Managing Director of Academics

Background

Excel Academy is a growing network of five public charter schools in Massachusetts and Rhode Island serving students in grades 5-12. Since its founding in 2003, Excel has been committed to ensuring that every student, regardless of race, zip code, or economic status, has access to a free, high-quality, holistic education that prepares them to succeed in high school, college, and beyond.

Today, Excel educates more than 1,700 students, the majority of whom identify as Latinx or Hispanic and will be the first in their families to graduate from college. Families choose Excel because students consistently achieve and grow at high levels. Excel students outperform their peers in growth and achievement and are five times more likely to graduate from college. Middle school students demonstrate academic growth at a pace faster than most of their peers statewide, driven by a combination of rigorous instruction, high expectations, and strong individualized supports.

Excel Academy High School is nationally ranked for academic excellence and sets students up for long-term success, whether they pursue college or a career pathway after graduation.

Excel Academy is seeking a Managing Director of Academics (MDA), a senior, network-level leader responsible for setting direction for curriculum, instruction, and professional learning across the organization. Reporting to the Chief Schools Officer, the MDA is responsible for building instructional leadership across the network and developing leaders to improve the quality of teaching and learning across classrooms. The MDA’s work is grounded in developing people and improving practice, strengthening the instructional leadership capacity of network and school-based leaders, including principals, academic leaders, and content leaders.

The MDA directly manages and develops the Director of ELA and Math and the Director of the Excel Teaching Fellowship. Through this work, the MDA strengthens the quality and coherence of Excel’s academic program across grade levels and content areas. This includes improving curriculum and its implementation, overseeing the continued development of Excel’s high school academic program—including curriculum strategy for the founding Rhode Island high school and coherence with the Massachusetts high school model—and strengthening the middle school curriculum to consistently meet a high bar and prepare students for high school.

The MDA ensures that curriculum and instruction are rigorous, aligned to college-ready standards, and culturally responsive, and prepare students for college and career pathways. As a member of the Network Team, the MDA works closely with leaders across student supports, data, talent, and operations to ensure that academic priorities are aligned across the organization.

• Leader and Team Development:
  Lead and develop the Director of ELA and Math and the Director of the Excel Teaching Fellowship. Build the instructional leadership capacity of principals, academic leaders, and content leaders across the network. Develop leaders to improve teaching and learning in their schools.
• Curriculum Quality and Coherence (Grades 5–12):
  Ensure a coherent academic program across grades 5–12 and across Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Lead the selection, adaptation, and implementation of curriculum across grade levels and content areas. Oversee curriculum strategy for the founding Rhode Island high school and ensure coherence with the Massachusetts high school model. Improve the quality and consistency of the middle school curriculum to ensure strong preparation for high school.
  
  Ensure curriculum materials are rigorous, aligned to college-ready standards, culturally responsive, and connected to college and career pathways.
• Instructional Quality and Implementation:
  Strengthen Tier 1 curriculum implementation across schools. Develop leaders to improve instructional practice so that core instruction consistently drives strong and improving academic outcomes and reflects culturally responsive practices.
• Professional Learning and Adult Development:
  Design and lead (or oversee the design and…