Community School Director

Reports to
:
Director of Programs

Department
:
Programs

The Community School Director (CSD) is YANY’s lead staff member at PS 165M, a community school in Manhattan where YANY serves as the lead community-based organization (CBO). The CSD is a highly visible, results-driven, relationship-centered leader who serves as both an ambassador for YANY and a collaborative change agent within the school community.

Working in close partnership with the principal and school leadership, the CSD is accountable for identifying needs and opportunities, developing solutions, driving implementation, and ensuring that expanded learning, family engagement, and youth development initiatives produce strong results for students and families. The CSD must bring a high level of ownership, initiative, persistence, and follow-through and be comfortable being held accountable for the successful execution and outcomes of the work they lead.

The ideal candidate brings an anticipatory, impact-driven, and visionary approach to the role, with a trailblazer mindset and the belief that they can be a catalyst for positive change for the next generation. They are proactive, personable, resourceful, solutions-oriented, and persistent in developing relationships and maintaining communication with busy school leaders, families, community partners, and other stakeholders. Rather than waiting for direction, the CSD anticipates needs, identifies barriers, recommends solutions, and moves priorities forward.

As a member of the School Leadership Team (SLT), the CSD serves as a strategic thought partner and leader, helping align YANY’s work with school priorities while identifying opportunities to deepen YANY’s impact, strengthen partnerships, leverage resources, and expand services. The CSD brings an opportunity-oriented mindset to the role, consistently looking for new partnerships, resources, collaborations, and opportunities that advance the goals of the school and YANY.

The CSD is an advocate for the arts and positive youth development (PYD) and is accountable for ensuring that students and families have access to high-quality, engaging, developmentally appropriate programming. The CSD uses feedback, data, relationships, and knowledge of the school community to assess what is working, identify gaps, and continuously strengthen programming.

The CSD also serves as the leader and manager of YANY’s school-based team, setting clear expectations, establishing priorities, delegating effectively, monitoring performance, coaching staff, and holding team members accountable for strong execution and follow-through. The CSD will directly supervise a full-time Program Coordinator and part-time staff and is expected to foster a culture of professionalism, accountability, collaboration, responsiveness, and high performance.

Success in this role requires a strong work ethic, leadership presence, sound judgment, resilience, and a willingness to take ownership of challenges through resolution. The CSD must be able to balance strategic leadership with hands-on execution and understand that strong relationships ultimately translate into meaningful results for students, families, the school community, and YANY.

The CSD reports directly to YANY’s Director of Programs. The incumbent will work primarily at the school site during the school year and from YANY’s office when school is not in session, exclusive of holidays.

• Serve as YANY’s lead strategist and champion advocate at PS 165M and in the broader community, advancing YANY’s mission in arts education, youth development, and community engagement;
• Build…