IDEA Public Schools Careers

Chief Academic Officer

Role Mission:

As the Chief Academic Officer (CAO) at IDEA Public Schools, you will be at the forefront of shaping and executing the academic vision and model for one of the nation's leading charter school networks. Reporting directly to the Deputy Superintendent, you will oversee all aspects of curriculum development, instructional strategies, assessment practices, and professional development initiatives to ensure academic excellence across all IDEA campuses. Additionally, you will provide leadership, coaching, and guidance for special education, Section 504, bilingual programs, ESL programs, Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), and Camp Rio, an outdoor education program. 

Location:  This position may work in any of our IDEA Public Schools Texas regions which include Austin, San Antonio, Rio Grande Valley, Houston, Tarrant County, El Paso, and Permian Basin.

Travel Expectations:

• Up to 40% of the time during the busiest parts of the year

Supervisory Responsibilities:  will include the VP of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessments, VP of Instructional Strategy, VP of Program Innovation, VP of Special Programs, and a Chief of Staff

What You’ll Do – Accountabilities:

Essential duties:

Academic Leadership:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive academic strategy aligned with the mission and values of IDEA Public Schools.
• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of standards-based curriculum and instructional programs.
• Collaborate with and seek input from instructional leaders, teachers, and other stakeholders at the national and regional level to establish academic goals and benchmarks for student achievement, and curriculum quality.

Curriculum Development and Alignment:

• Oversee the development, evaluation, and alignment of curricular materials, ensuring they meet rigorous academic standards and support diverse student needs.
• Stay abreast of educational trends, research, and best practices to inform curriculum decisions and instructional approaches.
• Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement in curriculum design and delivery.

Instructional Support and Coaching:

• Oversee the professional development opportunities to instructional staff to enhance their effectiveness in the classroom.
• Implement data-driven strategies to monitor and support teacher performance, including observations, feedback, and coaching.
• Champion a culture of collaboration and professional learning communities to share best practices and drive instructional excellence.

Assessment and Data Analysis:

• Oversee the development and administration of formative and summative assessments to measure student progress and inform instructional decision-making.
• Analyze assessment data to identify trends, areas for improvement, and opportunities to personalize learning for students.
• Utilize data to track school and district-wide academic performance and make data-informed recommendations for improvement.

Special Education and Student Support Services:

• Provide leadership and oversight for special education programs, ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations and meeting the needs of students with disabilities.
• Oversee the collaboration with special education coordinators, teachers, and support staff to develop and implement individualized education plans (IEPs) and provide appropriate accommodations and programming.
• Oversee Section 504 accommodations and support services for students with disabilities who do not qualify for special education services.
• Ensure compliance with state and federal requirements of both special education and Section 504 

Bilingual and ESL Programs:

• Oversee the leadership and support for bilingual and English as a Second Language (ESL) programs, ensuring English language learners (ELLs) receive high-quality instruction and support.
• Oversee and coach the collaborate with bilingual and ESL teachers to develop language acquisition strategies and culturally responsive instructional practices.
• Ensure compliance with state and federal requirements for bilingual and ESL programming.

Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS):

• Oversee the implementation of MTSS frameworks to provide targeted interventions and support for students at risk of academic or behavioral challenges.
• Collaborate with state and school-based MTSS teams to identify students' needs, develop intervention plans, and monitor progress over time.
• Oversee the professional development and resources to support MTSS implementation at all levels of the organization.

Camp Rio Outdoor Education Program:

• Monitor program effectiveness and make adjustments as needed to meet the needs and interests of students.
• Ensure Camp Rio has a clear financial pathway to self-sustainability annually

What You Bring – Competencies:

Knowledge of:    

• Effective instructional practices that lead to high student achievement, including curriculum planning, programmatic implementation, instructional supervision, coaching, and professional development  
• Effective instructional practices for exceptional students participating in Special Programs, such as Special Education, Bilingual and ESL Programs, and Section 504
• Organizational strategic planning and monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs)  
• Essential components of organizational health that foster a diverse, engaging, equitable, and inclusive culture  

Skill in:    

• Building and maintaining strong relationships across stakeholders, both internal and external, and fostering cross-functional collaboration   
• Organization, prioritization, follow through, and attention to detail to ensure effective use of time and earn a reputation for delivering on promises  
• Analytical, critical, and conceptual thinking that uses data to drive decision-making and achieve results  
• Effective communication, both verbally and in writing, including ability to engage an audience, invest others in a vision, and inspire confidence along with empathetic listening  

Ability to:    

• Lead other leaders by establishing a vision of excellence with high expectations and performance management systems to ensure effective execution and implementation that leads to achieving ambitious goals and delivering results  
• Lead complex organizational change management that invests key stakeholders across diverse regions and perspectives to ensure strong commitment and consistent outcomes   
• Effectively manage talent including recruitment, hiring, onboarding, along with the coaching, development, conflict resolution, and holding staff accountable to ensure high performance and strong retention  
• Strategically solve problems with sound judgement and effective decision-making in ways that build commitment, if not consensus  
• Self-reflect, along with providing, receiving, and implementing feedback that improves performance and achieves results  

Experience:

• Master’s degree in Education, Curriculum and Instruction, Special Education, or related field is preferred

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in K-12 education, with a proven track record of academic leadership and achievement.
• Commitment to the mission and values of IDEA Public Schools and the belief that all students can succeed.

What We Offer:

Compensation & Benefits:

Salary for this role is commensurate with relevant experience and qualifications and in alignment with internal equity. This role is also eligible for performance pay based on organizational performance and goal attainment.

Additionally, we offer medical, dental, and vision plans, disability, life insurance, parenting benefits, flexible spending account options, generous vacation time, referral bonuses, professional development, and a 403(b) plan. You can find more information about our benefits at https://ideapublicschools.org/careers/benefits/.

* IDEA may offer a relocation stipend to defray the cost of moving for this role, if applicable.

Application process:

Submit your application online through Jobvite. Please note that applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, however the final deadline for submitting applications is May 9th. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Learn more about IDEA

At IDEA the Staff Culture and Belonging Team uses our Core Values to promote human connection and a culture of integrity, respect, and belonging for all Team and Family members.  Learn more about our Commitment to Core Values here: https://ideapublicschools.org/our-story/#core-values