Breakthrough Public Schools
BREAKTHROUGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Breakthrough Public Schools is a nationally recognized Charter Management Organization (CMO) network in Cleveland, Ohio. Our mission is to provide Cleveland area scholars with an education that empowers them to lead lives of impact and opportunity. Our network of schools centers joy, curiosity, and individual growth, uniquely positioning Breakthrough Public Schools to cultivate a learning community where all students thrive. At Breakthrough, we are committed to providing scholars with the academic, social, and emotional skills necessary to excel at learning and citizenship from kindergarten through eighth grade promotion. We are committed to the success of every child.
The BPS CMO exists to provide operational, leadership, and strategic services to the schools in the Breakthrough Schools network. The CMO is committed to providing high-quality services to the schools and bolstering the high-impact performance of the schools, making the CMO and network greater than the sum of its parts. The CMO provides economies of scale when it comes to staffing, tools, and time-based efficiencies. We serve 3,000 K-8 grade scholars across five schools and employ over 450 staff members.
OPPORTUNITY
Breakthrough Public Schools seeks an experienced, strategic academic leader to serve as the Chief Academic Officer (CAO). Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the CAO is also a Breakthrough Network Leadership team member.
The CAO provides leadership and executes the vision and strategic direction for Breakthrough Public School's curriculum, instruction, assessment, and instructional improvement initiatives. Responsible for our core instructional program and its implementation in schools, the Chief Academic Officer ensures that all scholars become independent learners who are curious, engaged, and growing academically, socially, and emotionally. They supervise and provide direct coaching and concrete, actionable feedback to the Academic team and collaborate with network leaders to solve problems and address challenges through an equity lens, centering the needs of all scholars on the pathway to achieving their full potential.
The Chief Academic Officer will oversee the School Management, Curricula and Coaching, Student Culture, and Student Services (including Special Education) functions, by managing the Head of Schools, the Managing Director of Academics, Managing Director of Culture, and Managing Director of Student Services.
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Organizational Leadership
As a member of the Breakthrough Network Leadership Team: Drive the development, implementation, and achievement of Breakthrough's vision, mission, strategic plan, annual priorities, and goals Provide input and guidance on all major initiatives and problem-solve network-wide challenges. Nurture the network's culture to create a community where all stakeholders feel included, valued, and supported. Assess organizational health and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices to shape and cultivate a strong workplace culture. Leadership Vision and Supporting Systems
Drawing on work done over the last several years, including the network's Academic Strategy Roadmap and Strategic Plan, refine and implement a vision for strong instruction and curriculum that will serve all scholars across our network Build a culture of collective efficacy and positively impact instructional practice by maintaining a focus on rigor, high expectations, growth, and achievement for all Collaborate with the CEO, Chief People Officer, and Academic Team to ensure there is a shared vision for scholar learning, high-quality instruction, school and classroom culture, and professional development for school-based staff Provide leadership for all aspects of the network's instructional program, including curriculum and assessment, instructional quality, and use of both instructional and non-instructional data Ensure that each Academic team member has a development plan aligned with their performance goals and expectations. Assess the quality and impact of organizational structures related to scholar learning, researching best practices and providing actionable feedback to increase leader, teacher, and scholar outcomes Rigorous Instruction and Learning
Lead the advancement and cohesive development of aligned, network-wide K-8 curricula that ensure all scholars are challenged to think and work hard every day Lead the effort to review, adapt, and change academic frameworks and intervention programs based on scholar needs within an MTSS framework Track scholar outcomes, diagnose trends, and work to ensure campuses consistently reach equitable experiences and outcomes Ensure that scholar, classroom, and school culture support the network's mission and academic vision Design, implement, and evaluate systems to assess scholar achievement Manage and Develop Schools and School Leaders to Outcomes
Through the Head of Schools, manage a team of principal coaches and the Managing Director of School Operations to drive excellent academic and operational campus results and experiences aligned to the network vision and priorities Develop leadership capacity to exemplify Breakthrough's core values, create a culture of performance, build talent capacity, develop strong relationships rooted in trust, empower team members with the challenge and support for personal growth, and prioritize effectively Ensure school leaders are improving their practice as instructional leaders Ensure the Success of Diverse Learners
