Assistant School Director (Elementary STEM/Humanities) SY26-27

Assistant School Director (Elementary Stem/Humanities) Sy26-27

Newark, NJ

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.

Role Overview

Assistant School Directors coach and develop our teachers who close gaps in student achievement. Assistant School Directors are instructional leaders who have a proven track record of driving results for students in their own classrooms, are pedagogical experts who can teach the art and science of teaching to others, and have experience leading, managing, and coaching adults.

The Assistant School Director's primary responsibility is to drive academic achievement and growth by deepening the expertise of teachers and modeling through coaching instructional power moves that foster learning environments where high quality instruction is a daily practice. Assistant School Directors drive and own instructional outcomes for students by spending the majority of their time (approximately 70%) on instructional leadership and teacher development. They set and execute the vision for instruction on their campuses in alignment with the network's instructional visions and are the key drivers for student achievement for the student population at their school. Academic School Directors drive results by coaching Teachers including high performers, new to career, and underperforming. In the remaining 30% of their time, Assistant School Directors will support student and staff culture collaborating with Deans of Students, Grade Level Chairs, and Department Chairs.

Specifically, Assistant School Directors are 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
• 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
• Instructional Excellence & Leadership by driving rigorous Tier 1 instruction and ensuring consistent, high-quality implementation across all classrooms
• Talent Management by building, developing, and holding accountable a high-performing teaching team that drive student outcomes
• Data Analysis & Reporting by establishing strong systems to analyze, respond to, and act on student achievement data at every level
• Professional Development by designing and ensuring the execution of high-impact learning experiences that translate into improved instructional practice
• School Culture by driving consistent, proactive culture systems that result in a safe, joyful, and high-expectations environment for all scholars
• Community Engagement by building strong partnerships that increase family investment, trust, and support for student success

Instructional Excellence & Leadership

• Demonstrates deep expertise in content, standards, and high-impact instructional practices to set and uphold a clear, schoolwide vision for rigorous, high-quality instruction; leverages cross-content resources and strategies to ensure coherence and alignment across subject areas.
• Drives measurable gains in student achievement by building teacher capacity through a comprehensive coaching model, including frequent observations, walkthroughs, real-time coaching, and data-driven weekly 1:1 coaching aligned to instructional priorities and student outcomes.
• Monitors achievement data, calibrates expectations for rigor, and strengthens unit and lesson-level intellectual preparation across the school.
• Partners strategically with Achievement Directors and Network Academic Team members to align on reteach and intervention strategies to address gaps in learning.
• Manages the effective implementation of HQIM on their campuses, including providing feedback to teachers on their lesson plans or internalization.
• Ensures equitable access to rigorous instruction for all students by collaborating closely with Special Services leadership and teachers to align instructional practices, supports, and accommodations for students with exceptionalities.
• Maintains robust data systems to regularly audit, analyze, and monitor student progress, using insights to set priorities, adjust strategies, and drive continuous improvement.
• Designs, facilitates, and evaluates high-impact professional development that is tightly aligned to instructional goals and results in observable improvements in teacher practice and student learning.
• Oversees the planning and execution of state and internal assessments, ensuring a strong culture of investment, operational excellence, and fidelity to testing protocols in collaboration with Operations and Academic teams.
• Implement, and continuously refine intervention programs to accelerate reading proficiency, ensuring alignment with curriculum standards and measurable student growth.
• Analyze assessment data to identify gaps in learning, track intervention effectiveness, and ensure evidence-based instructional practices are consistently implemented.

Talent Management

• Builds teacher capacity in analytical thinking and problem-solving instruction through coaching, observation and feedback.
• Identify high-leverage action steps grounded in student work and school priorities and guarantees follow-up and implementation of action steps.
• Ensures each direct report has a high quality performance management process including regular observations, assignment of action steps, and thoughtful, written weekly feedback and evaluations. Formally evaluates direct reports at least twice per year).
• Identifies top performing teachers at regular points throughout the school year and works strategically to retain them
• Enforces systems of accountability for staff including partnering with Human Resources to implement progressive discipline when necessary.
• Assist the School Director in teacher recruitment, hiring, and termination.

Data Analysis & Progress Monitoring

• Ensure interim and benchmark data predict that the school will meet or exceed performance targets.
• Ensure all teachers participate in interim assessment analysis meetings.
• Facilitate highly effective Weekly Data Meetings
• Audit gradebooks to ensure grades are up to date, grading is fair and aligned with academic expectations

Professional Development

• Designs and lead professional learning aligned to instructional priorities and student data that results in observable improvements in classroom instruction.
• Ensures teacher coaching transfers to practice by modeling strategies, setting clear instructional expectations, and reinforcing learning through walkthroughs, coaching, and PLCs

School Culture

• Promote strong culture through the management of parts of the daily school operations including, but not limited to, arrival/dismissal, lunch/recess, school trips, school events, etc.
• Actively develops school culture where students find joy in learning and where students are joyful and engaged
• Creates a culture in which teachers build strong and lasting relationships with students, especially the most challenging students
• Builds an inclusive student environment, ensuring that all student voices are heard and incorporated
• Addresses culture violations with clarity and urgency, holding staff accountable to school values and professional standards in all interactions with scholars
• Celebrates and shows appreciation regularly for teammates
• Actively develops school culture where teachers find joy in teaching and student learning
• Consistently models and reinforces high expectations for all staff and students at all times
• Develops clearly articulated systems through coaching, department meetings, and/or grade level meetings for how the staff culture will function

Community Engagement

• Engages families and community stakeholders proactively and productively as partners in school goals. Works with families who have concerns and helps address them.
• Creates a culture and expectation that teachers reach out to parents and enlist their proactive support in their child's long-term success

Qualifications

Must-Haves:

• College Degree: Holds a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Instructional Leadership Experience: Has at least 2 years of instructional leadership experience
• Teaching Experience: Has taught for a minimum of three years and can demonstrate impact through strong student achievement outcomes. As a leader of teachers, this individual has "walked the walk."
• Proven Record: Demonstrates a consistent track record of driving academic achievement
• Content Expertise