School Leader - Michigan Connections Academy

Position Summary and Responsibilities  

Michigan Connections Academy seeks a dynamic, visionary leader and change agent to serve as its next school leader.  

This position ensures all students receive a personalized learning plan by implementing an online instructional program with fidelity. The School Leader is responsible for establishing an organizational culture: putting the interests of students and families first; recruiting, retaining and developing faculty and staff; building and growing relationships with key external stakeholders including regulators; and implementing the vision where every child receives a personalized and customized education, and academic achievement is at the forefront.  

Working from our office or your home office in Michigan, the School Leader will report to the Director of School Operations and will manage staff as they consult regularly with Learning Coaches and students, ensuring that each child successfully completes his/her instructional program. The School Leader is responsible for overseeing overall school operations working with parents, students, support staff, and certified teachers. The School Leader will spend the majority of their time working with internal and external stakeholders on matters of academic outcomes, reporting, and supervision. This individual will work closely with key centralized service partners including School Support, Enrollment, Technical Support, Materials Management, Fulfillment, Finance, Human Resources, Payroll and Facilities Management, etc. It is also anticipated that this individual will manage a range of special projects and duties. 

The School Leader must lead by example regarding continuing education and professional development. To lead effectively in these areas, the School Leader must:

• participate successfully in the training programs offered; 

• review current trends, developments, and research as they pertain to education and school operations; and 

• be familiar with school law and Michigan State Statutes 

School-wide, the School Leader will be responsible for overseeing various key projects. Examples include: 

1. Develop, lead, implement, monitor, and collaborate with other educators in school-wide (K-12) integration of MTSS/RTI. 
2. Strengthen, monitor, and adjust K-12 Family Engagement Initiatives as measured regularly through data. 
3. Develop and maintain community partnerships throughout the state of Michigan to support student and family needs.  

Other key responsibilities include the following:  

• Collaborate in partnership with Pearson Virtual Schools (PVS) to implement strategic initiatives that align with best practices in virtual learning and Connections Academy schools; 

• Manage the implementation of the proven Connections Academy curriculum and school operation protocols; 

• Exhibit high quality communication with all staff, students and families and ensure that teachers exhibit and maintain a high level of professionalism, instructional support and customer service; 

• Ensure the academic success of individual students by utilizing all levels of academic support available and by maintaining a high level of communication with parents to deliver program information and address individual student needs; 

• Manage relationships with the Michigan Department of Education, stay current on the state’s policies, procedures and legislation, including specific count day and audit procedures, etc., and accurately submit all required reports and paperwork in a timely manner; 

• Work with school staff as well as other stakeholders to create, implement, manage, and monitor the School Improvement Plan and in meeting all MICIP requirements; 

• Work with PVS to coordinate marketing, enrollment, curriculum, human resource, and training resources; 

• Work with Principals regularly as a Community of Practice to complete data analysis and documentation and use data regularly to assess the progress towards meeting department and school-wide goals and in monitoring continuous school improvement using MICIP;  

• Set up clear systems and structures to identify and provide additional support to at risk students based on student academic data that are below proficiency level; 

• Seek out professional learning opportunities and collaborate with special education administrators and other support staff to become familiar with different types of disabilities and effective instructional practices that will help ensure student success and build understanding at the department level that each student’s unique needs, regardless of their disability category must be addressed;  

• Coach school teams to hold conversations with each other that incorporate the use of student learning performance as a driver for instruction; 

• Work directly with Truancy Officers to monitor and evaluate the behavioral intervention framework and the truancy intervention framework and collaborate with stakeholders for the purpose of serving as a liaison and resource for development of dropout prevention, intervention and recovery support opportunities for students; 

• Educate parents, students, and staff regarding compulsory attendance and truancy laws; 

• Work collaboratively with the administrative team in implementing, monitoring, and supervising the Connections Academy School Year Cycle; 

• Recruit, supervise and evaluate all school staff as required by the state; 

• Responsible for establishing, monitoring, and implementing the school’s budget; including working closely with the Director of School Operations and other stakeholders on staffing, budgeting, grants, and contracts in accordance with Michigan laws and regulations, as well as federal laws and regulations;  

• Support school administration in managing the school’s budget and various grants; 

• Handle any student problems escalated by parents and teachers and maintain all Handbook Policies and state requirements in handling these matters; 

• Respond to all Learning Coach/Caretaker inquiries within 24 hours, including responses in Webmail, email, telephone, and message board postings, as appropriate and document all interactions in user logs; 

• Oversee the implementation and coordination of state standardized testing process, and ensure a minimum of 95% participation rates; 

• Implement with fidelity the universal design for learning framework along with multi-tiered systems of support that encompass 1) school-wide positive behavior interventions and supports and 2) response to instruction and intervention; 

• Oversee the management of, contracting and/or delivery of Special Education services to ensure that the school is in compliance with state and federal laws; Attend and participate in Special Education and Section 504 Meetings as required;  

• Work closely with appropriate Legal Counsel as needed;  

• Work closely with PVS staff to implement the core operational model;  

• Work with administrative team to implement any program changes processes and procedures, and/or new software application introductions;  

• Act as the “face of the school” at school events and with the Department of Education, this could include testimony;  

• Help coordinate stakeholders to provide testimony or statements on legislative matters; 

• Build a high performing leadership team to oversee staff and school;  

• Continue to grow professionally through collaboration with colleagues and professional growth experiences; 

• Maintain a high level of personal integrity and strong work ethic; 

• Comply with local, state and federal rules and regulations;  

• Participate in student recruitment efforts including in-state trips, presentations, Q & A and Info sessions and responding to the press; 

• Support a robust “school community” through a program of in person field trips around the state and virtual activities;  

• Be available to handle emergencies; and 

• All other duties as assigned.  

Requirements

• Michigan Residency  

• Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from a regionally accredited college/university required 

• Valid Michigan Administrator Certification  

• Valid Michigan Teaching Certification with three years minimum of successful teaching experience. Virtual teaching experience preferred.  

• Three years of administrative or management experience required, charter school management a plus  

• Strong leadership qualities and a commitment to goal-directed management and accountability  

• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written  

• Knowledge of Professional Learning Communities 

• Customer-focused approach  

• Flexible, ability to transition from task to task quickly  

• Demonstrated ability to work well in fast-paced environment  

• Team player  

• Technologically proficient (especially with Microsoft Office products and Google Suite)  

• Travel and attendance at in-person events, including State Testing is required throughout the school year, as determined by the school. This may require overnight travel. 
• Ability to work some occasional evening hours, as needed to support families.