Managing Director of PreK-12 Academics SY 26-27

Managing Director of PreK-12 Academics SY 26-27

Newark, NJ

Great Oaks Legacy Charter School is seeking a Managing Director of PreK-12 Academics to join our team for the 2026–27 school year.

Great Oaks Legacy Charter School (GOLCS) is a free, open-enrollment public charter school system in Newark, New Jersey, educating students from Pre-K to 12th grade. Our mission is to prepare every student for college success. GOLCS currently educates more than 2,100 students across seven campuses in the greater Newark area.

We provide all children with the support they need - inclusive of resources that acknowledge and address systemic inequities - to be empowered to thrive. We bridge the educational opportunity gap by supporting rigorous academics with daily individualized tutoring within a community committed to supporting equity and diversity.

These three principles guide our work, every day, in support of our students and mission:

1. Creating a community that is built upon genuine and meaningful relationships;
2. Being surgical in our approach to differentiation of instruction and support of all students and team members;

Setting and exceeding high expectations for academic growth and character development for all students, in preparation for success in college and beyond.

The Managing Director of Academics (MDOA) is positioned on the network academic leadership team and is responsible for setting the strategic direction, quality standards, and overall effectiveness of the academic program at GOLCS for PreK-12. The MDOA oversees curriculum development, instructional quality, faculty performance, and academic outcomes to ensure alignment with institutional goals and regulatory requirements.

The Managing Director of Academics works closely with executive leadership to design and implement innovative educational strategies and leads the Network Achievement Directors and the Director of Tutorial to improve student achievement, and maintain academic excellence. The MDOA sets the network-wide instructional vision and academic professional development arc for school leaders and teachers. The MDOA provides guidance and support via a dotted line to academic school leaders, such as School Directors and Assistant School Directors to drive consistency in high academic standards across all PreK-12 with direct coaching and support to the High School academic team.

The MDOA leads the analysis of academic data to inform decision-making, leading accreditation and compliance efforts, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. The MDOA plays a key role in talent development, mentoring instructional leaders and driving professional development initiatives.

The MDOA reports to the Chief Schools Officer and partners with the Managing Director of Schools and the Managing Director of Student Support Services to drive student achievement.

Success in this position requires strong leadership, strategic thinking, and deep expertise in curriculum design, assessment, and instructional practices, along with the ability to manage complex academic operations at scale.

Specifically, the MDOA is responsible for driving academic achievement and growth on:

• State and standardized tests (NJSLA) by ensuring the school meets or exceeds network and state performance targets
• External & Internal assessments (i-Ready, end of unit tests, cold read quizzes, cumulative review quizzes, quarterly assessments, midterms, finals), using data to set direction, monitor progress, and adjust school-wide instructional strategy
• Academic Vision & Strategy by setting the vision for a short-term and multi year academic strategy and targets that will drive student achievement
• Curriculum & Instruction by setting the vision for curriculum implementation and academic systems that will drive student achievement
• Instructional Excellence & Leadership by setting the vision for Tier 1 instruction and ensuring consistent, high-quality implementation across all classrooms
• School & Instructional Leadership Support by conducting weekly walkthroughs, co-observations of classroom instruction and engaging in feedback cycles to drive improvement in teaching and learning
• Data Analysis & by establishing strong network-wide systems to analyze, respond to, and act on student achievement data at every level
• Talent Management by coaching the Network Achievement Directors and holding schools accountable a high-performing teaching team that drive student outcomes
• Assessment & Data-Driven Decision Making by designing and overseeing the implementation of data analysis systems and action plans
• Professional Development by designing and ensuring the execution of high-impact learning experiences that translate into improved instructional practice

Key Responsibilities

Academic Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and execute a comprehensive Pre-K through 12th-grade academic strategy for the network that includes a focus on curriculum, instruction, and assessment that results in strong academic outcomes for students
• Coach, lead, and develop a team of Network Achievement Directors and Instructional leaders to implement a high-quality curriculum across our schools across grades Pre-K through 12th
• Collaborate with School Directors to deploy talent and resources (e.g. additional coaching support, model leadership, etc.), based on takeaways from academic progress monitoring.
• Manage all academics and academic operations matters for the network, including but not limited to: grading policies for each subject, academic snapshots, report card audits and gradebooks, state testing coordination, curriculum purchasing, data and progress monitoring of academics, network-wide academic course correction, scheduling, etc.
• Lead network-wide processes for driving student outcomes such as blended learning, state testing, academic progress monitoring, test preparation, etc.
• Develop and/or cultivate subject matter expertise across grades and disciplines Pk-12, in order to inform NJ-specific academic policies and decision-making about programs.
• Lead the multi-year work and change management to establish the vertical alignment of each discipline across the Pk-12 with the ultimate goal of graduating students being college-ready academically.
• Manages the Director of Tutorial & Fellowship and sets a vision for the implementation of a high dosage tutoring model.

Curriculum & Instruction

• Design and implement a strategy for curriculum and assessment adoption and/or modification and improvement, to meet the demands of the range of standardized tests we measure as part of our goals and excellence standards: i-Ready, ANet, NJSLA, SAT, and AP.
• Develop and oversee systems and protocols for quality control and vetting of curricular materials, assessments, and professional development resources.
• Develop and oversee systems for data-driven instruction that facilitates the analysis of and response to mastery data and students' GPA.
• Manage the design and implementation of high-quality curriculum and complex projects across the organization with a clear focus on effective lesson internalization and execution for teachers
• Oversee the design, adoption, and implementation of standards-aligned curricula across all grade levels
• Ensure vertical and horizontal alignment of curriculum (PreK–12 coherence)
• Promote research-based instructional practices and culturally responsive teaching
• Evaluate and refine instructional programs to improve student outcomes

School & Instructional Leadership Support

• Work as a connector between the academic program and school based Leadership teams, by building relationships and investment with all parties and supporting the efficacy of teaching and learning across GOLCS
• Collaborate with School Directors to deploy talent and resources (e.g. additional coaching support, model leadership, etc.), based on takeaways from academic progress monitoring.
• Directly support the High School Director and the Assistant School Directors with the design and implementation of the High School academic programing including but not limited to, setting a vision for the HS course catalog, graduation requirements in alignment with the NJ state requirements, AP courses and scheduling.
• Design the professional development arc for for school leaders and lead ongoing professional development sessions
• Conduct weekly school visits, classroom observations, and consistent instructional audits
• Support leaders in developing and executing school improvement plans

Assessment & Data-Driven Decision Making

• Oversee assessment systems, including formative, interim, and summative assessments
• Analyze student performance data to identify trends, gaps, and actively respond to data (achievement, observation, perception, etc.) to engage in year-over-year improvement of program, as well as mid-year course corrections as needed.
• Establish data-driven practices to inform instruction and interventions
• Report academic progress to internal and external stakeholders
• Collaborate with the Data Team to develop and monitor outcomes on GOLCS dashboards.

Equity & Student Achievement

• Champion equitable access to high-quality instruction for all student populations
• Ensure effective supports for diverse learners, including English language learners and students with disabilities
• Drive initiatives to close achievement gaps and improve outcomes for underserved students