Description |
The Head of School is the chief executive officer of Sovereign Community Schools and
has, under the direction of the SCS Board, general supervision of all SCS programs and
of the collective SCS personnel. The Head of School is responsible for the management
of SCS under the Board policies, and is accountable to the Board.
The Head of School designs, builds and leads a culture of creativity and vision of
educational excellence for students and faculty, while demonstrating an understanding
and respect for Indigenous Nations and their people. The Head of School serves as the
instructional administrative head of Sovereign Community Schools (SCS) 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; determines course and program activities, and staffing
requirements. The Head of School oversees material and facility needs, prepares
budget estimates, and administers all funding facilities, including all grant awards. The
Head of School serves as liaison between SCS school staff, its Governing Board, and
community agencies to assure the adequate flow of information in all directions, keeping
each group well informed and understood. 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
SCS’ mission to develop and serve a vibrant population of economically and tribally and
racially diverse students, offering them an exceptional educational experience. The
Head of School is an effective advocate for staff, students and their families.
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Required Qualifications |
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Curriculum (responsibility to direct, produce, or oversee):
● Monitor implementation and effectiveness of indigenous curriculum in classrooms.
● Conference with teachers on curriculum issues.
● Complete Professional learning community meetings
● Conference with parents on curriculum issues.
● Advise SCS Board on curriculum issues.
● Research programs, computer-based curricula, and textbook offerings.
Classroom Instruction (responsibility to direct, produce, or oversee):
● Observe classroom instruction; document observations.
● Conference with teachers and provide corrective strategies as needed.
● Arrange for teacher training: professional development, conferences, workshops,
in-school mentoring.
● Facilitate appropriate grouping for reading and math.
● Track academic progress in all academic subjects; produce reports for SCS Board twice
a year.
● Meet with teachers and parents regarding students’ academic performance, as needed.
● Review class lists in coordination with current teachers, staff, and parent requests.
Individual Learning Plans:
● Oversee the development and monitor academic contracts for students.
● Oversee development and implementation or remediation for students who qualify.
Assessments (responsibility to direct, produce, or oversee):
● Analyze test results; create reports for the school, its SCS Board and parent community
in accordance with federal, state, and local educational requirements.
● Develop a schedule for testing and make-up testing; coordinate instructional personnel
to administer tests.
● Supervise administration of tests.
● Facilitate completion of make-up tests.
● Prepare test materials for shipment.
Supervision of Teachers and Educational Assistants:
● Develop and monitor the remediation process for teachers and educational assistants
(EA) as needed.
● Recommend hiring, retention and termination decisions for teachers and EAs.
● Provide verbal and written evaluations for teachers and EAs in accordance to Oklahoma
State Department of Education requirements (O.S. §70-6-101.10).
● Assign teachers and EAs to SCS school site(s).
Staff Meetings:
● Lead staff meetings.
● Develop an agenda, provide notice of meeting to all management team members, and
ensure adequate representation from each school site, special education, and bilingual
programs. Develop and provide appropriate in-services for staff.
● Arrange for outside training services as needed.
Communication with SCS Board:
● Prepare the Director's report to the SCS Board.
● Advise SCS Board of relevant issues in a timely manner.
● Provide SCS Board with Oklahoma State Department of Education feedback reports.
Supervision of Office/Administrative Staff:
● Make hiring, retention, and termination decisions.
● Supervise and evaluate job performance.
● Determine areas of responsibility (i.e., job descriptions).
Budget:
● Develop annual budget
● Track budget spending.
● Advise SCS Board of relevant financial issues in a timely manner.
● Develop salary schedule for teachers for SCS Board approval.
Student Discipline:
● Develop procedures to implement discipline policy (Restorative Justice).
● Track student behavior; record and monitor serious infractions.
● Meet with students and parents regarding behavior issues.
● Arrange alternative education placements.
● Develop and monitor behavior contracts.
● Follow Oklahoma SDE due process for recommendations of long-term suspensions and
expulsions.
