Location: Network Support Team (NST) positions are primarily in person, with team members expected to work on-site 80% of the week at the NST office or one of our Rocky Mountain Prep campuses, based on the needs of their role and the organization. Team members may work remotely up to 20% of the week. This structure keeps our NST team closely connected to the staff, students, families, and communities we serve while allowing for limited flexibility to work remotely.
About the RoleThe Executive Director of Schools trains, coaches, manages, and monitors principals so they can drive school outcomes. Your job is to build principals' skills and mindsets so they can improve their schools and deliver strong results. You are accountable for the Big Five across your portfolio, and you work in schools, not around them.
You report to the Chief Achievement Officer, who sets the bar for the role, holds you accountable for portfolio results, observes you in the field, and coaches you against the five core skills below.
Executive Director of Schools at Rocky Mountain Prep will...Lead management and coaching cycles- Establish a trusting partnership with each principal as their manager and coach: set clear expectations for the principal role and the partnership, and create space for consistent, timely two-way feedback with candor and care.
- Execute the development and management cycle: hold principals accountable to the bar, monitor progress, retain and promote high performers, and develop low performers or, when needed, manage them out with dignity.
- Lead effective one-on-ones: co-create the agenda, use most of the time to improve principals' skills and school outcomes, celebrate successes, and plan concrete action steps with a way to monitor follow-through and impact.
- Execute coaching cycles on walkthroughs, lesson rehearsal, and student work analysis meetings: align on criteria for success, observe, create space for reflection, give targeted feedback, model and practice, and co-create bite-sized action steps with built-in accountability.
Use data-driven action cycles- Diagnose school and leader performance against a bar of excellence using quantitative and qualitative data, identify root causes, and connect schoolwide gaps to leader performance gaps.
- Create leader coaching plans: set SMARTIE goals from the diagnosis, build a time-bound plan with clear benchmarks, and invest the principal in it.
- Monitor data across the portfolio, adjust coaching plans to increase support where needed, and manage principals to outcomes with consistent feedback and performance conversations.
Advocate for schools and drive network systems- Elevate principals' perspectives and voices in network decisions, and protect their time for instructional leadership and driving outcomes.
- Build collaborative working relationships with network teams, and bring in the Academic Team and other experts to solve problems and remove barriers to student learning.
- Coordinate network resources (people, materials, funds) to schools equitably based on each school's strengths and trends, and give input on network priorities and systems.
Facilitate the principal learning community- Set a vision and norms for the principal community aligned to student outcomes, and foster collaboration across schools: create a safe space for candid conversation, celebrate successes, and use data to spread exemplary practices.
- Lead effective principal PD: use data to prioritize development needs, build in practice to mastery, and align coaching cycles and data gathering with PD topics so follow-through is accountable.
Invest time in high-impact areas- Analyze portfolio-wide data at critical points of the year, triangulate sources, and identify the highest-leverage focus areas for each school and principal.
- Create monthly priority plans with your top priorities, actions, and share of time, and share them with principals. Build a weekly schedule focused on time in schools, differentiated by school and leader need.
- Pivot to provide on-the-ground support during moments of crisis, then work with principals to prevent repeat crises.
Requirements- Minimum of three years as a principal with a record of results: documented gains in student achievement and school performance, strong attendance, and staff retention.
- Proven ability to coach adults to proficiency in walkthroughs, lesson rehearsal, and student work analysis.
- Strong data analysis skills and a record of building and managing systems that change practice and drive results across multiple schools or teams.
- Willingness to work an 80/20 schedule, with most of your time in schools.
- Master's degree in educational leadership or a related field preferred.
SalaryThis is a full-time position with a salary range of $140,000 to $190,000, based on experience and qualifications.
Rocky Mountain Prep uses a transparent compensation structure designed to ensure consistency and equity across our organization. Salaries are determined using an established compensation ladder that considers comparable years of experience and other role-specific criteria. Because compensation is set through this standardized process, salaries are not individually negotiated.
Benefits
At Rocky Mountain Prep, taking care of our team is essential to building joyful, academically excellent schools. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
- Paid Time Off - including vacation, personal, and sick days
- 5 Weeks of Paid Organizational Holidays - including Winter and Summer breaks
- Comprehensive Health Insurance - medical, dental, and vision coverage, with 100% of medical coverage for employee-only plans.
- Retirement Through PERA - Public Employees' Retirement Association of Colorado
- Paid Leave of Absence Options - including parental, medical, and disability leave
- Mental Health & Wellness Support - to help you thrive personally and professionally
- Pre-Tax Accounts - flexible spending accounts (FSA), dependent care accounts, and health savings accounts (HSA)
*A detailed list of benefits is here.
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