CATALYST SCHOOLS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER JOB DESCRIPTION
Title: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Reports to: Chairman of the Board of Directors
Background: Catalyst Schools Chicago is a non-profit 501c3 organization dedicated to transforming inner-city communities by developing highly educated, concerned, committed citizens of character. Since 2006, Catalyst has operated public schools committed to providing a quality educational choice for students and families in low-income communities of Chicago. Catalyst is rooted in the Lasallian legacy of “teaching minds and touching hearts”, animated by an unquenchable spirit of faith and zeal. It is the public charter school expression of the San Miguel Schools of Chicago, founded in 1995, after CPS invited the leaders of San Miguel to serve in neighborhoods it deemed high priority need.
Catalyst currently operates two successful charter schools in the Austin and Chicago Lawn communities, one serving 520 scholars in grades K-8, the other serving 1,100 scholars in grades K-12. The Catalyst methodology is an educational model rooted in the Lasallian tradition and its core values. In addition to a rigorous academic program that prepares scholars for success in high school and college, it embeds the value of positive relationships as fundamental to leading lives of meaning and purpose.
The Catalyst model incorporates an extended school day coupled with a rich program of extracurricular classes offered by community partners. As each Catalyst school becomes an anchor as well as a change agent in its neighborhood, these community partners and student families are an integral part of the model, playing an active role in programming as volunteers, tutors and mentors. The organization also offers a graduate support program to prepare its 8th graders for a smooth transition into high school and to assist students through high school graduation, and to prepare 12th graders for a smooth transition into and through college and career.
Position: The Chief Executive Officer will be responsible for all aspects of the Catalyst network and its growth, including the academic performance and operations of the existing schools and future campuses. The CEO will continuously develop the administrative and support capabilities required to manage a network of charter campuses that meet or exceed the expectations of its authorizer (CPS). The CEO will lead the financial planning process for the school and drive the required development efforts.
Responsibilities:
Culture Development
- Preserve and promote the Lasallian mission with associated core values, philosophy and culture
- Incorporate national and regional Lasallian programs and materials where appropriate
- Participate in Lasallian professional development opportunities, workshops and training sessions
Strategic Planning
- Work with the Catalyst Board of Directors to develop a strategic plan to grow Catalyst into a high performing charter network
- Oversee the allocation of resources and school model decisions to drive the best balance between financial, operational, and academic concerns
- Hire and oversee performance of senior-level staff whose jobs will be to support/lead the operations, academic performance, and marketing and development work described below
- Develop an overall human capital strategy and establish career paths within the network
Academic Performance
- Oversee and drive increased academic performance of all schools in the Catalyst network
- Define the network’s academic model, its core non-negotiable tenants and its instructional strategies
- Drive network curriculum development and define required level of consistency/autonomy
- Identify required improvements and drive their definition and implementation
- Supervise campus principals to ensure adherence to key academic policies/strategies of the network and consistent implementation of established curriculum to academic standards
- Drive increased performance in the current schools and further definition of the academic model
- Oversee network level human capital development efforts including: recruiting, training and evaluating school leaders and the development of hiring practices, policies, and evaluation protocols for all teachers and school-based employees
- Build a high performing, consistent data-driven culture across the network and at all levels of its operations
Operations
- Lead the development of the school/network financial projections to support sustainability and growth.
- Oversee network operations: budgeting, accounting, human resources, contract management, compliance, etc.
- Work with outside counsel to support the legal needs of the organization.
- Manage any required facility acquisition, maintenance and renovation efforts.
Marketing and Development
- Lead development efforts to fund the Catalyst school model, support network and back office growth, and secure and renovate any required facilities
- Oversee capital fundraising and development of new charter schools
- Manage the external representation and image of the Catalysts schools and the overall network
Programmatic Performance Management
- Set annual and five-year school and network programmatic performance goals
- Drive definition and implementation of data-driven network programmatic accountability and monitoring systems for teachers and students
- Ensure strong, consistent interim assessment systems, including assessment development and the process to analyze results and drive required improvements
Human Capital Management
- Set organizational staffing model priorities and requirements
- Set performance standards for network and school academic and administrative staff
- Oversee and direct the network’s instructional staff evaluation process
- Oversee development and implementation of the organization’s professional development program, including induction and ongoing development tied to staff evaluations and student interim assessment results
- Support, monitor, and maintain the quality of faculty and administrative staff recruitment
Required Qualifications:
- 5 - 7+ years of experience in managing and leading a high performing educational environment including strategic development and operations
- 5 – 7+ years of instructional leadership and classroom experience in urban schools
- MBA or equivalent management and academic experience
- Entrepreneurial drive and proven track record in launching new ventures or major initiatives
- Proven ability to drive significant academic gains at a school or network dedicated to underserved students
- Experience in running or operating in a charter school or extensive knowledge of new schools in urban environments
- Experience in establishing and managing systems to build programmatic and cultural consistency
- Significant expertise in managing school performance, including setting academic goals, developing and/or implementing assessment systems and driving needed adjustments
- Experience in managing and coaching principals and teachers in varied instructional strategies
- Superior relationship management skills, including external and internal stakeholders/clients
- Passion for education reform and a commitment to serving children in Chicago’s underserved communities
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience launching and designing new schools
- Experience replicating successful school models in multi-campus environment
- Advanced degree in education or a related field
- Experience working with urban schools and engaging residents of urban communities
- Experience with Lasallian education philosophy
Prior fundraising experience and/or willingness to learn and step into that space
Direct Reports: 7 Full-Time Equivalent Positions
- Principal of Catalyst Maria High School
- Principal of Catalyst Maria Elementary School
- Principal of Catalyst Circle Rock Elementary School
- Director of Finance and Compliance
- Director of Operations and Facilities
- Director of External Relationships and Campus Partners
- Director of Instructional and Information Technology
Pay: $175,000.00 - $220,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
- Referral program
- Retirement plan
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