Establish, communicate, and build commitment to a shared vision for serving diverse learners in a manner that drives high expectations and outstanding academic outcomes while eradicating inequities between peers Improve the quality of the continuum of services for diverse learners to ensure instruction and services are highly effective, inclusive, culturally relevant, and centered around the needs of scholars Leverage research, best practices, and personal expertise around special education to support team members to design and articulate clear theories of pedagogy, develop intervention programs, implement curriculum, and assess efficacy to improve the delivery of special education and related services Lead the design of a comprehensive assessment and progress monitoring system to both outline the annual cadence of diverse learner assessments, including appropriate modifications and accommodations, as well as to evaluate the equitable distribution of diverse learner supports and services to ensure that they are equitably allocated to m eet the needs of all BPS scholars, families and schools Create a culture of continuous improvement by proactively establishing systems to gather feedback from schools and families intended to influence both policies and practices at the network level that support the education of diverse learners QUALIFICATIONS
All members of Breakthrough's Network Leadership team excel at
:
Strategic Leadership
: Synthesizing complex ideas into actionable plans and demonstrating excellent judgment with industry best practices grounded in diversity, equity, and inclusion Authentic Leadership: Employing reflective practices while building and encouraging strong, trusting relationships through the application and modeling of appropriate and effective communication strategies, including deftly navigating challenging conversations and delivering candid and direct feedback Organizational Effectiveness: Leading strong teams driven by a positive culture, effective cross-team communication, and excellent systems that bring multiple stakeholders together to achieve shared goals Personal Effectiveness:
Managing a wide range of multiple project details with precision in an ever-changing landscape Results-Driven Decision Making:
Setting ambitious goals and leading the process of change with specific and measurable outcomes to strengthen the network and create a data-informed culture Mission Alignment:
Demonstrating a commitment to the mission and values of Breakthrough Public Schools EXPERIENCE AND RESULTS
Instructional Expertise 7+ of leadership and management experience overseeing academic programs and driving significant results in high-performing K-12 institutions Deep understanding of project planning, curriculum, instruction, assessment, professional development, data inquiry, and instructional technologies Experience as a classroom teacher, preferably in elementary and middle schools Leadership Capability and Talent Management Experience coaching and supporting teachers and school leadership teams Experienced strategist and innovator who will contribute to the leadership, management, and growth of cross-functional teams and adult learners Ability to build capacity in team members and across functions by strategically leveraging relationships while observing, supporting, and coaching them toward success Achievement Proven track record of achieving short- and long-term organizational objectives and academic results through the development and implementation of academic systems Highly accountable and results-driven with the ability to set and use goals to guide action and objectively measure performance Experience in successfully stewarding diverse teams and groups through significant change Provide excellent customer service experiences to school-level leadership Demonstrate excellent judgment, exceptional reasoning, problem-solving, and prioritization skills
Breakthrough Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer. We hire without consideration of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability.
Any person who knowingly makes a false statement is guilty of falsification under section 2921.13 of the Revised Code, which is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
Breakthrough Public Schools is a nationally recognized Charter Management Organization (CMO) network in Cleveland, Ohio. Our mission is to provide Cleveland area scholars with an education that empowers them to lead lives of impact and opportunity. Our network of schools centers joy, curiosity, and individual growth, uniquely positioning Breakthrough Public Schools to cultivate a learning community where all students thrive. At Breakthrough, we are committed to providing scholars with the academic, social, and emotional skills necessary to excel at learning and citizenship from kindergarten through eighth grade promotion. We are committed to the success of every child.
The BPS CMO exists to provide operational, leadership, and strategic services to the schools in the Breakthrough Schools network. The CMO is committed to providing high-quality services to the schools and bolstering the high-impact performance of the schools, making the CMO and network greater than the sum of its parts. The CMO provides economies of scale when it comes to staffing, tools, and time-based efficiencies. We serve 3,000 K-8 grade scholars across five schools and employ over 450 staff members.
OPPORTUNITY
Breakthrough Public Schools seeks an experienced, strategic academic leader to serve as the Chief Academic Officer (CAO). Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the CAO is also a Breakthrough Network Leadership team member.
The CAO provides leadership and executes the vision and strategic direction for Breakthrough Public School's curriculum, instruction, assessment, and instructional improvement initiatives. Responsible for our core instructional program and its implementation in schools, the Chief Academic Officer ensures that all scholars become independent learners who are curious, engaged, and growing academically, socially, and emotionally. They supervise and provide direct coaching and concrete, actionable feedback to the Academic team and collaborate with network leaders to solve problems and address challenges through an equity lens, centering the needs of all scholars on the pathway to achieving their full potential.
The Chief Academic Officer will oversee the School Management, Curricula and Coaching, Student Culture, and Student Services (including Special Education) functions, by managing the Head of Schools, the Managing Director of Academics, Managing Director of Culture, and Managing Director of Student Services.
