Head Of School

HEAD-OF-SCHOOL POSITION DESCRIPTION

ORGANIZATION: Brilla Paterson Public Charter School

POSITION: Head-of-School

LOCATION: Paterson, NJ

REPORTS TO: Board of Directors

Who We Are

The seeds of Brilla Paterson Charter School [“BPCS”] were planted five years ago, when community leaders in Paterson – spurred by hope and love for the city they proudly call home - came together to discuss an innovative idea: a new K-8 school centered on a holistic education. Building upon the many strengths of Paterson – a community that serves primarily students from Latino (69% of student population) and African American (20% of student population) backgrounds – these community leaders dreamed of a school that would propel students to college, while simultaneously developing personal character and integrity. Put another way, this school would be dedicated as much to academic excellence as it would be to developing the whole person.

Authorized by the New Jersey Department of Education in 2021 and opening to a gleaming new space in the heart of Paterson in the fall of 2023, BPCS is that dream realized.

The school – currently serving kindergartners as well as grades 1 and 5, with the stated goal to become a K-8 – teems with a student and adult culture that is both purposeful and joyful. Supported in their launch with technical assistance from Seton Partners – a national expert in providing holistic education - BPCS has set its sights on becoming a regional leader in developing responsible, caring, and academically prepared students.

The odds are – for many reasons - up against the children of Paterson, the vast majority (65%) who are economically disadvantaged. Indeed, COVID has only exacerbated educational challenges as - according to the most recent state accountability data - 75% of BPCS’ district peers in grades 3-8 are not proficient in English Language Arts and 89% are not proficient in Math. And yet, BPCS is a school that is helping students beat those odds academically, while forming them to be the best version of themselves - for their families, for their beloved city, and for a world that so desperately needs caring and informed individuals.

Who We Need

As BPCS grows – to have both an elementary school campus and a middle school campus, in two beautiful facilities tailored to meet its programmatic needs – we need a Head-of-School who will unapologetically deliver on the original commitment of the school: the formation of students holistically, while maintaining high academic expectations.

To that end, the Head-of-School will need to have affinity for – and good thinking on how to manage - the programming of BPCS, with its ennobling and content-rich curriculum, inductive inquiry-driven instruction, and virtue formation that fosters an encounter with Truth, Beauty, and Goodness. The Head-of-School will exemplify – through a model of distributive leadership with the principals of the two campuses, as well as the central operations team – what it means to be outcomes-driven. Indeed, the Head-of-School will hone existing and develop new systems and structures across all functions of the school, while being mindful of the dignity of each student, each staff member, and each family that we serve.

Specifically, the Head-of-School will be responsible for the following aspects of BPCS’ leadership:

· Executive Leadership: Oversee the instructional, programmatic, fiscal, and operational areas of the two campuses of BPCS, as it grows to serve 675 students in grades K-8.

· Instructional Leadership: Ensure that education programs and student-facing services provided by BPCS are attaining strong outcomes. Directly develop and manage the two BPCS campus principals, who themselves serve as primary instructional leaders.

· Performance Leadership: Monitor and analyze achievement data and outcomes – academic, social, and emotional – of students by grade-level, subject area, and subgroup, using internal accountability tools and external measurements to ensure that all students can realize their full potential.

· Financial Leadership: Develop and manage the finance and operations team, particularly as the second campus is added in 2024-25. Create, maintain, and direct a strong school financial plan, and implement procedures that maximize resources, all with improving student outcomes (academic excellence and student formation) as its driving purpose. Develop and seek board approval of an annual budget and a multi-year fiscal plan. Ensures that fiscal policies are in place, followed, and appropriately updated.

· Partnership Leadership and Board Support: Develop, strengthen, and inform partnerships with community groups that are essential to the success of BPCS. Support the Board of Directors by helping to set meeting agendas, as well as preparing and presenting reports for meetings, recommending actions, and performing other duties assigned by action of the Board of Directors.

· Funding Development Leadership: Ensure that there is strong system and personnel in place to research, draft, and track grant applications. Monitor funding usage, assuring compliance with all funder and legal mandates.

· Reporting/Compliance Leadership: Draft, review and submit reports as required by state or federal law, rule, regulation, or authorizer, including but not limited to, the compliance regulations established by the New Jersey Department of Education.

· Talent and Operational Leadership: Oversee all organizational operations including human resource policies and procedures, contract management/procurement, technology (including planning, support, and all other administrative aspects), facilities/real estate improvements/planning, legal and compliance.

· Communications Leadership: Serve as a visible and accessible communicator to BPCS staff members, students, families, and community members, and as a credible public spokesperson for BPCS to external parties.

· Growth Leadership: Collaborate with the Board, families, and partners to set BPCS’s future direction. Conduct research on best practices and collaborate with experts to establish and work towards mid-/long-term strategic initiatives.

Who You Are

Time and time again, in the many stakeholder meetings that gave rise to this position description, the word “excellence” was used. The BPCS Board of Directors - as well as the staff members and students - resoundingly identified how the Head-of-School must be an individual who has managed a school or school network to a place of excellence. A new Head-of-School enters a culture where they will be asked to make difficult decisions in pursuit of that audacious goal, and therefore, they should be able to speak to impact in both quantitative and qualitative terms from their prior professional experiences.

To that end, the ideal candidate will bring the following experiences, knowledge, and values to this role:

· Measurable Impact Maker: 5-10 years of professional experience, including a leadership position in a school or school network serving students along the K-12 continuum, where they can speak about measurable impact of their work.

· Culture Inspirer: Track record of developing a hard-working, diverse and joyful workplace culture which holds sacrosanct the dignity of the human person, the primacy of equity and the power of inclusivity.

· Family Partner: Demonstrated success in empowering and engaging with families, with an appreciation of our families’ wondrous strengths and the systemic challenges they face.

· Complex Organizational Manager: Lived experience in managing the multiple functions of a complex organization, preferably in a high-performing school.

· Vision Expander: History in setting a vision for a K-12 organization, which excited existing and drew new stakeholders to that vision.

· Compliance Maintainer: Fundamental understanding of the compliance, the fiscal and the operational demands of a New Jersey charter school.

· Nimble Communicator: Experience communicating to audiences as diverse as families, staff, the Board, the press, community partners and funders.

· Financial/Funding Steward: History in managing a complex organizational budget, as well as securing major philanthropic or government grants to support a K-12 organization.

· Life-Long Learner: Commitment to one’s own education, including as a minimum requirement, the holding of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited, four-year university.

· Intent Listener, Resolute Decision-Maker: Experience collecting diverse perspectives before rendering difficult decisions, and a willingness to stand by those decisions.

· Personal Champion: Strong personal alignment to the unique and transformative principles that form the heart of BPCS, including an appreciation of Truth, Beauty, and Goodness.

The salary range for the individual who best matches the qualities sought above is $195,000 to $225,000, commensurate with experience and potential.

How to Apply

Please submit a statement of interest (750 words maximum) along with a résumé to BPCS@rootedpartners.org. The statement of interest should articulate how your experiences, knowledge, and values align with the attributes sought in the Head-of-School position for Brilla Paterson Charter School.

The deadline for receipt of applications is March11, 2024. However, serious candidates are encouraged to apply before that date, as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $195,000.00 - $225,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Ability to Relocate:

• Paterson, NJ 07505: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person