Chief Academic Officer

The Chief Academic Officer is responsible for both sustaining and improving the culture of high academic excellence at Destiny Christian Academy. The Chief Academic Officer has primary authority and accountability to implement a vertically aligned curriculum and assessment system, instruction, research and supporting services. The Chief Academic Officer leads the educational performance of DCA through a clear vision and strategic direction for the school’s curriculum, instruction, and improvement initiatives; designs and implements professional development that provides educators with understanding of instructional best practice to ensure mastery of standards and articulates and ensures that the school’s missions and goals are achieved as well as collaborating with other leaders around issues of instructional quality.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• Provide educational and administrative leadership that builds and supports a high-performance education team by inspiring, integrating, and aligning the academic work of Destiny Christian Academy; develop and maintain clear and inclusive decision-making processes to ensure integration of academic supports and services, as well as effective ongoing technical and operational management of the school.
• Design and implement “best practice” instructional systems aligned to school priorities in conjunction with the Leadership Team to address both immediate and long-range school priorities.
• Assure that Destiny Christian Academy’s academic philosophy, values, and mission are carried out in a manner which is conducive to innovation, positive thinking, accountability, and performance; assist in the development, organization, and delivery of all curricular and instructional programs and services to ensure they are based on best practices and aligned with the school’s standards and assessments.
• Assist in the selection, training, development, and management of principals, teachers, and professional staff.
• Support and equip Principals to be instructional leaders for their faculties and establish extensive training programs for teachers and administrators based on best practices, standards for effective instruction, and assessment, to prepare them for instructional leadership.
• Plan and recommend an instructional budget including personnel requirements, program expenses, and capital needs necessary to support a world-class learning environment.
• Supervise curriculum and instruction and professional development to improve school achievement.
• Provide vision and strategic direction for Destiny Christian Academy’s curriculum, instruction and school improvement initiatives, aligned with the long-term strategy to improve student achievement and narrow the achievement gap between racial, ethnic and economic groups.
• Build and lead a highly effective, innovative academic services department including re-envisioning the current team, roles, and responsibilities as necessary.
• Reduce the variability in curricula, instruction, and assessment and implement a vertically aligned curriculum and assessment system.
• Develop and monitor accountability systems and evaluation rubrics that are based on data-driven performance parameters; leverage data to inform strategic direction systems; coordinate the collection of real-time student assessment data and subsequent training for principals and teachers in order to use data effectively.
• Collaborate with leadership and Human Resources, and other divisions and departments to ensure support to teachers and the effective delivery of instructional programs and services to all schools.
• Collaborate with leadership to develop instructional programs and implement reform models designed to improve achievement of all students.
• Provide direction in and maintain current knowledge of educational reform and instructional best practices in all aspects of K-12 education.
• Oversee the allocation of materials and staff resources for academic departments, ensure their use for the purposes intended, and enforce appropriate accountability for disbursements and expenditures.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with the Leadership Team, creating organizational capacity for change, and leading and sponsoring programs that allow the organization at all levels to be more flexible and effective.
• Play an active role on the Leadership Team to include proactively supporting the Destiny Christian Academy’s overall performance delivery strategy while ensuring that all curriculum and instructional leaders across the school function as an integrated team.
• Work directly with principals, teachers, and instructional leaders to implement the instructional goals, programs, and services of the school.
• Develop and foster a work environment that is student-focused, results-oriented, and places emphasis on student learning and performance.
• Supervise, evaluate, and hold accountable the performance and professionalism of assigned staff; interview and select employees, and recommend transfers, reassignments, terminations, and disciplinary actions; plan, coordinate, and arrange for appropriate professional development opportunities for assigned staff.
• Perform related duties as assigned by the President.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• A Master’s degree in Curriculum, Teaching and Learning, Educational Leadership, Education Administration or related field required.
• A Doctorate degree preferred but not required.
• Ten (10) years of progressive experience with district level instructional systems including curriculum, instruction, research, and assessment.
• Seven (7) years of progressive experience leading principals, curriculum coordinators, teachers, and other professional staff.
• Ability to solve a wide range of intellectual and practical problems; nonverbal symbolism, comprehend most abstruse concepts.
• Ability to solve arithmetic, algebraic, and geometric calculations.
• Ability to report, write, or edit articles for publication; prepare deeds, contracts, leases, or mortgages; prepare and deliver lectures; interview, counsel, or advise people; evaluate technical data.
• Understanding and appreciation for the latest technological advances related to education.
• Ability to perform sedentary work, exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry push, pull or otherwise move objects including such activities as stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, fingering, grasping, and feeling.
• Demonstrated the ability to organize, motivate, and manage organizations and work effectively with individuals.
• Demonstrate the ability to represent the school and profession effectively.
• Clarity of vision at 20 feet or more, 20 inches or less, more than 20 inches and less than 20 feet and the ability to judge distance and space relationships, so as to see objects where and as they actually are.
• Ability to express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken word.Ability to perceive the nature of sounds with no less than a 40 db loss at 500 Hz, 1,000 Hz, and 2,000 Hz with or without correction.
• Proven superior communication skills among staff, students, and constituents.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

This position’s duties are normally performed in a standard work environment based on the activity scheduled. Some physical effort is required; therefore, the employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. He or she may be required to walk or sit for extended periods and may be exposed to outside weather conditions, including but not limited to heat, cold, humidity, rain, and direct sunlight. Manual dexterity and coordination are required over 50% of the work period while operating equipment, such as a computer keyboard, mouse, calculator, and other similar machines.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Working conditions are dynamic. This requires the willingness to work a flexible schedule that may require occasional weekend and/or evening hours. The employee will be using his or her personal vehicle; therefore, he or she must hold a valid driver’s license in the state where he or she is based and have appropriate auto insurance as required by law. The employee needs to be able to work in a fast-paced environment, prioritize work assignments, and do well under pressure. He or she must also demonstrate professionalism and integrity, take initiative, and exercise confidentiality. Finally, the employee must understand and apply all school policies and procedures, follow instructions, be detailed oriented, and have good follow-through on all projects.

NOTES:

This job description has been reviewed to ensure that only essential functions and basic duties have been included. The description in no way states or implies that the duties and responsibilities stated above are the only duties to be performed by the individual(s) within this position. All requirements, skills, and abilities included here have been determined to be the minimal standards required to perform this position. The individual(s) may be called upon and required to follow other instructions or perform other duties instructed by his/her supervisor that is consistent with the purpose of this position, department, and/or school objectives. Destiny Christian Academy expressly reserves the right to change this job description and the duties assigned to the individual periodically as deemed appropriate in Destiny Christian Academy’s sole discretion.

This job description is not intended as and does not create an employment contract or otherwise guarantee employment. Employment is at will and can be terminated at any time with or without cause and with or without notice by either party.