Job Description

School:

Job Title: Head of School

Category: Full-time

Classification: Administrator/School Leadership

Work Year: 2010-11

The Denver Venture School announces an exciting opportunity for an exceptional educator to lead an early stage charter high school through its next phase of development. 

Opened in August 2008, and located in central Denver, DVS currently serves 9th and 10th graders and will be adding an 11th grade in 2010.  The school offers students a rigorous college preparatory education with a special emphasis on business and  ntrepreneurship.  Many of our students come to us significantly below grade level, and we aspire to have all our students graduate at grade level proficiency and be prepared for four-year colleges.  Through our unique entrepreneurial curriculum, all students also have the opportunity to create and operate their own small businesses as part of their coursework.

DVS has formed a partnership with Expeditionary Learning, and uses this model of instruction to both push for high academic achievement and to teach character development for all students within a diverse population. Expeditionary Learning is a whole school design that emphasizes active and engaging instructional practices that promote equity and high expectations and rigorous in-depth curricula. Practices that build school culture and foster character and structures that provide time for student and adult learning and for knowing students well are also central to the design.

This developing high school has received support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Walton Foundation, the Piton Foundation, the Rose Community Foundation, the Daniels Fund, and numerous other leading philanthropic organizations. A dedicated Board of Directors has been in place for four years and continues to diligently support the school.

Job Responsibilities:

Organizational Leadership and Community Outreach (50%)
Organizational Leadership
-Supervise the Chief Operating Officer and oversee the fiscal management of the school.  
-Align the uses of time, money, and materials to the school’s instructional priorities.
-Supervise the Director of Development and ensure sufficient resources for the school by leading and supporting significant fundraising efforts.
-Enthusiastically and aggressively seek resources for the school.
-Oversee all personnel matters.
-Oversee facility management with the support of the Chief Operating Officer.

Community Outreach
-Serve as the primary point of contact with the Board of Directors and the Advisory Board.
-Lead student recruitment efforts and ensure full enrollment each year.
-Cultivate strong partnerships with community organizations and regional and national partners.
-Cultivate strong partnership with the business community.
-Foster a cooperative relationship with Denver Public Schools.

Instructional Leadership (50%)
Educational Design, Development and Leadership
-Assume responsibility for fully implementing the Expeditionary Learning design in a high performing new small high school.
-Successfully integrate a unique business curriculum with the core academic program of the school. Foster explicit connections between entrepreneurship and academic success.
-Deliver the academic preparation and requisite support for all students to be college ready. 
-Effectively use student achievement data to continually refine and improve the academic program.

Staff Selection and Retention
-Recruit, retain and lead a highly skilled professional staff.  
-Create a professional community that focuses on curriculum and instruction as the primary vehicles for improving student achievement and school culture. Motivate teachers to continue to develop their content knowledge and instructional repertoire, and provide the appropriate resources.
-Work closely with the school designer and instructional guide to plan professional development and maximize the benefit of off-site professional development opportunities.
-Model a commitment to on-going professional development by participating fully in Expeditionary Learning’s on-site work and off-site conferences, institutes, summits, regional programming and Outward Bound courses.
-Model effective instructional practices in staff meetings professional development sessions, and team meetings.

Cultural Leadership
-Intentionally build a school culture that evidences high expectations for integrity, accountability and academic drive for both students and adults.    
-Ensure a safe, supportive and productive environment for students, staff, and families.  Create discipline policies and standards for implementing those policies.  Support faculty in enforcing discipline.
-Effectively and regularly communicate with students, staff and families.
-Demonstrate cultural competencies in managing a multi-cultural institution. 
-Support the Crew (advisory system) and lead a crew.

Qualifications
Education
-Masters degree in education.
-Possession of or ability to obtain administrative license desired but not required.
-Strong knowledge of Expeditionary Learning or similar school reform model. 
-Evidence of training and practitioner experience in project-based learning and reading and writing across the curriculum.
-Training in or knowledge of basic business education.

Experience
-Minimum of three years teaching experience or other in-school experience.
-Proven success with raising academic achievement with a diverse student population.
-Proven experience as an instructional leader.
-School start-up or re-structuring experience highly desirable.
-Experience managing schedules and budget to reflect a school vision. 
-Experience supervising and evaluating staff.

Personal Qualities
 -Visionary leadership.
 -Passion for innovative education.
 -Relentless drive for high levels of student achievement.
 -Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
 -Ability to form productive relationships with a highly diverse group of students, families, and staff.
-Willingness to be held accountable for school performance.

Denver Venture School will offer a competitive salary and benefits.

Interested candidates should send a letter of interest, resume, and statement of educational philosophy to:

Marcy Heronimus
Chair of the Board
Denver Venture School
mheronimus@shermanhoward.com

The position will be open until filled, however preference will be given to candidates who submit their application materials prior to March 26, 2010

Date Posted: 2010-03-03

Closing Date: 2010-04-30

Start Date: 2010-03-03