Western Gateway Elementary School is seeking an outstanding educational leader who is willing to take on the challenge of opening a new dual-immersion school in Oklahoma City.
The Head of School is the chief executive officer of Western Gateway Elementary School (WGES) and has, under the direction of the WGES Board, general supervision of all programs and of the collective personnel. The Head of School is responsible for the management of the School under the Board policies and is accountable to the Board.
Further, the Head of School is responsible for setting the mission, vision, and values for the School, establishing the climate and culture, and attaining and sustaining high levels of student achievement. The Head of School will strategically implement the School’s mission through the effective leadership of all stakeholders, including faculty, staff, student, parents, and the community. The Head of School oversees all aspects of the instructional program, school environment, student experience, and the operational and fiscal health of the school.
The Head of School designs, builds, and leads a culture of creativity and vision of educational excellence for students and faculty. The Head of School serves as the instructional administrative head of Western Gateway Elementary School and has the responsibility for coordinating and supervising its educational activities. Additionally, the Head of School is responsible for the planning and development of internal programs, policies and procedures. This individual will determine course and program activities and establish staffing requirements. The Head of School oversees material and facility needs, prepares budget estimates, and administers all funding facilities and grant awards. The Head of School serves as liaison between WGES school staff, its Board of Directors, and community partners to assure the adequate flow of information between all stakeholders, communicating regularly and effectively with each group.
Through skilled transformational leadership, the Head of School maintains an overview of the organization to assure that all education activities, programs, services, and systems are developed in accordance with the School’s mission to cultivate academic excellence and cross-cultural competency by developing curious learners, nurturing creativity, and celebrating diversity. Offering a rigorous curriculum and cultural learning experiences, WGES empowers students to actively succeed in a global community.
QUALIFICATIONS
• Master’s Degree in Education Administration from an accredited institution required
• Current Oklahoma State Department of Education Elementary Principal Certificate
• Current Oklahoma State Department of Education Superintendent’s Certificate preferred or willingness to secure certification
• Satisfy state requirements related to criminal and sex offender background checks
• Minimum of five (5) years teaching experience, with at least two (2) additional years of leadership experience in an elementary school
• Must possess a comprehensive knowledge of the current educational trends, issues, principles, and best practices in elementary education and the ability to apply them to the needs of the School
• Capacity to define the mission, vision and values of the School
• Ability to build teams and achieve results despite obstacles
• Experience in strategic planning, monitoring and evaluating programs and initiatives, equitable resource allocation, effective leadership techniques, and coordination of people and resources
• Prior experience with personnel recruitment, selection, training, management, and supervision
• Spanish/English bilingual language capabilities highly preferred
HEAD OF SCHOOL JOB DUTIES
GENERAL DUTIES
• Facilitate the development of a shared vision of learning
• Sustain an instructional program conducive to student learning
• Ensure a safe, efficient, and effective learning environment
• Collaborate with families and community
• Act with integrity, fairness, and ethics; and understand the political, social, economic, legal, and cultural context of the school
• Implement board policies and directives
• Recommend a comprehensive planning process for student achievement
• Coordinate the operation of the School, supervision of the instructional programs, and management of School personnel
• Provide educational leadership to the Board, staff, students, and community
• Identify needs of the School and report them to the Board
• Keep the Board aware of statewide and national educational developments and changes
• Continually upgrade his/her professional knowledge and qualifications through membership and participation in professional associations, conferences, and workshops
POLICY AND GOVERNANCE
• Act as an advisor to the Board on areas needing policy development or revision
• Maintain a current, up-to-date manual of adopted policies
• Develop rules and procedures or handbooks necessary to implement the Board's policies
• Identify policy areas that the Board should revise, rewrite, or repeal as needs of the School change, or district and state laws change
• Draft written policy and provide the Board with necessary data and information for policy adoption
• Work in collaboration with the Board and charter sponsor to effectively administer the terms of the charter application and charter contract
BOARD RELATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT
• Serve as an advisor to the Board during regularly scheduled meetings
• Identify, in coordination with the Board President, areas of business which the Board should address at meetings
• Prior to meetings, provide Board members with sufficient information for decision making
• Implement Board decisions and instructions developed at meetings
• Aid in ensuring compliance with state law relating to board member development
BUDGET AND FINANCE
• Prepare monthly financial statements for the Board’s review and approval
• Prepare a detailed annual budget based on the Board's priorities and parameters
• Present a budget to the Board and/or budget committee for consideration and approval
• Administer the budget assuring that the expenditures of School funds are within the legal requirements of the budget
• Act as a resource to the board within the framework of the annual audit
