Metro

Desired Qualities and Qualifications

We seek an experienced administrator who possesses the leadership and interpersonal skills to preserve an inclusive culture while facilitating the tiered system of support that makes our Academy a leader. Strong candidates will understand the particular needs of neurodiverse students, parents, teachers, and staff within the context of a K-12 institution.

The Academy is most interested in candidates who possess the following qualities and qualifications:

• Minnesota school administrator’s license (principal or special education director).

• Private school leadership with experience in accreditation preferred.

• Deep immersion in progressive pedagogy and practice.

• Driven by student data to improve instruction and student outcomes.

• Love of children and commitment to our school model of blended learning, small group rotations, and targeted behavior skills that honors children’s passions and sense of discovery.

• A person of integrity, who values what it means to be a transformational leader.

• Willingness to honor school culture and history while gently guiding the school into the future.

• Ability to skillfully facilitate difficult conversations and hold boundaries with compassion.

• Well-developed financial acumen.

• Track record of building collaborative approaches to ongoing program assessment and refinement.

Minimum Requirements, Credentials, and Experience

• Master’s degree in education (curriculum and instruction, educational leadership, or school administration) from an accredited institution.

• Minimum five (5) years experience in education leadership. Five (5) years experience as a special education teacher preferred.

• Successfully pass a criminal background check.

• Completed COVID-19 vaccination series or willingness to obtain within 10 days of hire.

Responsibilities – Essential Job Functions

Executive Director/Board of Trustees

• Advise, inform, and provide data to the Executive Director and Board of Trustees regarding the needs and operations of the school as appropriate to ensure the Board can meet its fiduciary responsibilities.

• Serve as the primary communicator between the Executive Director and the other staff and faculty.

• Implement the policies, procedures, and guidelines approved by the Board of Trustees.

• Advise and participate in the preparation of short and long-term strategic plans.

• Relay staff input regarding goals and strategies.

• Attend all Board meetings and other meetings as required.

Organization

• Work for the good of the organization, keeping the mission at the forefront at all times.

• Honor and demonstrate the organization’s values.

• Perform any and all other duties related to the day-to-day operation of the organization and school.

• Collaborate and problem solve inter-and intra-departmentally as needed.

• Attend, participate and work jointly together in weekly Division Head meetings.

Fiscal Management and Fundraising

• Responsible for the school’s and the school’s ancillary departments’ financial health including, but not limited to: enrollment, income, expenses, accounts receivable, and cash flow projections.

• Prepare a complete annual budget for submission to the Director of Finance.

• Oversee the budget and all financial issues and ensure that the school and the school’s ancillary departments operate profitably and efficiently.

• Assist the Director of Strategic Advancement and fund development staff with fund development activities and volunteers as needed.

• Ensure revenue-generating programs meet fiscal targets.

Education and Curriculum Development

• Understand, support, and implement accreditation standards, including re-accreditation every 7 years.

• Support, enhance and implement AOWL’s instructional model of teaching and integrating behavioral regulation before education.

• Remain abreast of trends and research in education, particularly those affecting neurodiverse learning in social, behavioral, life skills, and academics; independent school operation and educational leadership.

• Provide leadership to the process of curriculum development. Provide assistance and support to the teaching staff in developing curriculum and classroom operations that reflect the Academy of Whole Learning’s mission and vision for student life.

• Oversee the evaluation of student progress and systems for communicating with parents.

• Work with faculty to develop and implement procedures for tracking student status and progress and for intervening early when concerns are identified.

• Meet with faculty regularly to discuss student progress and facilitate contact and follow-up with families as needed.

• Work with staff to identify curriculum needs in terms of teaching materials and program support.

• Approve and administer rules and procedures governing the student body.

Personnel

• Define the teaching and non-teaching professional positions needed to implement the school’s mission and programs. Recruit effective teachers and staff to fill them.

• Assist the Board of Trustees in determining appropriate compensation ranges for all staff.

• Establish productive working conditions, discipline, training, and development for all professional staff.

• Determine standards for and take steps to measure and maintain performance standards and professional growth for immediate subordinates. Determine all hiring and dismissal decisions within the school.

• Monitor and provide regular feedback to staff regarding their interactions with parents, volunteers, the community, staff members, and other stakeholders.

• Ensure staff attendance at all required in-services and meetings.

• Maintain strong staff relations through collaborative leadership, delegating responsibilities as appropriate.

• Communicate effectively and in a timely manner to staff and the parent community.

• Ensure school meets and maintains state guidelines for educational and/or health and safety standards. Responsible for the safety and well-being of students during the school day.

Professionalism

• Develop and maintain productive, positive working relationships with students, families, staff, and volunteers.

• Perform all functions professionally, treating all students and families, staff, and volunteers with respect.

• Maintain a level of flexibility with all staff, offering assistance to others as appropriate.

• Maintain a good attendance record; be prompt and punctual to the worksite. • Perform all duties in accordance with the AOWL Employee Handbook.

• Perform all tasks and responsibilities as assigned and according to due dates.

• Make high quality, finely-tuned and timely decisions, seeking input from others when necessary

Salary and Benefits

• $80,000—110,000 depending on qualifications and experience

• 12 days of PTO

• 1 week paid during winter break

• 10 paid holidays

• 75% of health insurance premium for employee, 50% of health insurance premium for immediate family members

• $10/mo towards dental insurance

• Short-term Disability

• Life Insurance

• 3% employer match on retirement funds

• $500 annual contribution into your HSA if the high-deductible plan is selected

• Creative work environment

• Positive and collaborative work culture with highly qualified and extremely fun colleagues.

To Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should submit electronically in one email and as separate documents (preferably PDFs) the following materials:

• A cover letter expressing interest in this particular position;

• A current résumé;

• A list of five professional references with the name, phone number, and email address of each (references will not be contacted without the candidate’s permission) to:

Wyayn Rasmussen, Ed.D.

Executive Director

[email protected]