Director of Academics 2024-2025 School Year

Kairos Academies

  • Saint Louis, MO
  • $70,000 per year
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 1 month ago
  • Apply easily
Director of AcademicsSummaryThe Director of Academics is responsible for ensuring that Kairos Academies Students are equipped to Direct Their Own Lives & Learning. The Director of Academics (DA) will ensure our academic bar of excellence aligns with and leads to college-readiness by vision-setting and strategically planning against that vision; implementing, assessing, and continually improving our strategic plan; and leading a team of people who work on behalf of schools, faculty, families, and students to fulfill our mission and vision.The DOA reports to the Chief Schools Officer and also serves as an integral member of the Kairos Academies Network Schools team. Responsibilities include but are not limited to:Academic Vision & Strategy
  • Sets and communicates the vision, with the help of key stakeholders, for academic excellence aligned to college-readiness.
  • Defines the academic strategic plan by leading the academic planning process including naming region-wide academic goals and priorities, identifying key performance indicators, and creating a system for monitoring and evaluating performance against the goals.
  • Supports academic team in building out short and long-term strategies to achieve Kairos Academies academic vision and provide the right tools, coaching, and support to faculty and leaders to drive school outcomes.
  • Ensures that the regional academic team, school leaders, and teachers can meet the goals and priorities by developing and/or providing the enabling tools, structures, and systems necessary to drive continuous improvement aligned with our academic vision.
  • Evaluate and ensure that our curriculum enables us to meet the academic bar of excellence and meet the obligations of state guidelines, which may include piloting, selecting, and overseeing the purchasing of curriculum
  • In partnership with the director of data, builds and maintains a system for region-wide visualization of student data, including but not limited to attendance, behavior, and assessment data.
  • Uses a variety of methods to review student performance and teacher effectiveness data consistently, supports school leaders to do the same, and responds swiftly to support or re-adjust
Kairos Academies and Academic Team Leadership
  • Works with the Kairos Academies Network team to develop a vision and comprehensive long-term plan for the design of the schools.
  • Advises the Kairos school team on system-wide goals, monitors and analyzes data, and reports to the Chief School Officer on the progress toward achieving the goals.
  • Builds and manages a high-functioning, cohesive, effective team of individuals who provide various essential academic support services to all schools.
  • Provides leadership, development, feedback, and support to ensure that each team member is on track to meet his/her goals; evaluates performance.
  • Analyzes programming across the region to ensure a system of support to meet the needs of all students, including special populations (e.g., special education and English language learners)
Training and Development
  • Plans and executes the delivery of summer and weekly professional development for teachers and leaders, including designing schedules, content, and lesson plans and ensuring high-quality delivery of professional development aligned to our academic vision.
  • Assists executive director with the planning and execution of school leader meetings to ensure alignment with academic vision and priorities.
  • In alignment with Kairos academic vision, builds and supports a system for improving teacher and leader content knowledge and pedagogy through a variety of structures, including and not limited to content teams, co-observations, video study, etc.
  • Partners with the Executive Director and HR/Talent team to attract, develop, and retain school leaders and emerging school leaders.
Compliance
  • Ensures region-wide state and federal academic compliance.
  • Supports school leaders through compliance issues, including monitoring academic areas of Missouri Standards for Accreditation; internal, federal, and Missouri Department of Education monitoring of special education; and school and family engagement and assessment laws.
Qualifications
  • A deep commitment to the mission of Kairos Academies and an unwavering belief in all our students' potential.
  • An unwavering commitment to anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion, with an ability to serve as an exemplar for the organization’s values and foster an inclusive and respectful workplace.
  • A strong desire to collaborate with school leaders and network office teammates in service to five unified schools.
  • 8+ years of work experience, including 3+ years of leadership experience.; K-12 experience strongly preferred.
  • Deep experience in designing, integrating, implementing, and managing an instructional model, including knowledge of curricula, instructional practices, school operations and management, and talent development.
  • Ability to analyze and use data on a regular basis to drive decision-making
  • Possess a deep commitment to racial equity and improving kids' lives from low-income communities.
Driver Goals
  • 60% Student Proficiency
  • 70% of Students meet growth targets
  • 85% of staff proficient in Kairos Career Pathway
  • 85% of Leaders proficient in School Leader Levers
  • 85% Staff Satisfaction (Great Place To Work)
This Job ISN'T For You If You Won't…
  • go above & beyond to do what’s best for kids (an innate work ethic is required)
  • figure things out yourself (don't wait for others to teach you, make yourself better)
  • adapt to frequent change (rapidly iterate; every level of every team improves every cycle)
  • happily give and take constructive feedback
Who We AreNow is the opportune moment (the kairos) to reimagine education for the 21st century. Our schools have been recognized by Forbes, Bellwether Education, NBC Today, Education Week, and others as among the most innovative and highest-performing in the nation. That's why we replace lectures with engaging projects and dictatorial "behavior managers" with 1-1 executive functioning mentors who help students learn how to manage their own schedule and work habits. Kairos students practice navigating real-world choices (such as when, where, how, and with whom to work) within a safe, supportive school environment. Kairos develops students into not just freethinkers, ready to thrive in a modern economy, but also self-governing citizens, ready to lead themselves and their communities.Technology SkillsCompetence in Microsoft Office applications and ability to use various computer applications and platforms. Ability to use basic office equipment. Knowledge and experience in using a computer-based student Information Management system.Safety Duties & ResponsibilitiesEvery employee of the School must know our safety rules and procedures to teach what they know to others, to recognize unsafe actions and situations, to warn others of unsafe situations, to react to emergencies, and to report unsafe practices to those in a position to correct them.Qualifications and Requirements
  • Bachelor’s degree required; master's degree preferred
  • Missouri Substitute Certification Required
  • 2+ years of successful full-time teaching experience Preferred
  • Proven track record of personally achieving success and leading others to improved results
  • Satisfactory completion of criminal records check, pre-hire and annually after that, if applicable
  • Must be eligible to work in the United States and provide work authorization.
Additional Knowledge and Skills
  • Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to coach adults and work on a team
  • Belief in and alignment with Kairos’ mission and values is non-negotiable
  • Experience working with adults from diverse backgrounds with diverse needs
  • Ability to adjust and adapt to a multitude of situations in the school environment
  • Willingness to go above and beyond
  • Encouraging cooperation and collaboration among teachers, staff, and students.
  • Developing leadership skills in school staff.
  • Helping teachers reach their fullest potential through continuous learning opportunities.
  • Managing people, processes, and information to develop school-wide plans
Starting Salary: $70,000, based on experience. To learn more, check out ourBenefits:
  • Our commitment to you includes a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package that covers health, dental, and vision. In addition, we offer performance-based stipends, opportunities for education advancement, and a dedication to fostering work-life balance. Our school community is built on diversity and support, with small class sizes and a cozy co-working atmosphere. You'll have access to a range of professional growth opportunities, both on and off-campus, and you'll become part of a network of schools that are fully committed to upholding Love, Equity, Agency, and Diversity.
Schedule:
  • In-person teaching Monday through Friday 7:30am 4:00pm
  • Some weekends and evenings will be required
Ability to commute/relocate:
  • Saint Louis, MO 63118: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required). Please note, this is not a remote position. All Kairos teachers are required to deliver in-person instruction onsite, in our school in St. Louis.
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