Chief Academic Officer, Cleveland Metropolitan School District

Alma Advisory Group•Cleveland, OH

1d•$175,000 - $210,000

About The Position

Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) seeks a Chief Academic Officer (CAO) to champion the district’s instructional vision and enable academic excellence for every scholar in every school. The CAO joins CEO Warren Morgan’s cabinet and builds on the district’s centralized academic strategy, including high-quality core curricula and a unified assessment system. The role focuses on advancing Board Goals for reading, math, and college readiness, and on accelerating proficiency, graduation, and college and career readiness while expanding access to advanced coursework. The CAO is a key leader responsible for aligning the Office of Teaching & Learning, the Office of Student Services, and the Office of Schools to support high-quality instruction and effective school operations across the district. The leader ensures that the Academics Division provides intellectually rich, student-focused experiences that prepare students for college, career, and life. The position requires strong instructional and operational leadership, sound judgment, and the ability to manage complex systems in a large, unionized public-sector environment, as well as working knowledge of Cleveland’s schools, community, relationships, and labor dynamics. The CAO leads implementation of the academic aspects of Building Brighter Futures, strengthens academic systems and programs, and develops a large team of more than 80 professionals, including four direct reports. The role also oversees division budgets, school oversight, stakeholder engagement, and communications on academic matters with the CEO, Board of Education, city and government officials, community members, and other partners.

Requirements

Demonstrated track record of improving student outcomes through data-driven decision-making, ideally in an urban, unionized K-12 public school district.
At least 10 years of senior leadership experience with progressively increasing responsibility in K-12 education in a public school district with demographics similar to CMSD.
Master’s degree in education or a related field from an accredited college or university.
Experience managing large teams and holding leaders accountable for results.
Demonstrated commitment to public education and advocacy for all scholars, especially scholars of color living in highly impacted environments.
Deep knowledge of evidence-based instructional practices, culturally responsive pedagogy, and interventions, with demonstrated impact on student achievement and growth.
Ability to plan and administer academic and instructional programming that requires coordination across schools and departments.
Ability to communicate clearly, transparently, and authentically with stakeholders at every level, orally and in writing.
Ability to navigate ambiguity, identify trends and root causes, develop solutions, and lead systems-level operations and organizational design.
Strong planning, project management, accountability, and results orientation, including setting clear success metrics and using data to prioritize student needs.
Ability to balance school-based decision-making and school leaders’ autonomy with coherence and equity across schools.
Ability to build, manage, coach, and hold a senior team accountable for performance, communication, collaboration, and transparency.
Working knowledge of Cleveland’s schools, people, relationships, and community and labor dynamics.

Nice To Haves

Doctoral degree.
Hold or be eligible for an Administrator License in the State of Ohio.
Senior leadership experience in an urban, unionized K-12 public school district setting.

Responsibilities

Lead the academic aspects of Building Brighter Futures implementation, including expanding student enrollment and scheduling in advanced coursework across schools.
Ensure continuity of high-quality instruction and support for students and families.
Align academic programming across curriculum and instruction, career and college success, early childhood, and fine arts.
Strengthen academic structures and drive continuous improvement to advance proficiency in alignment with district Goals and Guardrails.
Increase student enrollment and participation in district college and career pathways and programs.
Ensure core curriculum instruction addresses diverse learner needs and is supplemented with enrichment and interventions as needed.
Serve as the primary academic advisor to the CEO and Cabinet and align academics with school systems and organizational priorities.
Ensure program areas comply with governing federal, state, and local regulations.
Build on academic systems, program design, and organizational structure to advance student achievement priorities.
Use data-driven structures to develop and refine strategies for student achievement and districtwide improvement.
Evaluate academic processes and track progress toward team goals that support student learning.
Ensure schools, principals, and staff have high-quality professional development aligned with district priorities and academic vision.
Oversee schools through Area Superintendents who manage, coach, and mentor school leaders to drive continuous student achievement gains.
Lead, manage, and develop a team of more than 80 professionals across Teaching & Learning, Student Services, Schools, and the Academic Strategist role, including four direct reports.
Partner with the Office of Schools to maintain a regular, visible presence in schools and observe and evaluate instruction, school climate, student behavior, and school leadership alignment.
Foster a culture of high expectations, shared strategic goals, measurable outcomes, and continuous improvement.
Oversee and coordinate Academics Division budgets, including staffing, instructional materials and resources, and district activities.
Promote collaboration across functional areas and with internal and external partners.
Represent the CEO on academic and instructional matters as needed.
Ensure systems and processes support high-quality family and community engagement across the district.
Present information through oral briefings and written reports to the Board of Education, Mayor, Chief of Education for the City of Cleveland, legislators, government officials, philanthropic partners, and other stakeholders.
Oversee updates and data reporting on Board Goals and Guardrails and support the CEO on major decisions.
Manage key partnerships and community relationships, anticipating responses to difficult, high-visibility decisions such as school consolidation.