Managing Director of PreK-12 Academics SY

Managing Director of PreK-12 Academics SY 26-27

Newark, NJ

Great Oaks Legacy Charter School is seeking a Managing Director of PreK-12 Academics to join our team for the 2026–27 school year.

Great Oaks Legacy Charter School (GOLCS) is a free, open-enrollment public charter school system in Newark, New Jersey, educating students from Pre-K to 12th grade. Our mission is to prepare every student for college success. GOLCS currently educates more than 2,100 students across seven campuses in the greater Newark area.

We provide all children with the support they need - inclusive of resources that acknowledge and address systemic inequities - to be empowered to thrive. We bridge the educational opportunity gap by supporting rigorous academics with daily individualized tutoring within a community committed to supporting equity and diversity.

These three principles guide our work, every day, in support of our students and mission:

Setting and exceeding high expectations for academic growth and character development for all students, in preparation for success in college and beyond.

The Managing Director of Academics (MDOA) is positioned on the network academic leadership team and is responsible for setting the strategic direction, quality standards, and overall effectiveness of the academic program at GOLCS for PreK-12. The MDOA oversees curriculum development, instructional quality, faculty performance, and academic outcomes to ensure alignment with institutional goals and regulatory requirements.

The Managing Director of Academics works closely with executive leadership to design and implement innovative educational strategies and leads the Network Achievement Directors and the Director of Tutorial to improve student achievement, and maintain academic excellence. The MDOA sets the network-wide instructional vision and academic professional development arc for school leaders and teachers. The MDOA provides guidance and support via a dotted line to academic school leaders, such as School Directors and Assistant School Directors to drive consistency in high academic standards across all PreK-12 with direct coaching and support to the High School academic team.

The MDOA leads the analysis of academic data to inform decision-making, leading accreditation and compliance efforts, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. The MDOA plays a key role in talent development, mentoring instructional leaders and driving professional development initiatives.

The MDOA reports to the Chief Schools Officer and partners with the Managing Director of Schools and the Managing Director of Student Support Services to drive student achievement.

Success in this position requires strong leadership, strategic thinking, and deep expertise in curriculum design, assessment, and instructional practices, along with the ability to manage complex academic operations at scale.

Specifically, the MDOA is responsible for driving academic achievement and growth on:

• State and standardized tests (NJSLA) by ensuring the school meets or exceeds network and state performance targets
• External & Internal assessments (i-Ready, end of unit tests, cold read quizzes, cumulative review quizzes, quarterly assessments, midterms, finals), using data to set direction, monitor progress, and adjust school-wide instructional strategy
• Academic Vision & Strategy by setting the vision for a short-term and multi year academic strategy and targets that will drive student achievement
• Curriculum & Instruction by setting the vision for curriculum implementation and academic systems that will drive student achievement
• Instructional Excellence & Leadership by setting the vision for Tier 1 instruction and ensuring consistent, high-quality implementation across all classrooms
• School & Instructional Leadership Support by conducting weekly walkthroughs, co-observations of classroom instruction and engaging in feedback cycles to drive improvement in teaching and learning
• Data Analysis & by…