Head of School

*The Academy of Blanchard Charter School* The Academies of Oklahoma are a growing group of rural, PreK through 12th grade life planning schools based on the principles of inclusion and empowerment.
By the end of the decade we expect to have at least 10 schools across Oklahoma.
The Academy of Blanchard (TAOB) will be the third Academy school and is part of a larger collaborative with support from Advance Rural Education (ARE), The Academy of Seminole (TAOS), and The Academy of Okmulgee (TAOO), all of which are committed to growing opportunities in rural settings.
While the school will initially open to PreK through 8th it will grow into a full PreK-12th grade school with an Early-College High School (ECHS) program.
Students will be afforded the opportunity to attend college or career tech classes full-time during their junior and senior years of high school.
This program has already shown success in our first school where many have and more will earn their associates degree by the end of their senior year of high school.
It should be noted that students can get their associates degree at no cost to them.
We fundraise to help pay for any tuition and fees that aren’t already waived through through the state’s concurrent policies.
This amounts to nearly $10,000 per student.
We also expect that we will have a large group of students with special needs.
At TAOS that percentage is 31 percent, which is more than twice the state average.
We believe these students are capable of great things, and many will participate in both the early college high school program and/or in one of the vocational technology centers.
We also work with the Department of Rehabilitative Services for students who plan to enter into the workforce after graduation.
Those students are able to work in local companies during high school and many make the transition into full-time work after graduation.
The school is set to open in August of 2025.
The Founding Head of School will join the organization on July 1, 2024 to have a full planning year in preparation of opening.
The Head will work closely with the Superintendent of the Academies of Oklahoma to ensure a successful opening.
*Position Overview* Job Status: Full Time, Exempt Location: Blanchard, Oklahoma Reports to: Superintendent Compensation: Range $65K to $90K range based on prior instructional/school culture results, experience, and education.
The Academy participates in the Oklahoma teacher retirement system, and in the state healthcare plan.
*Summary* We seek a Head of School who is a passionate educator who serves as the instructional leader and exemplar teacher of the School, consistently prioritizing classroom learning and school culture as the core focus of their work.
In addition to strong instructional skills, the Head of School should have exceptional people skills and a track record in nurturing teammates both collectively and individually to meet ambitious goals.
The Head of School should be highly reflective and embrace the role of constant learner within a team of learners, designing structures to co-create a vision and proactively prioritize equitable teaching and learning practices at TAOB.
The Head of School will embrace diversity - race, ethnicity, income, class, neurodiversity, and other aspects - and will harness the uniqueness of teammates, students, and families to guide our school to a successful opening.
Responsibilities of the Head of School include, but are not limited to the following: *Instructional Leadership* * Lead in implementing the school’s instructional vision for academics * Regularly observe instruction and ensure that all teachers are provided with ongoing support, feedback, and coaching * Design, lead, and oversee professional development for classroom teacher faculty, including weekly PD, department, and individual coaching; support teacher leaders and administrators in planning for professional development * Lead in the commitment to/adoption curriculum that is equitable, rigorous, and aligned to standards * Monitor progress toward key instructional priorities and develop action plans to meet goals * Ensure that every student grows academically, and that the school meets the ambitious performance goals set by The Academy of Blanchard (e.
g.
, through regular instruction and supplemental programs for student subgroups including English learners, students with special needs, gifted students, etc.
) * Design and implement master schedules that maximize student learning *School Culture* * Model the The Academy of Blanchard core values and set the standard for professional behavior for all faculty and staff * Develop and sustain a culture of distributive leadership amongst stakeholders * Provide ongoing feedback to administrators and teachers to ensure that school culture remains positive and supportive for students, staff, and families; coach site-based administrators and teacher leaders toward constant growth in leadership skills * Create a data-centered and achievement-oriented school culture * Cultivate positive, authentic relationships with community and family stakeholders; engage parents in school-based decision-making and meet with families regarding key issues as needed * Demonstrate exceptional communication skills with teachers, parents, students, and Board members both informally and through multiple mediums (e.
g.
, bulletins, emails, presentations, check-ins, meetings, etc.
) * Lead in envisioning inclusive socio-emotional education and behavior management approaches that create a healthy, positive culture that upholds high standards for all members of the TOAB community *Talent Management* * Recruit, hire, nurture, and supervise classroom teachers and school-based administrators; provide informal feedback to all TOAB staff members * Create professional growth plans for faculty, tying professional development to both school and individual priority areas of strength and growth * Promote positive employee relationships/strong morale throughout the campus by monitoring key data * Lead in the creation and modeling of a sustainable work/life balance through effective prioritization and clarity of role for themselves and school faculty *School Administration* * Ensure that the school runs smoothly, efficiently, and on budget; work with other administrators (both shared and site-specific) to identify operational growth areas and execute improvement strategies as needed * Work with the Superintendent to develop a school budget that reflects commitment to school priorities *Miscellaneous* * Other duties as assigned by the Superintendent that relate to learning and growth for staff and students at TOAB *Desired Qualifications* Bachelor's degree any field (Master’s degree preferred) Experience as a high school, principal or similar position involving leadership and supervision of others Interested parties should email their resume to Wren Hawthorne, Superintendent of Schools, the Academies of Oklahoma.
Wren.
Hawthorne.
Job Types: Full-time, Contract Pay: $65,000.
00 - $80,000.
00 per year Benefits: * Health insurance * Paid time off * Retirement plan Grade levels: * Elementary school * High school * Middle school Schedule: * Monday to Friday School type: * Public school Ability to Relocate: * Blanchard, OK: Relocate before starting work (Required) Work Location: In person