abilities in partnership with the Network team and schools

Oversees program design, implementation, and achievement of all specialized learning groups, including students with IEPs, emergent bilingual and multilingual students

In partnership with the talent team and the Chief of Schools and their team, oversee the support and development of teachers and school academic leaders to implement curriculum in a highly effective way, including professional development for teachers in pedagogy and their specific content areas

Use data effectively to drive instructional practice and, in collaboration with the CSO, improve and adjust academic strategy and program

Maintain a cutting-edge awareness of the promising practices and innovations in programs and policies for teaching, learning, and school design that are emerging locally and nationwide

Curriculum and Assessment:

Oversees the networks K-8 curriculum design, ordering, implementation, revision, and training

Works with CSO and School Leadership Teams to ensure campus teams and teachers have deep understanding of the curriculum, follow internalization or lesson planning protocols, and implement curriculum with fidelity

Organizes and leads network walkthroughs to review curriculum implementation, teacher effectiveness with curriculum, and quality of student work

Preserve and promote the organizational mission while codifying and communicating the core values, academic philosophy, and operating norms so that the “Etoile way” is clear and consitently practiced across the network

Make recommendations to the Superintendent and CSO to improve the network’s curriculum and instruction with a lens towards rigor, equity, and cultural relevance

Review proposed changes to the curriculum, providing updates on a yearly basis in preparation for budget and annual planning;

Provide routine data to key leaders on curricular vertical articulation, gaps, and instructional

shortcomings; support them to develop plans to address any gaps

Prepare quarterly reports on the state of the network’s curriculum and instruction to the Superintendent

Lasting Academic Results:

Lead processes to establish, implement, and monitor results of strategic objectives to achieve unprecedented post-secondary results and achieve high school readiness for every student

Regularly monitor student progress on goal setting and interim measures to ensure all students are on track for achievement of post-secondary goals

Collect and use alumni data to evaluate effectiveness of and inform change in K-8 academic strategy

Support development and execution of alumni strategy to ensure connections with graduates, to promote persistence in whatever path they choose, and to support path shifts

Collect and use alumni data to evaluate effectiveness of and inform change in K-8 academic strategy

Senior Leadership:

Be a senior leader who always models our mission, beliefs, and values

Make leadership decisions with students’ and families’ best interests and needs in mind and holds peers and staff accountable to do the same

Work hand-in-hand with the Chief Schools Officer and other Chiefs, to achieve exceptional student results

Along with the CEO and other members of the Executive Team, serve as one of the most senior leaders in our organization, helping us achieve our goals and exercising strong judgment in making critical decisions about what we prioritize and how we operate

Leverage effective change management practices and strategies that are people- and relationship-centric

Model excellence as a manager, developing others, and modeling an Etoile work ethic for teams

Academic Systems and Deliverables:

Collaborate with CSO to develop/adopt/refine and implement curriculum, instructional approaches, and assessments.

Collaborate with CSO to develop/adopt/refine and implement systems for data driven instruction (DDI), observation and feedback, lesson and content internalization, and high-quality adult learning systems.

Develop/adopt/refine approaches to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Goals

• Walkthroughs and data collection (interims/STAAR) show that curriculum is used with fidelity at least 85% of the time in all core contents and grade levels
• All campuses earn a B or better on the Texas A-F accountability system
• 90% or better of subgroups meet or exceed state targets for Closing the Gaps (Domain 3)
• 65% or better of all students meet or exceed NWEA MAP growth goals annually at each campus
• 75% or more of all students in the network meet or exceed .5 or 1 point on growth for Domain 2

We look for team members that embody our REACH values. This includes the characteristics below.

• Open to sharing and implementing feedback with reverence and professionalism for the work (Respect).
• Authentic care for student results and effective teaching (Excellence).
• Setting a higher bar for yourself and others each day (Ambition).
• Honest contribution to and collaboration with the community (Community).
• Do what is needed to achieve results (Hard Work).
• Believes in education as a profession and holds oneself to a high level of conduct and professionalism

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in a school leader/principal role with a record of achieving outstanding academic results for students from traditionally under-resourced communities or populations
• Experience managing and/or coaching school leaders/principals to drive student academic results
• Ability to set a clear academic vision and aligned priorities, develop strategic plans, and empower others to achieve them
• Deep knowledge and experience in the design, integration, implementation, and management of school systems including knowledge of curricula, instructional practices, school operations and management, and teacher and leader development
• Drives to action, delivers results-ensures work is getting done; proactively recognizes and addresses hurdles; thinks beyond just "the work today" and incorporates that perspective into the planning and execution
• Ability to work independently but also comfortable asking for help/input from others where needed
• Comfort with ambiguity-works to resolve open questions, can define a process to resolve ambiguity, is comfortable that the plan may change
• Concise and effective verbal and written communication skills-can talk easily to a variety of audiences
• Self-motivated and tenacious-looks for interesting and meaningful analysis and insights, seeks opportunities to do things better (doesn't just wait for people to ask for an analysis)
• Ability to exercise excellent judgment in decision-making
• Demonstrated effectiveness in exceptional people leadership and management, including selection and hiring, coaching and development, managing and improving performance, building inclusive and effective adult culture, and retention and promotion of top performers
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to changing priorities
• Ability to synthesize knowledge and present it to stakeholders in a comprehensive manner
• Strong organizational and planning skills

Étoile Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability, in admission or access to, or treatment of employment in its programs and activities. Any person having inquiries concerning the organization's compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI of Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), or Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), may contact HR at 713.265.8657.