Parent Concerns:
● Address parent issues via phone, personal contact, or written correspondence.
● Advise SCS Board of parent issues in a timely manner as necessary.
Communication with Community:
● Update brochures, Parent/Student Handbook.
● Arrange advertising as necessary.
Development of School and Class Schedules:
● Develop an annual school calendar.
● Build class schedules for all grades.
Human Resource Management:
● Develop, implement, and update employee handbooks, policies and procedures.
● Develop and update job descriptions.
● Recruit professional and administrative staff.
● Perform and oversee performance evaluation.
● Oversee employment practices compliance to state and federal law.
● Responsible for termination and reduction in force procedures.
Grants:
● Identify and target appropriate grant opportunities.
● Write or delegate grant projects.
● Encourage grant-writing efforts by parents and staff members.
Charter School:
● Measures SCS performance against stated charter goals and objectives.
● Implements policies and procedures in accordance to SCS charter.
● Maintains a dynamic, safe and orderly school environment.
● Coordinates the safety of students participating in all extracurricular and after-school
activities, including inter-scholastic field trips.
COMMUNICATION REQUIREMENTS:
● Frequent telephone and in-person contact with Oklahoma State Department of
Education, OPSRC, SCS Board, teaching and office staff, parents, volunteers, and
community representatives for exchange of information and services, and general
problem solving.
● Written correspondence, newsletter articles, memos, and grant application materials to
generate revenue, disseminate general information and education materials.
● Attends regularly scheduled meetings with staff and teachers to maintain collaborative
efforts across all programs and departments.
● Frequent contact with parents for purposes of advocacy, education, and general
information sharing.
● Regularly scheduled group presentations to staff and parents for purposes of training,
education and information.
● Preparation of annual, quarterly and monthly administrative and grant reports for SCS
Board and the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Responsible for the supervision of faculty, coordinators, para-professionals, and custodians.
Directs classroom staffing requirements, observes classroom functions, reviews lesson plans
and curriculum issues with teaching staff. Oversees facility management and janitorial issues.
EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE :
Minimum of Master’s Degree in Education Administration or related field or equivalent
leadership experience with demonstrated education administration and management skills.
Five- to seven-years progressively responsible professional experience. Minimum 3 years
experience working within an indigenous population.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED
● Demonstrated ability to build an educational value system where high-quality learning is
a joyful experience that encourages students identity development and leadership
growth.
● Demonstrated experience in educational administration and supervision, especially
supervision of staff with diverse educational strengths, development goals, and cultural
backgrounds.
● Must possess fiscal management and budgeting skills.
● Must have knowledge, skills, and understanding of the purposes and processes of
education.
● Must possess ability to articulate a well-developed educational philosophy and to
demonstrate thorough knowledge of major new developments in education, including
evidence as to their effectiveness and drawbacks.
● Demonstrated ability to take the initiative and to stimulate others to drive toward
educational goals.
● Ability to select, lead and improve personnel at all levels within the organization.
● Possess strong communication skills and a disposition that lends itself to cooperation
with professional, non-instructional, and community groups.
● Experience in the development and/or implementation of quality improvement.
● Demonstrated record as a positive, creative, and realistic leader, with a
community-driven service-oriented ethic.
COMPUTER EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS:
● Basic word processing skills (i.e., Microsoft Office Systems)
● Experience in use of multi-media equipment, such as overhead projectors, audio/video
equipment.
● Knowledge of use and operation of fire alarm and other security systems.
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
● State of Oklahoma Teachers License, 3A Instructional Leader or 3B Administrator
preferred.
● Valid Oklahoma Driver's License.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
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. Incumbent must possess the visual abilities to enable him/her
to perform the responsibilities and functions of the job efficiently.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The employee will work in an interior, climate-controlled office and classroom environment and
in close quarters with staff and students. At times class instruction will take place outside with
weather permitting. Noise level will vary from quiet to moderate and occasional hectic activity as
expected within a school environment. May occasionally travel to other sites that are not
wheelchair accessible.
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. |