INSTRUCTION AND CURRICULUM
• Provide leadership to the Board and staff in the continuous development, implementation, and evaluation of the instructional program
• Create and present an Annual Report and a Site Improvement Plan to the Board
• Recommend appropriate curriculum standards and methods to measure attainment
• Model and promote continuous improvement using a variety of sources and achievement data to inform practice, drive decision making, and differentiate the curriculum and instructional model
• Recommend and implement guidelines on instructional materials and equipment
PERSONNEL AND HUMAN CAPITAL
• Recommend to the Board the employment or dismissal of all certificated and classified staff
• Supervise all employees of the school
• Establish job descriptions for all positions
• Serve as the Board's liaison with staff
• Foster good working relationships with staff members
• Develop a systematic plan for evaluating the performance of all school personnel in accordance to applicable state charter school law
• Delegate authority to staff members, as appropriate
• Conduct performance evaluations of administrators and mid-level management staff under Head of School’s supervision
COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
• Build positive relationships with all stakeholder groups in the community
• Inform and interpret School programs and activities to the community
• Serve as the Board's liaison with appointed advisory committees or business groups
• Serve as the media spokesperson for the School as needed
• Make recommendations to the Board for resolution of complaints that cannot be resolved at the administrative level
• Represent the Board’s interests and the best interests of the School’s students and families to local and state elected officials
• Build relationships with other charter schools and their Head of Schools to allow for an exchange of ideas and best practices
STUDENT SERVICES
• Recommend and implement Board policies and School rules to maintain adequate services and a safe and orderly climate conducive to learning
• Develop and implement procedures to deal with health and safety emergencies
• Provide direction and supervision of all student activities
FACILITIES, TRANSPORTATION, AND FOOD SERVICES
• Provide for the upkeep of facilities and maintenance of equipment
• Prioritize long-range plans for preventive maintenance of buildings, grounds, and equipment
• Make recommendations to the Board concerning capital improvements and facility needs
• Recommend and supervise the public use of buildings, facilities, and equipment
• Supervise the transportation services of the School, assigning staff as appropriate
• Establish and implement a food services program in compliance with state and federal child nutrition regulations
HEAD OF SCHOOL REQUIRED SKILLS
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Bilingual (Spanish) is highly desirable. Ability to read, analyze and interpret general professional journals, technical procedures, and/or government regulations. Ability to write reports and correspondences as may be appropriate to teaching staff in general and Title I specifically. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions in one-on-one and small group situations to students, parents, teachers, staff and the general public.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
Ability to plan budgets and use the mathematical skills required to do so. Ability to maintain accurate records and supportive documentation for projects under the supervision of the position.
REASONABLE ABILITY
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical and diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Ability to use computer and computer related programs and other technologies needed to perform essential job functions. Ability to apply knowledge and current research and theory. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff, and the community. Ability to organize and chair or facilitate committees and meetings. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both in oral and written form. Ability to perform duties and awareness of all district requirements and Board of Education policies.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel, in tasks such as keyboarding and writing. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms and talk and hear. Must have visual acuity to read and draft reports, memos, letters, etc. Must possess the visual abilities to enable him/her to perform the responsibilities and functions of the job efficiently. Physical agility to lift up to twenty-five (25) pounds, to bend, stoop, climb stairs, walk and reach. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The employee will work in an interior, climate-controlled office environment and in close proximity with staff and students. Noise level will vary from quiet to moderate and occasional hectic activity as expected within an elementary school environment.
The qualifications, physical demands, and work environment described herein are representative of those an employee will encounter and must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities.
The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.
This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" relationship.
Starting salary range: $75,000 - $94,000 depending on qualifications and experience.
Benefits:
• The School shall provide the Head of School with health and hospitalization and dental insurance coverage under the School’s group health and hospitalization and dental insurance plans at the expense of the School.
• The Head of School shall receive a set number of personal, vacation, and sick days on an annual basis
• The School agrees to pay the employer’s statutory contribution to the Oklahoma Teacher Retirement System (OTRS) for the benefit of the Head of School
Length of Contract: One (1) year
Evaluation Method: Head of School to be evaluated annually by the Board of Directors
We anticipate filling the position no later than May 30, 2020. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Please send complete resume and references to info@westerngateway.es. For more information, please visit www.westerngateway.es.