River Valley Charter School Director/Head of School

SUMMARY

River Valley Charter School seeks a passionate leader to serve as its Director. The role of the Director will be to oversee all aspects of the school – both instructional and non-instructional. This opportunity is as exciting as the school itself, which offers a unique combination of a Massachusetts public charter with a deep philosophy of Montessori education.

The Director position is a critical leadership role for a dynamic leader who will oversee the four divisions of the school – Kinderhaus, E1 (grades 1-3), E2 (grades 4-6), and the middle school (grade 7-8), inclusive of special education. The Director has ultimate responsibility for keeping the school focused on its mission by providing strong organizational and instructional leadership and identifying and overseeing strategic programming initiatives supported by the Board of Trustees.

Ideally, the candidate will be an accomplished educational leader with a demonstrated track record in a public and/or independent Montessori setting who has skills nurturing and promoting school culture, exhibits excellent team and operational management, and embodies a deep commitment to ensuring that all students receive a quality public Montessori education. Candidates should have a record of successful and inspiring leadership in an environment with multiple internal and external stakeholders and responsibilities.

The Director will be focused on ensuring the highest levels of success for the school through deep engagement with the board, staff, students, and families along with a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Students will reach their full potential as scholars and become self-reliant and productive members of society. They will be adept at critical thinking and creative problem solving and will be fully prepared to succeed in future schools, careers and civic life. The Director will leverage a variety of resources, methodologies, and strategies for innovation, staff development, and academic success while keeping the school grounded in Montessori and rooted in the history, culture, and ecology of the Merrimack River Valley.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Organizational Leadership

• Inspire, manage and develop the faculty and administrative team.
• Develop and maintain programs that enhance teacher performance (professional development, coaching, etc.)
• Lead administrators and teachers in developing a mission-based culture that promotes teamwork and collaboration among staff, teachers, students, and families.
• Oversee financial management and accountability towards a balanced budget.
• Proven strong organizational leadership experience.

Instructional Leadership/Student Achievement

• Foster a school climate that supports student and staff success; promotes respect and appreciation for all; and fosters a prepared learning environment.
• Ensure Montessori curriculum and standards are present throughout classrooms while simultaneously ensuring MA DESE state standards are met including administration of MCAS.
• Stay current on instructional best practices at other Montessori and charter schools to inform innovative practices at River Valley Charter School.

Charter, Accountability & Assessment

• Ensure the school maintains and adheres to its Charter through compliance with the school’s Accountability Plan, compliance and reporting requirements.
• Oversee public enrollment and lottery processes.
• Lead, inspire and oversee the administrative team that is inclusive of the Assistant Director, the Compliance and Reporting Coordinator, the Operations and Facilities Manager and the Special Education Team.
• Recruit and retain talented and motivated teachers, administrators, and staff.

Board Relations

• Collaborate with the Board of Trustees to execute the school’s vision and mission.
• Seek and accept board input on policy and strategic initiatives at the school, including being open to robust discussion and constructive feedback.
• Develop, with the leadership team and Board/Finance Committee, the school’s budget and submit it to the Board for approval.
• Work with the Board to develop and execute annual goals and provide the Board with information on progress toward meeting those goals.
• Determine and implement the methods for carrying out the policies approved by the Board.

Community Relations and Development

• Serve as the primary spokesperson for the school.
• Communicate the school’s mission, vision, and goals to a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Work with the Board Executive Committee to serve the various constituencies of the school such as staff, Board of Trustees, Foundation Board, and Parents Alliance.
• Spearhead various fundraising initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Ardent belief that all children, through a blend of a Montessori and public school environment and education, can reach the highest levels of academic and personal achievement.
• Master’s degree and proven school administration experience, specifically in public and/or independent Montessori education and/or public charter schools.
• Knowledge of and experience with Montessori curriculum and course offerings across the K-8 spectrum.
• Management experience understanding and utilizing their teams’ strengths to enhance the overall organization.
• Experience engaging, communicating with, and presenting to diverse audiences, both internal and external, in a sophisticated and nuanced manner.
• Requires demonstrated ethical values and a high level of personal and professional integrity.
• Demonstrated critical thinking and the ability to make decisions in challenging situations.
• Experience with fully integrated special education programs along with the federal and state rules and laws that govern special education provisions.
• Experience establishing, implementing, and utilizing organizational goals and metrics to measure progress, identify roadblocks, and execute strategies.
• Track record of success in school operations (finance and accounting, human resources, and charter-specific management).
• Experience with community relationships and fundraising.
• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively and productively with various internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to set organizational and individual goals, measure progress, and hold people accountable.
• Ability to create a culture of trust, collaboration, and transparency among school staff.
• Ability to work closely and collaboratively with Assistant Director and other school administrative staff.
• Ability to work collaboratively with Board of Trustees and willingness to communicate pertinent information on school progress and challenges.
• Experience in budget management.
• Must pass CORI and fingerprint check.
• US Citizenship, residency, or work visa required.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Salary range: $140,000 - $160,000 commensurate with experience.

River Valley Charter School offers a generous benefits package.

TO APPLY

The River Valley Charter School Board of Trustees will review applications for this position from September 9^th to September 30^th. Please submit a cover letter, philosophy of education summary, and resume to Denise Herrera, Board Chair and Albert Ting, Search Committee Chair, at Board.RVCS@gmail.com by 4pm on September 30^th, 2024. Interviews will take place the week of November 4th and the Search Committee will present their recommendation to the RVCS Board of Trustees to complete hiring before the end of December 2024.

#J-18808-Ljbffr