Position: Compass High School Leader
Start Date: July 1 2018
Our Model and Values:
At Compass Academy, we believe all students can succeed and become lifelong Learners & Leaders for the 21st Century. Launched in August 2015, Compass has grown one grade level each year and now serves over 300 students in our middle school. Long-term, Compass intends to serve over 700 students in grades 6-12 from the Southwest Denver community. Compass’s model is unique in that teachers and students benefit from ongoing support from City Year and the Center for Social Organization of Schools at Johns Hopkins University, including a team of City Year AmeriCorps Members and on-site Impact Manager to support the academic and social-emotional development of students. As a school, our work is grounded in our people, and includes a team of talented and energetic educators and leaders who live out the school’s values each day and who are excited to continue to build and grow our extraordinary school. Compass’ model also brings together an innovative use of extended time and human capital, an environment rich in technology and driven by data, and proven best practices for personalized learning and student growth.
Position Overview
Compass Academy is seeking a High School Leader. In partnership with an experienced team of educators, this person will lead the work of bringing to life Compass’ vision for its high school model. The right candidate should be excited about the challenges and opportunities of implementing innovative work, as Compass’ model does not follow the traditional format for high school. Instead, Compass’ approach uses a competency-based model that integrates academic, social-emotional, and well-being competencies, and our leader must be able to leverage strengths as a designer, entrepreneur, and school leader to be successful.
What the High School Leader Will Do:
Design and implement a culture of academic excellence that. . .
- Ensures teachers plan and implement curriculum, assessments, and evidence-based teaching practices designed to inspire and support Compass Academy’s diverse student body
- Creates structures that position teachers to craft powerful intervention and extension small group seminars to support student needs and pique student curiosity
- Sets teachers and staff up to measurably improve student academic performance and support their growth as Learners & Leaders
Build and sustain a culture of high expectations and . . .
- Model Compass Academy core values and enforce school policies and expectations
- Establish purposeful routines and implement school cultural elements to create an effective and encouraging learning environment and students to take responsibility for their actions, learning, and shared space
- Implement effective school structures for discipline using a Restorative Practice lens and communicate and support teachers and students in operating with this model
Be savvy with data and . . .
- Will analyze student assessment data and track early warning indicators to monitor student progress, inform schoolwide instructional priorities and develop targeted interventions and supports
- Create structures that lead students to analyze and reflect on their own progress through constructive feedback based on both academic measures and individualized Learner & Leader Plans
Exemplify leadership through . . .
- Collaborating with teachers, curriculum specialists, and City Year AmeriCorps Members in weekly planning sessions to ensure instruction is meeting all students’ needs
- Constantly refining their skills through coaching, professional development, and opportunities to build their practice
- Building relationships with families and the community to solicit their input and to communicate students’ academic and social-emotional progress
Drive the implementation of Compass’ approach to High School through . . .
- Building out structures to support competency-based education in the school
- Managing a rich set of community partners engaged in providing authentic learning experiences through dual enrollment programs.
- Exploring, assessing, and solving for challenges in a unique high school model
- Building a strong design & implementation partnership with City Year and Johns Hopkins’ School Design Division
An Ideal Leader likely has:
The key qualities of a strong school leader, including
- A strong vision for what high school should be for students in the 21st century
- A belief in holding high expectations for all students
- A belief that disadvantages should not be a barrier to achievement
- A commitment to continuous improvement of teaching & learning
- Expertise in assessment and tracking
- A belief in being inclusive and seeing relationships as key to the work
- Skill at cultivating partnerships and opportunities and resourcefulness
- A commitment to continuous improvement of self, leading by example
- Strong judgment
- Courage in challenging situations and resilience in the face of significant challenges
An entrepreneurial spirit, including
- Strengths and background in diverse areas of education or work
- Critical hope for the work, meaning, the ability to understand and recognize challenges, but also remain optimistic and driven towards a goal
- A willingness to take risks to achieve great things for students
- Conscientiousness, meaning you’re thoughtful and strategic about your time and organization
Incredible Design Thinking Skills, including
- Curiosity and strong intuition in design work
- The ability to create designs and structures that provide clarity
- A Solutions-Focused and optimistic approach to challenges
- Being human-centered & collaborative in your design thinking
Context & Experience, including
- Experience in a High School Setting, especially leadership roles
- Experience serving students in Southwest Denver or a similar context
- Spanish language fluency
- Being a City Year Alum or connected to City Year
Fit with our Team, including
- Alignment with Compass Academy’s True North
- Alignment & passion for Compass Academy’s Model and initial High School Design Proposal
What We Offer:
- Competitive compensation package and generous & innovative benefits
- Excellent professional development and coaching
- School support from trained City Year AmeriCorps Members
- Design support from JHU & City Year’s School Design Division
How to Apply
Compass Academy is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse workforce. Individuals from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. This position will begin on July 1, 2018.
|