Job Title: Executive Director of School Leadership
Wage/Hour Status: Exempt
Reports to: Deputy Chief of Core Content & School Leadership
Dept./School: Academics and School Leadership
Initiated Date: June 2026
QUALIFICATIONS Education/Certification: - Master's degree required; preferred in Education, Educational Leadership or related field
- Valid or eligible to receive Texas Principal Certification, MId-Management Certification or Superintendent's Certificate
- Currently or eligible to become T-TESS and T-PESS certified preferred
Experience: - Minimum of three year's teaching experience
- Experience as a Principal required
- Experience as a district-level leader preferred
Special Knowledge and Skills - Proven success in leading a school or district community toward continuous improvement in academic goals with a relentless pursuit of academic excellence for all students
- Proven experience in educational leadership with a focus on school administration and instructional leadership development
- Deep knowledge of curriculum and instruction as well as evidence-based practices in multiple content areas
- Demonstrated experience with coaching and developing other leaders and developing and leading professional learning systems
- Experience in effectively deploying leadership programs and initiatives across multiple schools.
- Proven experience to use and interpret data to inform decision-making processes that allow for intentional actions and lead to improved student/campus achievement
- Expertise in performance evaluation and goal setting for school leaders
- Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills (written and oral)
- Leadership, management, and organizational skills
- Experience with diverse populations
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred
KEY MEASURES OF SUCCESS The Executive Director of School Leadership will be responsible for and held accountable to the following outcomes:
- Campus accountability ratings - ensure schools improve their rating and meet their Wildly Important Goals (WIGs)
- Student assessment outcomes - ensure schools meet their targets for student outcomes across grades and contents, including those specifically related to Lone Star Governance outcomes
- Instructional quality - improving the quality of instruction across campuses, as measured by Spot Checks and T-TESS, ensuring strong correlation with observation scores and student outcome results
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIESExecutive Leadership - Serve as a transformational leader working to create a best-in-class learning environment and school system.
- Engage with Cabinet members and community members and partners to advance the interests of La Joya ISD and ensure educational excellence for every student.
- Serve as a key communicator for district strategies, workstreams and projects, representing the Chief and Superintendent as assigned.
- Participate in professional development and training to improve skills related to job assignment.
- Foster collegiality and team building among all staff members, centrally and at campuses.
- Provide for two-way communication with staff, students, parents, and community.
- Demonstrate professional, ethical, and responsible behavior. Serve as a role model for all campus staff.
- Develop and set annual performance objectives.
System Leadership: - Promote the expectation for high-level performance from staff and students and recognize excellence and achievement.
- Support the Deputy Chief and Chief to determine the goals, objectives, and priorities of Academics & School Leadership (A&SL) programs.
- Lead, support, and oversee the strategies, workstreams, and initiatives of all schools, ensuring strong collaboration, communication, planning and execution across teams.
- Collaborate with other district Chief's and team leaders to improve support and services to campuses and students.
- Develop campus leader capacity and support campus system-building to ensure students are and remain on a path for success.
- Provide cutting-edge, research-backed support to principals and school leaders, including coaching, mentoring, and ongoing professional learning, to enhance their capacity as instructional leaders who foster enriching learning and working environments.
- Guide school principals and assistant principals in adopting best practices for instructional leadership, management, and school culture.
- Provide ongoing support and coaching to school administrators, addressing challenges and leveraging opportunities for leadership growth.
- Analyze and report on the effectiveness of school leadership development programs and initiatives, making data-informed recommendations for enhancements.
- Ensure high-quality instructional materials and resources are implemented with fidelity.
- Develop and monitor instructional and administrative processes to ensure that instructional practices are aligned to evidence-based practices and implemented with fidelity.
- Utilize campus data for corrective action leading to improvement, as well as for recognition of success.
- Evaluate and adjust educational programs and approaches to ensure rapid student acceleration.
- Disaggregate and interpret data in order to assist in developing appropriate next steps for campus and district improvement.
- Support campus leaders in analyzing data and developing action plans to improve teaching and learning.
