Chief Academic Officer

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POSITION PROPERTIES
Position Title
Chief Academic Officer
Schedule
12-month contract / 259 days
Job Code
94ADMIN502
FLSA
Exempt
Calendar
ADSUP-S
Benefits
Eligible
Contract Type
ADMIN
Bargaining Unit
None
Revised Date
02/13/2024
PURPOSE
The Chief Academic Officer (CAO) is a leadership role that will report to the Superintendent of Columbia Public Schools. The CAO provides leadership and executes the vision and strategic direction for Columbia Public Schools curriculum, instruction, assessment and school improvement initiatives. Responsible for our core instructional program, the Chief Academic Officer ensures that all scholars become independent learners who are curious, engaged, and growing in all aspects academically, socially, and emotionally.
The Chief Academic Officer supervises and provides direct coaching and concrete, actionable feedback to the district academic team, as well as collaborates with the Chief Human Resources Officer and Superintendent to foster a district-wide growth mindset of continuous learning and professional development. The Chief Academic Officer ensures the professional development and coaching of instructional faculty is aligned to Columbia Public Schools priorities to achieve high-quality, culturally relevant instruction within a warm, inclusive, and academic rigorous environment across our schools within the district.
The Chief Academic Officer is a highly motivated and collaborative leader who takes initiative 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 models the core values of scholarship, merit, community, and responsibility and embodies a growth-mindset.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
Domain I: Vision and Supporting Systems

• 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 Superintendent, Chief Human Resources Officer, and Chief Schools Officer to ensure there is a common vision for student learning, high-quality instruction and the professional development and coaching required for instructional staff to put all Columbia Public Schools scholars on a predictive path to college completion.
• Drawing on work done over the last several years, as well as Columbia Public Schools Strategic Plan, refine and implement a vision for strong instruction and curriculum across our district grounded in our mission and vision.
• Provide leadership for all aspects of the Columbia Public Schools instructional program, including curriculum and assessment, instructional quality, and use of both instructional and non-instructional data.
• Assess the quality and impact of organizational structures related to curriculum and instruction, researching best practices, and providing actionable feedback that can be implemented to increase leader, teacher, and student outcomes.

Domain II: Rigorous Instruction and Learning

• Develop a scope and sequence of professional learning for school leaders, instructional staff and student support teams to ensure consistent, normed implementation of Columbia Public Schools expectations of high-quality instruction, family engagement and positive behavior systems to achieve high levels of student engagement and learning through a continuous loop.
• Drawing on work done over the last several years, as well as Columbia Public Schools Strategic Plan, leads the advancement and cohesive development of an aligned, district-wide K-12 curriculum that ensures all scholars are challenged to think and work hard every day.
• Leads the effort to review, adapt and change academic frameworks and intervention programs based on student needs, within a MTSS framework.
• Designs, implements, and evaluates systems to assess student achievement.

Domain III: Drive Results

• Sets ambitious goals and leads process of change with specific and measurable outcomes to strengthen overall academic program, in alignment to Columbia Public Schools Strategic Plan
• Positively impacts a data informed culture in schools by ensuring laser-like focus on teaching, learning, and increasing achievement and growth for all students.
• Assesses the strength of the academic program at all schools through observations, achievement and survey data; identify trends and align district-wide strategy, opportunities and support for leaders and teachers.

Domain IV: Authentic Leadership

• Demonstrate personal leadership by employing reflective practices while building and encouraging strong, trusting relationships through the application and modeling of appropriate and effective communication strategies.
• Directs instructional leadership training for content supervisors, principals, academic directors, coordinators, and aspiring leaders.
• Represents the school to a variety of audiences and supports all necessary functions for school management and success.
• Provides instructional/curricular input to district-wide and school-based new teacher orientation and mentoring programs.

Domain V: Strategic Talent Management

• Manage academic directors to unlock their potential and drive a strong instructional programming across all content areas through curriculum development, assessment, professional development, and instructional coaching.
• Build capacity, in their team members and across teams, by strategically leveraging relationships while observing, supporting, and coaching them toward success and holding them accountable to a vision of excellence for all scholars.
• Work collaboratively with a variety of consultants and strategic partners to ensure alignment to district goals/priorities and build the internal capacity of the team.
• Ensures that each member of the Academic team has a development plan aligned to their performance goals and expectations.

Perform other duties as necessary to support the mission and vision of Columbia Public School District.
DISTRICT EXPECTATIONS
All employees of the District are expected to adhere to the policies and regulations of the Board of Education, maintain appropriate certification and competencies necessary for the position, and demonstrate the values of the district at all times. For information on polices, regulations and values, visit http://www.cpsk12.org.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
Reports To: Superintendent
Supervises: Executive Directors and Directors
QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum: Master's Degree; possess or be eligible for a Superintendent's Certificate; seven to ten years of progressive leadership experience in public school systems.
Preferred: Doctorate Degree.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills and abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
ADA REQUIREMENTS
Language: Present information to teachers, staff, other administrators, and boards. Respond to common questions and concerns. Interview students, staff, and teachers. Read, analyze, and interpret professional journals, memoranda, policies, administrative procedures, and statutes. Write business correspondence, including staff memoranda and newsletter articles. Keep information confidential when required by law, policy, or the nature of a particular situation. These are essential functions of the job.
Computation: Work with mathematical concepts, such as probability and statistical inference, and analyze data for instruction. Apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical situations. Perform computer word processing (including spreadsheets) and internet research. Access and create reports using the Districts student information software and databases. These are essential functions of the job.
Reasoning: Define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Solve a variety of problems in many different situations. Interpret instructions presented in written, oral, diagram or schedule form. Demonstrate executive functions such as planning, organizing, remembering, and regulating information and behavior as they pertain to student performance and achievement. These are essential functions of the job.
Technology: Integrate technology into daily instruction; present information to students using a variety of media. Access and create reports using the District's student information software and databases. Readily utilize smart boards, projectors and other instructional technology provided by the district. Adhere to all District policies and procedures regarding technology use. These are essential functions of the job.
Physical demands: Requires sedentary work involving standing or walking for brief periods, exerting up to 10 pounds of force on a regular basis, and considerable dexterity in operating office equipment. Consistent and regular attendance is an essential function of this position including attend Board meetings, student activities and events. Weekends or in evening hours is common. These are essential functions of the job.
Environmental conditions: The work environment is consistent with a typical office environment; however, they will occasionally be outside in temperatures below freezing and above 100 degrees. The individual who holds this position is frequently required to work irregular or extended hours. These are essential functions of the job.
Prospective and current employees with disabilities are encouraged to contact human resources to discuss reasonable accommodations to perform the essential job functions.
Equal Opportunity Employer