Program Administrator - Field Academy

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Location: Denver-Aurora Area

Zero Dropouts exists to deliver innovative student development opportunities in a way that invites school districts, communities, and students to co-create unique solutions that recognize, foster, and unleash students' unrealized potential so that their lives are transformed as they thrive in their education and work.

What We Believe

We Believe Mysteries are Opportunities We are inspired to solve the deeply complex mysteries that face our world. Our innovative approach drives us to uncover hidden truths and create tailored solutions that address the unique challenges of our clients and communities.

We Believe in Anti-Deficit Ideology Anti-deficit ideology focuses on recognizing and valuing the strengths, abilities, and potential of individuals and communities, rather than highlighting their shortcomings or deficiencies.

We Believe in a Sociocultural Model for Learning People develop knowledge and skills through an active learning process that encourages interactions with teachers, peers, and their communities. We meet people where they are in their learning journeys, centering their experiences and identities in the process to foster both independent learning and collaboration.

We Believe in a 'Power With' Approach to Relationships We use a 'power with' approach that emphasizes collaboration, mutual support, and collective empowerment in our relationships with youth, partners, and each other. Instead of hierarchical or competitive dynamics, it focuses on sharing power, fostering partnerships, and working together to achieve common goals.

We Believe Organizations are Living Systems We believe that organizations and groups operate as dynamic living systems. This perspective emphasizes interdependence and collaboration, fostering resilience and adaptability. By nurturing supportive relationships and collective growth, we create conditions and environments where all members can thrive.

Zero Dropouts develops, tests, and scales new approaches to improving student outcomes. Through our Research & Development (R&D) portfolio, we explore emerging ideas, pilot new models, learn from implementation, and identify approaches that have the potential to create lasting impact.

Field Academy is one of the programs within our R&D portfolio. The Program Administrator will play a critical role in launching and refining this pilot while contributing insights and learning that inform the continued development of Field Academy and future Zero Dropouts initiatives.

Field Academy is an emerging learning model based in the Denver-Aurora area designed for older adolescents who have struggled to find success in traditional educational environments.

Through applied, experiential, and project-based learning, Field Academy helps students reconnect with education by discovering their strengths, developing meaningful skills, and seeing how learning connects to their futures.

We believe students thrive when learning is purposeful, relevant, and connected to the real world. Field Academy uses authentic projects, community partnerships, exploration, and individualized support to help students build academic confidence, agency, and pathways toward future success.

Field Academy is being developed as a flexible learning model that may grow into multiple programs, services, and partnerships designed to support young people through innovative approaches to education.

The Program Administrator is a founding member of the Field Academy team and will play a critical role in launching and operating our initial pilot program.

As an early-stage pilot, this role is intentionally broad. The Program Administrator will combine the responsibilities of educator, student advisor, registrar, and program administrator—building relationships with students and families, supporting recruitment and enrollment, designing and delivering rigorous learning experiences, managing student records and program operations, and helping establish the systems and practices that will support future growth.

Students learn in a variety of settings, including classrooms, community spaces, workplaces, and on expeditions throughout the Denver-Aurora area. The Program Administrator will teach and support students across these environments, collaborating closely with the Expeditions Manager to connect experiential learning to meaningful academic outcomes, graduation progress, and future readiness.

This role is ideal for an educator who is energized by creating something new—someone who can balance structure with flexibility, build strong systems while remaining deeply student-centered, and continuously improve a program based on student needs and outcomes.

The Program Administrator will lead the day-to-day success of the initial Field Academy pilot while contributing to the ongoing development of Field Academy and Zero Dropouts' broader Research & Development portfolio. As Field Academy grows, responsibilities will become more specialized, with opportunities to help onboard, coach, and support future team members.

Field Academy serves older adolescents who have experienced significant challenges in traditional educational environments. Many of our students are young people who have struggled with attendance, academic progress, engagement, or feeling connected to school.

Our students are capable young people who have often needed a different approach—one grounded in relationships, relevance, flexibility, and meaningful opportunities to succeed.

Success in this role requires an educator who understands that disengagement is often a signal, not a lack of ability or motivation. Our students may be navigating complex life circumstances, and they need educators who can build trust, maintain high expectations, and create meaningful opportunities for growth.

