Chief Academic Officer
John Rex Charter Schools
Reports to: Superintendent
Who We Are
John Rex Charter Schools is a dynamic, community-embedded public charter school located in the heart of downtown Oklahoma City. We leverage downtown partnerships, collaborative learning environments, and ourbelief in the whole child to create an innovative educational experience that elevates every learner.
Our "John Rex Way" is rooted in deeply held beliefs:
● Belonging and community:
We believe learning begins with belonging; in classrooms, in community, and in relationships.
● People and excellence:
We believe our people are our greatest strength and through collaboration, clarity, and growth, we
elevate our collective impact.
● Learning and growth:
We believe every student can achieve at high levels when learning is engaging, challenging, and
student-centered.
● Joy and purpose:
We believe joy is essential to learning as it fuels curiosity, connection, and pride in our work.
Our core values - Relationships, Rigor, and Relevance - guide our academic and cultural approach. They come to life through project-based and cooperative learning, joyful classrooms, strong community partnerships, and an unwavering commitment to each student’s potential.
Who You Are
You are a visionary academic leader who believes deeply in the promise of every child. You understand that instructional excellence is built through people including teachers, leaders, families, and community partners and that culture and systems must work together to produce lasting outcomes.
You are someone who:
● Champions belonging and community, ensuring learning begins with relationships.
● Leads with clarity, humility, and collaboration.
● Uses data, reflection, and coaching to grow people and programs.
● Thrives in a fast-paced, innovative, collaborative environment.
● Values rigor and relevance, ensuring learning is meaningful, challenging, and connected to the real
world.
● Is both a big-picture strategist and a hands-on implementer.
● Demonstrates resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
What You’ll Do
The Chief Academic Officer (CAO) is the senior instructional leader of John Rex Charter School, responsible for designing, implementing, and sustaining high-quality academic systems across all campuses. Serving on the Executive Leadership Team and reporting directly to the Superintendent, the CAO ensures that every student receives rigorous, relevant, and relationship-centered learning experiences aligned with the district’s mission and values.
The CAO leads the development of a clear PK–12 instructional vision, oversees curriculum and assessment systems, and ensures alignment with state standards, research-based practices, and the John Rex educational philosophy rooted in project-based and cooperative learning. A champion of student-centered instruction, the CAO models lessons, coaches school leaders and teachers, and fosters a culture of continuous improvement through reflection, data analysis, and collaborative problem-solving.
As a systems builder and instructional coach, the CAO supervises and supports principals, develops
professional learning structures, and ensures instructional coherence across classrooms and campuses. The CAO also leads district-wide academic initiatives, including the design and launch of the John Rex High School, ensuring that future readiness pathways, internships, and community partnerships reflect the opportunities of downtown Oklahoma City.
Ultimately, the CAO ensures that every classroom at John Rex reflects high expectations, joyful learning, and meaningful engagement; that every teacher receives the support needed to excel; and that every student is prepared for success in high school, college, career, and life.
Core Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Academic Vision
● Develop and execute a district-wide academic strategy aligned with mission, values, and long-term
priorities.
● Evaluate current instructional models and lead the design of a future-ready PK-12 academic
framework.
● Serve as the academic architect for the launch of John Rex High School, including curriculum,
pathways, staffing, assessment, and college/career readiness systems.
● Establish clear academic performance goals, monitor progress, and guide continuous improvement.
● Provide regular academic updates to the Superintendent, Board of Directors, and charter authorizer.
Instructional Leadership & Coaching
● Supervise, coach, and develop school principals through consistent observation, feedback, and
leadership coaching.
● Utilizing tools including surveys, walkthrough trends, and curriculum reviews.
● Align academic systems across campuses to ensure coherence, rigor, and high expectations.
● Lead the development of professional learning systems that grow teacher and leader capacity.
● Promote instructional practices grounded in rigor, relevance, and relationships.
Curriculum, Assessment & Data Systems
● Oversee curriculum development and adoption for all grade levels and content areas.
● Build and manage district-wide assessment systems that drive instructional decision-making.
● Leads data meetings and maintains academic dashboards.
● Uses academic, attendance, and behavior data to guide interventions and school supports.
● Ensure meaningful analysis and use of data at the classroom, school, and district levels.
● Maintain compliance with state standards, accreditation expectations, and charter requirements.
Program Development & Student Support Systems
● Lead academic planning for all new initiatives, including:
○ John Rex High School (opening Fall 2027)
○ College and career pathways
○ Internship/externship partnerships with downtown organizations
○ Oversee MTSS, SpEd, ELL, 504, GT, and intervention systems.
○ Train teachers in inclusive and differentiated instruction.
● Ensure continuity, alignment, and coherence in the PK–12 academic pipeline.
Organizational Leadership & Culture
● Serve as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, collaborating closely with the
Superintendent and COO to ensure academic, operational, and strategic alignment.
● Model John Rex’s cultural commitments and contribute to a positive, joyful, and high-performing
organizational culture.
Leadership Profile
The ideal candidate is:
● A systems builder with the ability to translate vision into sustainable, measurable outcomes.
● A collaborative, reflective leader who values feedback and continuous improvement.
● A strong communicator able to inspire, influence, and mobilize others.
● A data-informed decision-maker with deep knowledge of curriculum, instruction, and school
improvement.
● A champion of the John Rex values of relationships, rigor, and relevance, and a believer that students
learn best in community.
Qualifications Required
● Bachelor’s degree
● Minimum 3–5 years successful classroom teaching experience
● 2+ years of instructional coaching or academic leadership experience
● Deep knowledge of curriculum, standards, instruction, and data analysis
● Experience with teacher evaluation systems
● Strong skills in coaching adults, facilitating PD, and leading teams
● Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
● Commitment to whole-child education and strategic community partnerships.
Preferred
● Master’s degree in Educational Leadership or Curriculum & Instruction
● Administrative certification (principal, supervisor, or equivalent)
● Experience managing SpEd/ELL compliance
● Experience with assessment platforms (MAP, i-Ready, STAR, etc.)
● Prior experience as an assistant principal, dean, coach, or CAO
Contract and Work Environment
● Based at John Rex Charter School in downtown Oklahoma City with regular collaboration across
campuses.
● Reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer (Superintendent).
Key Future Initiatives
The CAO will lead the academic design and launch of John Rex High School (Opening Fall 2027), which will
serve as a model for integrated college, career, and community-based learning opportunities within downtown Oklahoma City.