Freedom Preparatory Academy

Regional Director of Academic Acceleration

ABOUT US

Freedom Prep Academy Charter Schools, a Memphis-based network, prepare all students in grades Pre-K through 12 to excel in college and in life. Freedom Preparatory Academy opened in August of 2009 with a class of 96 6th graders. We now serve over 2400 students in grades PreK-12. Our students have exceeded local and state averages in math and local averages in English language arts on the state exam.

We have three core beliefs that drive our mission: Every child deserves the right to a high-quality public education, a foundation in character development is essential, and direct exposure to an array of opportunities and experiences provides each child with the self-confidence and social knowledge to compete globally. We will accomplish our mission through a highly structured, academically rigorous environment where students will master the core subjects, develop advanced academic skills, and demonstrate the school’s core values of: Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Excellence, and Community.

Respect– Shows respect to all members of our school community through words and actions

Responsibility – Takes ownership of work flow and products, is proactive / solutions-oriented

Integrity – Is trustworthy and reliable and a person of their word. follows through every time

Community – Demonstrates a consistent and positive commitment to our school’s success

Excellence – Shows excellence in all work habits, sweats the details, continuously grows

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Regional Director of Academic Acceleration program enhances student learning by reinforcing academic concepts and skills that students first learn during core instruction. This program fosters critical thinkers, confident communicators, and engaged citizens who question, reflect, self-assess, visualize, respond positively to feedback, persevere, and internalize goal setting as a tool for continuous self-improvement.

The Regional Director of Academic Acceleration is charged with oversight of highly personalized academic strategies being implemented during the regular school day. This allows for the individualized, foundational and supplemental instruction in a safe space, where students are encouraged to engage with one another and explain their thinking. This position is charged with building a strong network of support to focus on the individual needs of their students, helping to accelerate student achievement and close any skill gaps that may exist.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Monitors the quality, and impact of high dosage tutoring and acceleration programming across a portfolio of schools
• Analyzes portfolio data on a cycle, action plans, and communicates with the appropriate individuals using data to drive decisions and actions at the campus and regional level
• Spends 75% of their time observing acceleration and tutoring classrooms and provides clear, actionable feedback and support to the school-based leaders and tutors and/or tutoring partners
• Observes and/or facilitates content team meetings, as requested & provides feedback that leads to improvement of the content team meetings.
• Creates a portfolio and school-specific plans to increase the number of students who are at- or above-grade-level, including exceptional cohorts, students with dyslexia, and English language learners
• Partners with state and regional teams to build and drive a regional academic strategy that ensures ALL students meet their achievement goals in a learning environment that is joyful, equitable, and academically excellent
• Communicates and invest shareholders in the vision and strategy across a portfolio of schools to ensure that all instructional staff, students, families, and other stakeholders know and understand the vision for excellent instruction and acceleration
• Collaborates with and support regional teams with executing on Academic recovery acceleration strategy
• Ensures all tutors and tutoring partners are oriented to the Freedom Preparatory Academy Charter Schools approach to academic recovery
• Provides resources and/or training on scientifically based strategies to schools for the purpose of identifying exceptional students and for intervention in their academic progress
• Researches a variety of information (i.e., current practices, instructional materials, methods, curriculum guidelines, etc.) for the purpose of building school-based capacity in alignment to achievement outcomes
• Participates in meetings, workshops and seminars for the purpose of conveying and/or gathering information required to perform functions
• Performs other related duties, as assigned, for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of the work unit

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree preferred; Master's Preferred
• Experience as a school-based or systems-level leader with a proven track record of student achievement results
• Seven years of progressively responsible experience in education with three years of teaching experience included
• Must have experience in implementing highly effective systems of acceleration in a school or across a system of schools
• Preference will be given to candidates with experience leading school turnaround work
• Experience in resource allocation for education programs, human resources, physical/equipment resources, working with teachers, curriculum specialists, principals on instructional/curricular issues, program evaluations, integration of literacy, and implementation of standards-based curriculum.
• Exhibit a commitment to equity through modeling of equitable practices, and being a conscious disruptor of inequitable practices both at the school and organizational levels;
• Identifies effective practices in the first teach and in acceleration classrooms via instructional expertise, and understands pedagogy that results in improved student learning outcomes;
• Uses multiple data sources to differentiate the types of instructional supports and interventions needed for individual students, specific student groups, schools, and across a targeted group of schools
• Sets challenging and achievement-oriented goals, demonstrating persistence and overcoming obstacles to achieve goals without confusing effort for results;
• Demonstrates ability to deal with sensitive and difficult situations and information; in interpersonal problem-solving, decision-making, and leadership skills; to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, and to manage and work with a team to accomplish mission and goals. Ability to maintain confidentiality with sensitive information.
• Expert-level knowledge of curriculum as it relates to content, courses, standards alignment, and assessments
• Strong ability to coach others towards improvement regardless of reporting relationship
• Well-developed communication and problem-solving skills
• Experience in developing and leading professional development
• Experience in analyzing data and using results to increase student mastery
• Advances equity and academic excellence for all students to include students with disabilities
• Knows effective instruction, strategic planning, and developing a professional community of learners
• Strong knowledge of pedagogical practices to ensure high levels of engagement and academic mastery for students with low academic performance
• Knowledge of school turn-around, leadership development as well as instructional/curriculum theory and practice
• Ability to direct and supervise employees, projects, and outcomes
• Excellent computer skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to develop productive working relationships with diverse individuals and groups
• Demonstrated commitment to the educational mission, vision, and goals of Freedom Prep

REPORTS TO Chief Academic Officer

PTO POLICY Support Based Administrative

HOW TO APPLY: We are excited to review your application! Please visit our Join Our Team page to learn more and apply directly at our Apply Now link on the same page. Upon creating your profile, please submit your resume, references, screening reflections, and related credentials. It should take less than 30 minutes to upload your application.