School Leader (High School East)

Job Description

Job Description

JOB TITLE: School Leader

DEPARTMENT: SER YouthBuild Learning Academy (SER Metro Charter School)

DIVISION: Youth Services

LOCATION: Samaritan Center (East), 5555 Conner, Detroit MI, 48213

REPORTS TO: Director of Education and Vocations/Superintendent

FLSA STATUS: Exempt/Salaried (12 month salaried position)

CLASSIFICATION: Full-Time, Regular

APPROVED DATE: 1/7/2025

JOB SUMMARY: School Leader will serve as the chief administrative officer of the school as well as the instructional leader, responsible for managing their respective site, teaching teams and personnel on a daily basis. In this role, the School Leader will direct the formulation and implementation of operational procedures and practices for the school location; plan, develop, and implement instructional objectives; implement procedures to evaluate instructional program effectiveness; assist in the planning and implementation of staff development and training programs; plan, develop, and carry out public and community relations programs and activities; and other related functions. Will work with the Superintendent to establish a professional rapport with students, staff, and families and will meet with parents regularly regarding student academic, discipline and behavior issues. They will maintain a safe, orderly environment that encourages students to excel academically, take responsibility for their behavior, remain engaged in daily classes and develop high moral standards.

About SER YOUTHBUILD Learning Academy : SYLA is a charter high school for youth ages 14-21. Its model combines classroom instruction by a certified teacher with enabling students to learn a trade while in school, providing learners with the knowledge, skills, and self-discipline necessary to become successful citizens in a global society. At SYLA you will be part of a team that believes in this mission and makes real impact in young people’s lives. SYLA is a blended learning model, inclusive of vocations and vocational instruction.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assumes administrative responsibility for all aspects of school site operations and supervises administrative staff to ensure efficient office and business operations.
• Supervises instructional programs, evaluates lesson plans, and observes classes (teaching as duties allow) regularly to encourage the use of varied instructional strategies and materials to address barriers to learning including behavior issues and social adjustment.
• Participates in planning, developing, organizing, and administering support systems to provide optimal educational opportunities for students at SER YouthBuild Learning Academy.
• Collaborates with school leadership and school staff to identify educational and instructional needs, inclusive of oversight and management of vocational placement and attainment in alignment with the school goals.
• Provides counseling, consultation, coordination, and student appraisal to meet the academic needs of students related to graduation plans, college entrance, scholarships, and employment or post-secondary planning; Serve as a resource for parents on problems affecting the orderly educational development, physical development, and character development of students.
• Communicates daily with students, parents, and teachers regarding attendance and discipline matters; ensure that students are contacted daily to improve attendance and engagement outcomes.
• Facilitates monthly school assemblies.
• Participates in budget planning, expenditure reviews, and control procedures to ensure costs are effective and beneficial.
• Plans, develops, organizes, and conducts performance evaluations to meet the District’s goals and objectives.
• Supervises, mentors, and supports the teaching team, and school counselor at the assigned site, including annual evaluations, blended learning support, and regular staff management.
• Oversees the monitoring of local and state assessments, curriculum, grading, and reporting to the authorizer, MDE, federal, and other entities.
• Provides oversight and guidance as it pertains to Special Education requirements, staffing and reporting.
• Responsible for student recruitment, intake and retention goals, inclusive of community outreach and recruitment strategies.
• Engages faculty and staff in planning and decision-making to build an effective team that empowers and focuses on leadership development.
• Monitors daily student attendance, administers SYLA attendance policies, and ensures the accurate compilation of daily attendance reports and records. Researches, develops, and implements programs to improve student attendance and discipline.
• Makes and explains decisions based on ethical and legal principles.
• Reviews and evaluates new and current programs to determine their efficiency, effectiveness, and compliance with state, local, and federal regulations and school board policies.
• Promotes a positive, inclusive school culture that supports student learning and development.
• Encourages parental and community involvement.
• Establishes concise and measurable goals for faculty and staff performance.
• Serves as a role model for students by dressing professionally, demonstrating the importance and relevance of learning, accepting responsibility, and showing pride in the education profession. Encourages teachers to do the same.
• Notifies appropriate personnel and agencies immediately when evidence of substance abuse, child abuse, child neglect, severe medical or social conditions, potential suicide, or students appearing under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances is observed.
• Conducts necessary meetings for the proper functioning of the school, including weekly meetings for staff and monthly staff meetings.
• Develops clearly understood procedures and conducts regular drills for emergencies and disasters.
• Establishes schedules and procedures for supervising students in non-classroom areas, including before and after school.
• Completes all records and reports requested by management in a timely fashion.
• Establishes procedures for the safe storage and integrity of all public and confidential school records and ensures student records are complete and current.
• Collaborates with HR Team regularly to ensure all school staff and contractors are tracked and reported accurately in audits, the Registry of Education Personnel (REP) report through the Center for Educational Performance & Information (CEPI) and that required permits are submitted along with obtaining special education approvals from the Michigan Online Educator Certification System (MOECS) as applicable.
• Attends required meetings, inclusive of monthly School Board Meetings and training sessions as a representative of the SER YouthBuild Learning Academy.
• Perform other duties as assigned, contributing to the overall team effort.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Yes, responsibilities include direct and indirect supervision of instructors and support staff.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in education with State of Michigan Teaching Certification or related field required. (Project Management or Administrative Management certification required.)
• Must hold a current State of Michigan issued School Administrator Certificate 1246(1)(b) with a PK-12 Building or Central Office endorsement or be enrolled in a program leading to certification no later than six months after they begin employment and has three years to complete certification requirements in order to continue employment.
• Three years’ experience in educational management; five years of administrative oversight in a nontraditional setting.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills. (Bilingual language skills in English/Spanish and/or English Arabic is preferred.)
• Extraordinary interpersonal skills and desire to work as a team player; Ability to support the professional growth of others.
• Ability to interact with student, parent and staff in a positive and productive manner.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access) and online sourcing tools with functional knowledge of internet use for search platforms.
• Strong cultural competence to effectively educate and manage students from varying backgrounds and socio-economic levels. Understanding of the nuances of urban school environments.
• Passion for youth and education with a strong belief in the SER Learning Academy vision and mission.
• Experience in implementing school-wide positive behavioral interventions (such as the Response to Intervention model) and supports, in- school suspension and/or Restorative Justice Practices.
• Knowledge of de-escalation techniques, trauma-informed practices and behavior management strategies is a plus.
• Exceptional instructional and classroom management expertise and ability to articulate effectively.
• Experience using data and data systems to make instructional decisions and ability to coach others in the use of data to ensure instructional delivery meets the needs of all learners.
• Meticulous organizational ability to set priorities, organize workload, handle multiple responsibilities with a demonstrated ability to work under pressure to meet critical deadlines.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative relationships with all stakeholders and board members.
• Ability to keep confidential the counseling relationship and information except when disclosure is required by law and when a student's condition requires intervention.
• Valid Michigan driver’s license. Incumbent must also have reliable means of transportation to travel to various locations outside of the office.
• Must complete FBI fingerprinting and a satisfactory criminal background check must be received, as well as successful Unprofessional Conduct Check.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to see, talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit for extended periods of time, and have sufficient hand, arm, and finger dexterity to operate a phone, computer keyboard, and other office equipment. Must be able to lift a minimum of 10 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. - This job operates in a normal school environment with a noise level, which is at times, moderately loud with little discomfort due to noise, dirt, dust and the like. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.