This work requires patience, persistence, emotional resilience, and a deep belief that every student can grow.

You are an educator and a builder.

You believe that students who have struggled in traditional systems are not defined by their past experiences. You know that meaningful relationships, relevant learning, and high expectations can help young people reconnect with their own potential.

You are someone who:

• Sees challenges as opportunities to understand and solve.
• Builds trust with students who may not immediately trust adults or educational systems.
• Loves designing meaningful learning experiences.
• Can create structure where systems do not yet exist.
• Is meticulous, organized, and dependable in managing details, documentation, systems, and administrative responsibilities.
• Is comfortable testing, learning, and improving.
• Balances creativity with strong execution.

• Recruit, enroll, onboard, and support students and families throughout their Field Academy experience.
• Build strong, trusting relationships with students while maintaining high expectations for engagement, growth, and success.
• Provide individualized student support and case management to identify barriers, monitor progress, and connect students with needed resources.
• Review, analyze, and transfer student transcripts and academic records into the student information system (SIS) to determine graduation progress, identify remaining credit requirements, and support individualized academic planning.

• Design and facilitate rigorous learning experiences through classroom instruction, applied projects, expeditions, and community-based learning that promote measurable academic growth and future readiness.
• Develop curriculum that integrates authentic projects, community partnerships, and expedition-based learning.
• Collaborate with the Expeditions Manager to plan and facilitate expedition experiences that advance academic outcomes, student growth, and real-world skill development.
• Assess student progress and adapt instruction to meet individual needs while building students' confidence, skills, and sense of purpose.

• Manage the administrative systems that support program success, including student records, enrollment, attendance, documentation, reporting, and student information systems (SIS).
• Coordinate administrative requirements related to funding partners, compliance, audits, and program accountability.
• Develop and improve operational systems, documentation, and processes that strengthen program quality and support future growth.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of Field Academy by documenting lessons learned, identifying opportunities, and refining program practices.
• Collaborate with colleagues across Zero Dropouts to test new ideas, solve problems, and strengthen student outcomes across the organization's Research & Development portfolio.
• Participate in cross-functional planning and contribute to the design of future programs, services, and partnerships.
• Support the onboarding, coaching, and development of future Field Academy team members as the program grows.

• Colorado Teaching License (7-12) in English/Language Arts, Social Studies or Math
• Experience designing and delivering curriculum or meaningful learning experiences.
• Experience supporting students who have experienced barriers to academic success.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex administrative processes with exceptional accuracy and attention to detail, including maintaining student records, managing data in student information systems (SIS), and ensuring compliance with program, partner, and state requirements. 
• Strong relationship-building skills with students and families.
• Ability to support students through both teaching and individualized student support/case management.
• Ability to create engaging learning experiences while maintaining academic rigor and clear learning outcomes.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage details, systems, and competing priorities.
• Ability to work independently, solve problems, and take initiative in an evolving environment.
• Commitment to trauma-informed, relationship-centered, and strengths-based approaches to working with students.

• Experience in alternative education, reengagement programs, dropout prevention, credit recovery, or similar settings.
• Experience with project-based learning, experiential learning, expeditionary learning, place-based learning, or personalized learning models.
• Experience developing curriculum that demonstrates measurable academic growth or improved student outcomes.
• Experience launching or building a new program, initiative, or learning model.
• Experience with student recruitment, enrollment, family engagement, or community outreach.
• Experience with student information systems, compliance documentation, data tracking, or program reporting.
• Experience developing partnerships with community organizations or local employers.
• Spanish speaking, reading, and writing proficiency.
• Experience working in diverse communities and building culturally responsive learning environments.

Compensation: This position has a starting salary of $70,000 annually. Due to the funding structure for this pilot, the starting salary is non-negotiable. As the program evolves,  compensation will be reviewed in accordance with organizational growth and available funding.

Benefits: Company 401(k) plan with Employer Contribution Match, Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage, Paid Time Off (Sick Time, Holidays, Flexible Vacation), Life Insurance; Not PERA eligible.

Work Environment & Schedule: This is a hybrid role. When not in the field or onsite, work may be done remotely from home or the Zero Dropouts office.