Chief Academic Officer
- Do you want to help create a more just and kind world?
- Do you believe that diversity is a powerful strength for a school community?
- Do you want to ensure that every student can be successful and prepared to thrive in college, career, and life?
You are:
You are a mission-driven systems leader who brings clarity and coherence to complex academic environments. You have a strong track record of driving or supporting the design of academic systems that drive measurable results and an ability to navigate both the strategic and operational dimensions of instruction. You are deeply committed to equity and see systems design as a lever for educational justice. You build trust quickly, communicate clearly, and thrive when partnering with school and network leaders to solve problems, develop strategic plans, and move from vision to execution. You understand how to create aligned routines that support instructional excellence and believe in empowering others through thoughtful planning, smart tools, and clear expectations.
About the Position:
The Chief Academic Officer (CAO) at E.L. Haynes Public Charter School will serve as the senior-most academic leader responsible for driving instructional vision, supervising school leaders, building adult capacity, and ensuring strong academic outcomes across our PK–12 system.
The CAO will be expected to lead at multiple levels: coaching principals, designing cross-campus instructional systems, aligning professional development, and serving as a key advisor to the CEO on the direction of teaching and learning. The scope of the role includes oversight of curriculum and instruction, academic data systems, principal development, professional learning, and alignment of special education and student supports.
This is a multi-dimensional role that requires a leader who can:
- Operate at both the strategic and systems level and in day-to-day implementation;
- Navigate the needs of three school levels (elementary, middle, and high school);
- Provide meaningful support to principals while also leading PD, managing central academic staff, and driving coherence across departments;
- Balance long-term redesign with immediate leadership stabilization; and
- Influence the future direction of academic innovation and the evolution of a full academic leadership team.
You Will:
Supervise and develop school leaders:
- Supervise, coach, and evaluate principals across multiple campuses
- Develop principal capacity through regular observation, feedback, data reviews, and instructional rounds
- Ensure alignment in leadership expectations and academic accountability
- Provide differentiated support to leaders at various levels of readiness
Set the instructional vision:
- Lead the development and execution of a unified instructional vision;
- Evaluate the effectiveness of the academic model and lead the refinement of instructional approaches, systems, and structures to meet evolving student needs;
- Align curriculum, instruction, and assessment across grade bands and departments;
- Oversee instructional frameworks, walkthrough tools, and quality assurance systems; and
- Monitor academic data to drive action at the network and school levels.
Create the vision for professional learning and educator development:
- Lead the design and execution of high-impact PD across the organization;
- Create feedback systems and coaching protocols for instructional staff;
- Build the instructional leadership capacity of APs, Deans, Coaches, and Directors; and
- Integrate academic priorities into educator onboarding, evaluation, and retention systems.
Oversee the academic strategy:
- Partner with CEO and senior team on long-term academic strategy and annual planning;
- Collaborate with Talent, Student Support Services, and Operations to ensure academic priorities are fully supported;
- Participate in board presentations, PCSB/OSSE reporting, and stakeholder engagement as needed;
- Provide input into resource allocation, scheduling models, and staff structure in support of academic goals; and
- Contribute to the development of future academic roles that support instructional redesign, inclusive practices, and innovation.
Lead the Academic team:
- Lead and manage the central academic team responsible for curriculum, professional learning, and instructional and assessment systems;
- Oversee and strengthen academic systems that support students with disabilities and multilingual learners, ensuring alignment between Tier 1 instruction, intervention, and compliance;
- Align the team’s work to campus needs and network-wide academic priorities; and
- Ensure the team is focused, supported, and collaborating effectively to drive instructional quality across all grade levels.
Set the vision for academic climate and culture:
- Coach and support school leaders in building strong, inclusive school cultures that align with academic priorities;
- Design and refine systems, routines, and practices that promote a safe, welcoming, and emotionally supportive environment for both students and staff;
- Partner with student support services and school-based teams to align behavior systems, restorative practices, and social-emotional learning with instructional goals; and
Foster a culture of high expectations, psychological safety, and shared ownership for student and staff well-being.
