Board Member — Innovative Education Management (IEM) Board of Directors

Location: California (candidates must reside in California)

Position type: Board member

Board seats available: Two, expanding the Board from three members to five

Application deadline: October 31, 2026

Innovative Education Management (IEM) is committed to innovative public education, individualized learning, educational choice, meaningful parent involvement, and student success. Since 1998, IEM has helped develop and support California charter schools designed to give families greater flexibility and choice in meeting the individual needs of their students.

Today, IEM operates and supports three WASC-accredited TK–12 independent study public charter schools serving approximately 9,500 students across California:

• South Sutter Charter School — est. 2005; ~3,000 students ; serves Sutter, Butte, Colusa, Placer, Sacramento, Yolo & Yuba counties; authorized by Marcum-Illinois Union Elementary School District
• Ocean Grove Charter School — est. 2005; ~3,700 students ; serves Santa Cruz, Monterey, Santa Clara, San Benito & San Mateo counties; authorized by San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District
• Sky Mountain Charter School — est. 2007; ~2,800 students ; serves San Bernardino, Inyo, Kern, Orange, Riverside & Los Angeles counties; authorized by Lucerne Valley Unified School District

IEM schools provide families with flexible, individualized educational options. Students work with California-credentialed Education Specialists to develop individualized learning plans, with home-based, community-based, and live online instruction. The schools also provide comprehensive special education services and resources to support students with disabilities and their individualized educational needs.

Where Parents Choose and Students Succeed.

What the Board governs. The IEM Board of Directors is the governing board of Innovative Education Management. Board members provide governance and fiduciary oversight of IEM, including organizational strategy, financial stewardship, executive oversight, regulatory compliance, and IEM's support and oversight of its charter school programs.

IEM is seeking two new members of its Board of Directors, expanding the Board from three members to five. We are looking for individuals who understand and support IEM's mission and want to help guide its continued success and future direction.

The expansion is intended to strengthen governance capacity, broaden independent expertise, and support the organization through several significant initiatives.

We are looking for Board members who can help set organizational direction, ask thoughtful and sometimes difficult questions, evaluate results, support organizational leadership, and protect IEM's mission and long-term interests.

Board members are appointed by the Board of Directors in accordance with IEM's bylaws and are expected to make an ongoing commitment to Board service. Additional information regarding terms of service will be provided during the selection process.

• Charter renewal. Board members will serve during an important period of charter renewal activity for IEM's three charter schools. Supporting effective governance and organizational readiness throughout the renewal process will be a significant area of Board focus.
• Growth. Combined enrollment has grown roughly 20% over the past two years, to approximately 9,500 students. Sustaining that growth while maintaining program quality and compliance is a central Board concern.
• Accreditation. All three schools move to a common WASC renewal schedule beginning in 2028-29.
• Funding and compliance. Funding determination and compliance requirements applicable to nonclassroom-based charter schools.
• Governance capacity. Building the Board's committee structure, independence, and oversight practices to match the scale of a three-school organization.
• Annual audit, internal control, and regulatory compliance oversight.

Candidates are not expected to have experience in every area below. IEM is most interested in individuals whose experience, perspective, and independent judgment complement the current Board's strengths.

Relevant areas of experience may include:

• Finance, accounting, audit, or governmental fund accounting
• Marketing, communications, or organizational positioning
• Strategic planning or organizational growth
• Law, governance, or regulatory compliance
• Education, independent study, or public charter schools
• Business or organizational leadership
• Educational technology or data systems
• Human resources
• Nonprofit leadership
• Government, public affairs, or community leadership

Prior Board service is valued but not required.

• Think strategically rather than operationally
• Be willing to ask questions and challenge assumptions
• Be comfortable with innovation and new approaches to public education
• Keep students and families at the center of Board decisions
• Value individualized learning, meaningful parent involvement, and parent choice
• Think beyond the interests or needs of any one school
• Work collaboratively while exercising independent judgment
• Understand the distinction between Board governance and day-to-day management
• Hold organizational leadership accountable without micromanaging
• Demonstrate sound judgment when evaluating complex organizational and financial matters
• Bring high standards of integrity, professionalism, and accountability
• Support IEM's educational mission while bringing their own experience, perspective, and judgment to Board deliberations

Board members are expected to:

• Prepare for and participate actively in Board meetings and Board decision-making
• Review Board materials, financial statements, and audit reports in advance of meetings
• Provide governance, strategic oversight, and fiduciary stewardship of IEM, including its role in supporting its charter school programs
• Exercise independent judgment in the best interests of IEM and the students and families it serves
• Comply with all applicable confidentiality, conflict-of-interest, and governance requirements
• Participate in additional Board activities or special meetings as needed

• Regular meetings: The Board typically meets four times per year, with additional special meetings scheduled as organizational needs require.
• Meeting format and location: Regular public Board meetings are held in Milpitas, California . Board service may also involve travel to IEM's administrative office in Placerville, California , school locations, or other locations for Board-related activities. Current meeting dates, locations, and access information are posted at .
• Estimated annual time commitment: Approximately 40–50 hours, including meeting preparation, regular and special meetings, travel, and other Board activities.

Board members are expected to comply with all governance, conflict-of-interest, financial disclosure, confidentiality, public meeting, and other legal requirements applicable to their service.

Board members are subject to applicable conflict-of-interest laws, including restrictions on financial interests in contracts involving IEM. Candidates should disclose during the selection process any existing financial, business, employment, or other relationships with IEM or its charter school programs so that potential conflicts or eligibility issues can be evaluated before appointment.

Candidates with questions about applicable governance, conflict-of-interest, or disclosure requirements are encouraged to raise them during the selection process.

Background check: Selected candidates must complete Live Scan fingerprinting and Department of Justice clearance prior to appointment.

Board members currently receive a stipend for Board service. The stipend is established by the Board in accordance with IEM’s bylaws and may be modified or discontinued by Board action.

Reasonable and necessary Board-related expenses may be reimbursed in accordance with IEM policy.

IEM maintains directors and officers liability insurance and provides indemnification to the extent permitted by law and IEM’s bylaws.

Please submit the following materials by email to View email address on click.appcast.io : 

1. A resume or curriculum vitae
2. A brief statement of interest (one to two pages) describing your background, your interest in serving on the IEM Board, and the experience or perspective you would bring

Application deadline: October 31, 2026

Applications may be reviewed as they are received. Selected candidates will be invited to interview with the Board of Directors. Board members are appointed by the Board of Directors in accordance with IEM's bylaws, with appointments anticipated in December 2026. All applicants will be notified of the outcome.

Questions may be directed to Steven Ward, Executive Director of Human Resources, at View email address on click.appcast.io . 

IEM does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, medical condition, genetic information, disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.