Academy Director

Acceleration Academies is passionate about improving student outcomes. We provide two capabilities that drive student success. Our dropout recovery and student re-engagement program (Acceleration Academies), is an innovative education partner helping young adults overcome real-life challenges to earn their high school diploma tuition-free through partnerships with state or local school districts across the country. Our technology platform (Incite®) enables data-driven teaching and learning. These offerings are both rooted in our belief that every student deserves access to the best instruction, tools and resources possible.

Position Title: Academy Director

Reports to: Regional Vice President

Location: Santa Rosa Acceleration Academy

Employment Type: Full-time

Compensation: $90,000 - $110,000

Benefits: 401(k) with up to 4% company match; Flexible Paid Time Off; Medical, Dental, Vision, FSA, Life, Disability, Hospital Indemnity, Critical Illness, & Accident insurance coverages available; Employer-paid financial wellness program; Employee referral incentives; Certification reimbursement program; Bonus opportunities

Job Description

The Academy Director serves as the leader of their designated academy and maintains primary local responsibility for carrying out the organization’s mission, including (1) establishing expectations, providing support and managing accountability for all site-based instructional and non-instructional staff, (2) ensuring equity in programming for the academies’ diverse learners, (3) establishing connections within the broader community to expand services for Graduation Candidates (GCs),(4) managing all program operations to ensure fiscal sustainability and legal compliance, and (5) leveraging available resources to increase enrollment and improve Graduation Candidates' outcomes, ensuring overall program success.

Job Requirements

Education: Master’s Degree preferred (Bachelor’s required), in Education or a closely related field.

Years of Experience: 7+ years of relevant experience

Years of Managerial / Supervisory Experience: 3+ years of direct supervisory experience

Background Check: Demonstration of a clear state and federal criminal history

Highly Preferred Qualification

Certification: Educational Leadership endorsement in the state of Florida

Experience leading teams that serve students with significant social-emotional needs

Core Competencies

The following core competencies define what the organization requires of its employees to succeed and how we expect overall goals to be accomplished each and every day.

Communication & Interpersonal Skills

Collaboration & Teamwork

Caring & Inclusiveness

Flexibility & Adaptability

Honesty, Integrity & Reliability

Results-Orientation

Role-Specific Competencies

These competencies are specific to an Academy Leadership position.

Performance Evaluation & Coaching

Information Management & Data Analysis

Strategic Analysis & Problem Solving

Leadership & People Management

Commitment & Motivation

Job Responsibilities

Enrollment

Lead new student enrollment through recruitment and engagement efforts

Lead the implementation of Student Orientation

Lead Friday Fidelity Forum Meetings focused on data review and collaboration

Support the Career Life Coach in the development of students’ individual learning pathways and individual support plans to gauge individual student progress

Retention

Train and lead staff in the use of the Retention Cycle Protocol

Create and maintain a positive school culture and lead the instructional and/or operational vision of the Acceleration Academy program

Advocate and support site-level incentive programs

Use technology and Learning Management Systems to track student progress, assign interventions, and support course completion as determined in individual student learning pathways

Academics

Complete all required data formulation for all AA reports, including local, state, and federal compliance of all ESE and ELL programs

Lead the staff in the collection and analysis of data for instructional decision-making

Lead the staff in the documentation and tracking of student progress, the assignment of academic interventions to support on-time course completions as determined by the Personalized Learning Plans for students

Maintain all required documentation for graduation including course completion, GPA, and standardized testing requirements

Ensure compliance for all ESE and ESOL individualized learning plans

Implement weekly workshops that focus on non-academic topics

Advocacy

Lead and manage staff, keeping them strongly connected to the mission of Acceleration Academies

Act as the primary point of contact between the Academy and the District as well as the Academy and community organizations

Oversee positive relationship building and collaboration among staff, students, and their families

Facilitate communications with community organizations to support the removal of non-academic barriers for students (health, social services, mental health, law enforcement)

Create schedules for employees to ensure adequate and effective staffing at all sites

Provide ongoing feedback and support in the growth and development of all staff members connected to goals and milestones

Perform other related duties as assigned

Additional Qualifications

Proficient understanding of ESE (Exceptional Student Education), ELL (English Language Learner), and behavior intervention practices

Experience working in a non-traditional school setting and/or with youth who may be considered at-risk

Demonstrates a commitment and passion for supporting high school-aged youth, who have disengaged from a traditional school setting, by creating opportunities for academic and personal breakthroughs

Experience reviewing transcripts and general understanding of graduation requirements

Experience providing supports, interventions, and counseling services with high school-aged youth

Demonstrates a strong understanding of and comfort with the use of technology in an educational setting.

Experience with any of the following: project-based learning, instructional coaching, portfolio assessment, a competency-based education model, cooperative learning, integration of technology and cross-disciplinary learning, alternative assessments and integrating school-to-career experiences into the curriculum

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to use hands to touch, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

Work Environment and Work Demands

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally be exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is consistent with that of a collaborative school environment.

Acceleration Academies is an Equal Opportunity Employer

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed and are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. It is understood that other related duties may be assigned. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform all aspects of the position, described above satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities toperform the essential functions.