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Organizational Leadership
As a member of the Breakthrough Network Leadership Team: Drive the development, implementation, and achievement of Breakthrough's vision, mission, strategic plan, annual priorities, and goals Provide input and guidance on all major initiatives and problem-solve network-wide challenges. Nurture the network's culture to create a community where all stakeholders feel included, valued, and supported. Assess organizational health and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices to shape and cultivate a strong workplace culture. Leadership Vision and Supporting Systems
Drawing on work done over the last several years, including the network's Academic Strategy Roadmap and Strategic Plan, refine and implement a vision for strong instruction and curriculum that will serve all scholars across our network Build a culture of collective efficacy and positively impact instructional practice by maintaining a focus on rigor, high expectations, growth, and achievement for all Collaborate with the CEO, Chief People Officer, and Academic Team to ensure there is a shared vision for scholar learning, high-quality instruction, school and classroom culture, and professional development for school-based staff Provide leadership for all aspects of the network's instructional program, including curriculum and assessment, instructional quality, and use of both instructional and non-instructional data Ensure that each Academic team member has a development plan aligned with their performance goals and expectations. Assess the quality and impact of organizational structures related to scholar learning, researching best practices and providing actionable feedback to increase leader, teacher, and scholar outcomes Rigorous Instruction and Learning
Lead the advancement and cohesive development of aligned, network-wide K-8 curricula that ensure all scholars are challenged to think and work hard every day Lead the effort to review, adapt, and change academic frameworks and intervention programs based on scholar needs within an MTSS framework Track scholar outcomes, diagnose trends, and work to ensure campuses consistently reach equitable experiences and outcomes Ensure that scholar, classroom, and school culture support the network's mission and academic vision Design, implement, and evaluate systems to assess scholar achievement Manage and Develop Schools and School Leaders to Outcomes
Through the Head of Schools, manage a team of principal coaches and the Managing Director of School Operations to drive excellent academic and operational campus results and experiences aligned to the network vision and priorities Develop leadership capacity to exemplify Breakthrough's core values, create a culture of performance, build talent capacity, develop strong relationships rooted in trust, empower team members with the challenge and support for personal growth, and prioritize effectively Ensure school leaders are improving their practice as instructional leaders Ensure the Success of Diverse Learners
Establish, communicate, and build commitment to a shared vision for serving diverse learners in a manner that drives high expectations and outstanding academic outcomes while eradicating inequities between peers Improve the quality of the continuum of services for diverse learners to ensure instruction and services are highly effective, inclusive, culturally relevant, and centered around the needs of scholars Leverage research, best practices, and personal expertise around special education to support team members to design and articulate clear theories of pedagogy, develop intervention programs, implement curriculum, and assess efficacy to improve the delivery of special education and related services Lead the design of a comprehensive assessment and progress monitoring system to both outline the annual cadence of diverse learner assessments, including appropriate modifications and accommodations, as well as to evaluate the equitable distribution of diverse learner supports and services to ensure that they are equitably allocated to m eet the needs of all BPS scholars, families and schools Create a culture of continuous improvement by proactively establishing systems to gather feedback from schools and families intended to influence both policies and practices at the network level that support the education of diverse learners QUALIFICATIONS
All members of Breakthrough's Network Leadership team excel at
:
Strategic Leadership
: Synthesizing complex ideas into actionable plans and demonstrating excellent judgment with industry best practices grounded in diversity, equity, and inclusion Authentic Leadership: Employing reflective practices while building and encouraging strong, trusting relationships through the application and modeling of appropriate and effective communication strategies, including deftly navigating challenging conversations and delivering candid and direct feedback Organizational Effectiveness: Leading strong teams driven by a positive culture, effective cross-team communication, and excellent systems that bring multiple stakeholders together to achieve shared goals Personal Effectiveness:
Managing a wide range of multiple project details with precision in an ever-changing landscape Results-Driven Decision Making:
Setting ambitious goals and leading the process of change with specific and measurable outcomes to strengthen the network and create a data-informed culture Mission Alignment:
Demonstrating a commitment to the mission and values of Breakthrough Public Schools EXPERIENCE AND RESULTS
Instructional Expertise 7+ of leadership and management experience overseeing academic programs and driving significant results in high-performing K-12 institutions Deep understanding of project planning, curriculum, instruction, assessment, professional development, data inquiry, and instructional technologies Experience as a classroom teacher, preferably in elementary and middle schools Leadership Capability and Talent Management Experience coaching and supporting teachers and school leadership teams Experienced strategist and innovator who will contribute to the leadership, management, and growth of cross-functional teams and adult learners Ability to build capacity in team members and across functions by strategically leveraging relationships while observing, supporting, and coaching them toward success Achievement Proven track record of achieving short- and long-term organizational objectives and academic results through the development and implementation of academic systems Highly accountable and results-driven with the ability to set and use goals to guide action and objectively measure performance Experience in successfully stewarding diverse teams and groups through significant change Provide excellent customer service experiences to school-level leadership Demonstrate excellent judgment, exceptional reasoning, problem-solving, and prioritization skills
Breakthrough Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer. We hire without consideration of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability.
Any person who knowingly makes a false statement is guilty of falsification under section 2921.13 of the Revised Code, which is a misdemeanor of the first degree.