Director of Family & Community Engagement — Elementary Charter School; Long

Director of Family & Community Engagement — Elementary Charter School (Long Island)

Launching Fall 2027

Start Date: ASAP — by or before January 2026

Compensation: $80,000–$120,000, depending on experience, with potential launch bonuses

Benefits: Full-time benefits; eligibility for NYS pension upon school launch

About the Opportunity

We are building an exceptional founding team to launch a new charter elementary school on Long Island in Fall 2027. Our mission is to provide more families with high‑quality public school options where students develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to thrive in school, career, and beyond.

We are seeking a mission‑driven Director of Family & Community Engagement who believes deeply in the power of authentic relationships, community voice, and family partnership. This role is critical to building trust, excitement, and momentum with local families and community leaders as we prepare to launch.

This role begins in the pre‑launch phase, focused on outreach, listening, partnership‑building, and student enrollment — then transitions into ongoing community engagement leadership once the school opens.

More details about the school vision will be shared with qualified candidates during the interview process.

What You’ll Do

During the planning years, you will:

• Build authentic relationships with families, community leaders, and partner organizations
• Lead community outreach, engagement, and student recruitment efforts
• Host family‑facing events and listening sessions to learn from the community
• Support the design of family engagement and communication systems
• Represent the school at community gatherings, festivals, and local events
• Collect community insights that inform school design and culture
• Ensure communication is welcoming, accessible, and culturally responsive

Upon launch, you will:

• Lead family engagement and enrollment efforts
• Coordinate family onboarding and orientation experiences
• Support family communication systems and school‑wide events
• Partner with school leadership to ensure families feel welcomed, supported, and heard
• Help cultivate a joyful, inclusive school community rooted in trust

Who You Are

You are:

• A mission‑driven, community‑centered educator and/or leader
• Deeply committed to providing more families with high‑quality public school options
• A natural relationship‑builder who enjoys meeting new people
• Experienced in community engagement, family outreach, or grassroots organizing
• Skilled at connecting across lines of difference with empathy and respect
• Entrepreneurial and energized by building something new
• Organized, proactive, and able to manage multiple priorities

Preferred

• Deep knowledge of and experience within Long Island communities
• Experience in schools, youth services, or family‑serving organizations
• Bilingual (Spanish, Haitian Creole, or other languages spoken locally)
• 1+ years teaching experience

Salary: $80,000–$120,000, depending on experience, with potential launch bonuses for exceptional candidates

New York State pension eligibility beginning at school launch

Confidentiality

Confidential inquiries welcome. We respect the sensitive nature of this search and will handle all applications with discretion. We will not contact current employers without candidate permission.

Mid‑Senior level

Full‑time

Business Development and Sales;
Primary and Secondary Education