Street Academy Foundation

Principal/Executive Director Job Description

The Street Academy Foundation(SAF) is looking for a unique social justice educator to fill the Principal/ Executive Director position for the Oakland Emiliano Zapata Street Academy (OEZSA). The ideal candidate will be committed to our social justice values, nurture our culture of trust, and effectively support our campus community: students, parents, faculty and staff to create positive learning spaces rooted in mutual respect and cultivating the potential of every student.

OEZSA is a public, alternative school, born from the Civil Rights and Black and Brown power movements. For over 45 years, Oakland’s original small high school is deeply committed in honoring these roots by working in partnership with Oakland Unified School District and the Oakland community. We are school with a college preparatory education that emphasizes social justice, unity, respect, responsibility, and community service.

At OEZSA, we actively recruit youth, especially students of color, who have struggled in traditional high school settings (The student body is approximately 50% African American and 45% Latinx). A great portion of our students are considered high risk, face multiple challenges (in and out of school), and have fallen behind in credits. They come from divested communities, are in foster care, are English Learners, are on probation, and have dropped out of high school at least once. Therefore, we give our students a “second chance” to earn a diploma and be college eligible by providing them comprehensive support (emotional, academic, resources) in a small, safe school environment to help them overcome their obstacles and pursue their goals.

In creating an intentional school space where we enact the belief that all students can learn and succeed despite their challenges, our students have responded well and thrived at OEZSA. Over the past 3 years we have tripled our cohort graduation rate and doubled our college enrollment rates.

LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES: 

The responsibilities of the Director are different from traditional high schools. At OEZSA, the director is expected to engage at a high level with teachers, students, staff, parents, volunteers and community members in creating a collaborative learning community rooted in social justice and collaboration.

Administrative (25%)

• Partners with the Board of Directors and funders to secure and allocate the resources and supports necessary to maintain the health of the school organization.
• Provides monthly reports to the SAF Board of Directors on the academic, financial, personnel and administrative operations of OESZA.
• Works with SAF Board to create and implement marketing strategies to increase and maintain student enrollment toward 120 ADA.  
• Works with SAF Board to create and implement fund development strategies.  
• Creates and maintains strong working relationships with the Oakland Unified School District  (OUSD) management and OUSD School Board.
• Provides administrative oversight of the Memorandum of Understanding between OUSD and SAF/OEZSA.
• Establishes, coordinates, and maintains communication with community and parents groups; attends and conducts a variety of meetings and events; develops correspondence to promote school activities and achievements.
• Oversees activities regarding personnel, the physical plant, student services and activities, curriculum and instruction.
• Prepares and maintains, in conjunction with administrative assistant,  a variety of District, County, State, and federally mandated records and reports regarding for example, student attendance, discipline, cumulative records, and personnel records.

Faculty Support and Curriculum Development (35%)

• Inspires instructional excellence with a deep understanding of how to work with faculty to foster a rigorous, engaging and supportive academic environment for students        
• Ensures that its instructional program, school’s culture, community engagement, and external partnerships are aligned to the school mission and goals 
• Advocates for all students and families with a commitment to building a strong culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion by working in partnership with families, Community-Based Organizations. to achieve student learning and site functioning.
• Recruits, coaches and develops teachers and staff at all levels.  Facilitates all staff development and mentoring opportunities while empowering teams to facilitate growth rooted in best practices, educational innovation and joy.
• Coaches school leaders and other senior staff as a supervisor and consensus builder deeply committed to OEZSA values.
• Designs in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, the school site/strategic plan for student achievement, organizational development and accreditation (WASC) while managing effectively to achieve planning goals.
• Uses data to inform decision making.
• Builds and maintains network of private, public and nonprofit partners that will support the academic OEZSA environment.  

Student Engagement and Support (40%)

• Provides the necessary support for students to develop the necessary skill set and confidence to assume their role as change agents, becoming productive community members dedicated to addressing gross systemic inequities in our society.
• Ensures all students receive an excellent, free education and achieve at high levels while maintaining a mindful and restorative school culture within a community of diverse learning needs.
• Manages student discipline in accordance with OEZSA’s philosophy of restorative justice and OUSD policies.
• Assures the health, safety and welfare of students.
• Teaches a course of their choosing at least twice a year.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Is dynamic and versatile, able to engage a variety of stakeholders in dialogue and to speak in a clear, compelling and authentic manner to all individuals invested in OEZSA’s success. (Bilingual Spanish a plus).
• Is knowledgeable of California content frameworks and standards and numerous proven, successful instructional practices.
• Is committed to the practice of  Restorative Justice and Dynamic Mindfulness
• Possesses interpersonal skills using tact, patience, and courtesy.
• Has experience in managing data and contributing to grant reports.
• Is self-motivated, goal-oriented, able to work in an unstructured environment with multiple interruptions, and  can adapt easily to change.
• Must possess or be willing to obtain California Administrative Credential, be eligible for employment in the US, provide three professional references; negative TB Test; fingerprint clearance.

COMPENSATION

Salary will be based on experience and qualifications.

TO APPLY:

Please submit a resume and a cover letter to Nancy Hanna, Administrative Assistant (nancy.hanna@ousd.org) with “Executive Director Position” in the subject line. Deadline to apply is April 22, 2019.

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY:  The Street Academy Foundation Board does not discriminate in any program, activity, or in employment on the basis of actual or perceived race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, gender, sex, or sexual orientation.