- Provide professional learning to support campus leaders, teachers, and staff in accomplishing the district's student outcomes goals.
- Provide operational support to the Deputy Chief, ensuring effective execution of departmental strategies and activities.
Professional Learning Community (PLC's) - Ensure strong Professional Learning Communities (PLC's) systems exist at each campus, supporting campus leaders with implementation.
- Ensure PLCs develop and improve campus leader and team capacity.
- Coordinate professional development and coaching for principals and assistant principals, focusing in areas such as instructional leadership, school management, climate and culture, etc.
- Develop and nurture a system of strong Instructional Leadership Teams (ILTs) at each campus.
- Develop and lead a comprehensive professional development program for school leaders, focusing on innovation, instructional excellence, and operational management.
- Assist in the implementation and monitoring of leadership development programs and initiatives.
- Facilitate collaboration among school leaders to share best practices, resources, and strategies for continuous improvement.
Effective Feedback - Provide coaching and meaningful feedback to campus leaders with the intent of improving employee performance and impact.
- Collaborate closely with the Deputy Chief to support, coach, and assist school leaders in their development as instructional leaders who make data-informed decisions that create high-quality environments and culture conducive for learning, and that attract high quality instructional talent to serve the students of their schools.
- Provide instructional and programmatic feedback to administrators and staff based on observations, walk-throughs, data analysis, and stakeholder feedback.
- Conduct thorough evaluations and goal-setting sessions with school administrators and staff, ensuring alignment with district objectives and educational standards.
- Support the evaluation and goal-setting process for school administrators, ensuring alignment with district objectives and educational standards.
Culture & Climate - Create, cultivate and lead a culture of excellence, support, and community for all stakeholders.
- Work with school leaders to improve school climate and culture, ensuring a supportive and inclusive environment for students and staff.
- Facilitate effective and timely resolution of conflicts.
- Identify, analyze, and apply research findings (e.g., effective school correlates) to promote school improvement.
- Ensure systems and programs exist that enhance students' social, emotional, behavioral, and academic achievement.
- Oversee the integration of wellness and inclusion initiatives into school leadership practices and policies.
- Support and oversee improvement in campus social-emotional and behavioral support programs, leading to improved attendance, reduced chronic absenteeism, and improved discipline.
- Follow all policies, practices, and procedures that create optimal learning conditions for students with special needs in alignment with IDEA.
Personnel Management - Select, train, supervise and evaluate all assigned staff fairly and in alignment with proper policies and procedures.
- Ensure accurate documentation on any and all recommendations relative to assignment, retention, discipline and dismissal.
- Observe employee performance, record observations, and conduct evaluation conferences with staff with the lens of both support and accountability for all employees.
- Coach staff and help them identify and develop appropriate professional growth opportunities as well as accomplish improvement goals.
School or Community Relations - Articulate the mission and purpose of A&SL to the community and solicit its support in realizing the mission.
- Engage with internal and external stakeholders to gather support and resources for schools.
- Communicate with parents, families, and communities on a regular and consistent basis to ensure clear and consistent messaging to parents.
- Demonstrate awareness of school and community needs and initiate activities to meet those needs using appropriate and effective techniques to encourage community and parent involvement.
Management of Fiscal, Administrative, and Facilities Functions - Ensure all employees follow proper protocols to maintain accurate records as required.
- Ensure campus structures, and master schedules, facilitate the strategic needs of the district and students.
- Support campuses in completing all associated administrative duties and tasks in a timely manner
- Compile, maintain, and file all reports, records, and other documents required including accurate and timely reports.
- Develop budgets based upon documented Needs Assessments, estimated enrollment, personnel, and other entitlement funding streams; implement programs within budget limits; maintain fiscal control; accurately report fiscal information.
- Comply with district policies, state and federal laws and regulations affecting schools.
Other duties as assigned. Supervisory Responsibilities Supervise and evaluate the performance of staff assigned, including Executive Directors in Academics and School Leadership.
WORKING CONDITIONSPhysical Demands Typical demands of an office environment, including extensive computer use and district-wide
