This position is posted until filled.

Coastal Empire Montessori Community Organization

Director of Academics

Under the direct supervision of and in collaboration with the Executive Director, the Director of Academics is a school staff member who is responsible for creating and maintaining a high-quality Montessori / standards-aligned educational environment that is rigorous, consistent, reflects the organization’s vision and mission, the charter promise of the school, and meets state performance standards. 

Essential Duties

Curriculum, Instruction Assessment, and Instructional Environment

• Develops and implements an annual instructional plan that includes effective delivery of the Georgia state standards implemented through a high-quality program following Montessori philosophy and practices;
• Develops, updates and monitors a Montessori curriculum aligned to state standards;
  • Provides teachers with usable curriculum documents and materials to support implementation of the curriculum;
• Institutes, manages, and monitors the school-wide use of a Georgia standards and Montessori mastery tracking and record-keeping system;
• Implements, manages and monitors a school-wide assessment system and reporting calendar;
• Monitors and manages the implementation and success of the school’s supplemental instructional programs, such as Specialized Instruction, Multi-Tiered System of Supports, Gifted Education, Title I Part A, English Language Learners, Specials, tutorials, and extra-curriculars;
• Serves in the role of School Testing Coordinator for state-mandated testing and delegates related duties to a Back-up School Testing Coordinator;
• Serves in the role of English Language Learner (ELL) Liaison;
• Produces a hard-copy and/or electronic Montessori training and resources library;
• Selects texts for and manages the school’s library systems;
• Oversees the selection and procurement of instructional texts, materials, and resources in collaboration with the Executive Director and Academic Excellence Committee; and
• Ensures effective implementation of the school’s Positive Behavior Interventions System, ensuring that school rules are uniformly observed and that student discipline is appropriate and equitable in accordance with the school’s discipline framework and CEMCO Family Handbook.

Montessori Teaching Community

• Develops the professional development plan annually and facilitates training, development, mentoring and coaching of all instructional staff;
  • Provides guidance to and coaches the teaching staff on classroom instruction, management, observation, and assessment;
• Formatively and summatively evaluates and conducts performance management of all instructional personnel utilizing school-wide expectations, the Teacher Keys Effectiveness System (TKES) and CEMCS evaluation tools;
  • Provides timely and productive feedback and support;
• Holds regular meetings with classroom teaching teams and/or individual instructional staff as appropriate using the National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector (NCMPS) Coaching model;
• Fosters the growth of professional learning communities within and across age levels and establishes and monitors systematic processes for collaborative planning, goal setting, reflection, and data analysis;
• Serves as School Induction Coordinator in order to create and implement an induction program for new staff members and oversees mentors and coaches assigned to instructional staff;
• Fosters an inclusive work environment and trains employees to be aware of and sensitive to issues related to diversity, inclusion and bias;
  • Guides them on how to create inclusive classrooms and work environments; and
• Assists in the hiring process; participates in the development and maintenance of talent management and succession planning systems.

Montessori Family Community

• Plans and executes new parent and new student orientations annually;
• Prepares and executes family education opportunities aligned with the Montessori Curriculum in conjunction with the school-wide calendar, including annually producing and ensuring the fulfillment of a Family Education Calendar;
• Educates and supports families to enhance their understanding of Montessori and help extend Montessori education into the family environment;
• Facilitates activities for volunteers that enhance Montessori programming;
• Plans and executes open houses and private/small-group tours for prospective families;
• Effectively communicates with key stakeholders information related to the academic program; and
• Is a member of and participates in the school’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA) in order to connect with the school’s family community.

Administrative Duties

• Conducts conferences regarding school issues with parents, students, teachers and staff;
• Serves on the Board Academic Excellence Committee in order to report curriculum, instruction and assessment updates and make recommendations about instruction and curriculum improvements based on data, research, evidence-based practices, and observation;
• Serves on the Board Finance and Facilities Committee to ensure that financial and operational decision-making includes a strong consideration of the Montessori philosophy, method, and perspective;
• Secures and maintains conflict resolution and passive restraint certification through the local district’s Mindset training program;
• Makes budgetary and operational recommendations to the Executive Director;
• Guides the planning and execution of Montessori events as a member of the Special Events Committee;
• Participates on the school’s Emergency Operations Team;
• Fulfills other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

Qualifications

• Certification from an accredited Montessori training facility or willingness to begin training within 1 year;
• Education Specialist Degree (Ed.S.) preferred, or comparable degree in Educational Leadership, Curriculum and Instruction, or related;
• A minimum of five years of leadership experience with demonstrable evidence of academic achievement;
• Experience with professional development, training and/or coaching; and
• Preferred: experience in the charter school sector.

Other Requirements

• Maintains confidentiality of information regarding students, staff, parents, and school issues;
• Performs responsibilities in an ethical and professional manner;
• Ability to think critically, problem solve independently, and productively manage conflicts;
• Ability to multi-task and manage competing demands;
• Communicates effectively both orally and in writing;
• Establishes and maintains cooperative and effective working relationships with others;
• Possesses valid driver's license and insurance; and
• Successful completion of fingerprinting and comprehensive background checks for criminal history, sex offender registry, and any relevant professional licensing or certification verification.

Work Schedule and Compensation

• 40+ hours per week, full-time (1.0) position;
• Exempt, salaried employee;
• Evenings and weekends occasionally required;
• Full benefits package, including health insurance, dental and vision coverage, retirement plan, life insurance, and other optional benefit programs;
• 219-day work calendar; and
• Salary commensurate with experience.