Rocky Mountain Prep, Chief Academic & Schools Officer

Edgility Search•Denver, CO

3d•$195,000 - $225,000

About The Position

Rocky Mountain Prep (RMP) is seeking a bold, visionary, and deeply human-centered Chief Academic & Schools Officer (CASO) to lead our academic strategy, school performance, and instructional coherence across our ECE–12 network. Reporting directly to the CEO and serving as a key member of the executive leadership team, the CASO will serve as the strategic and operational architect of academic excellence at RMP—designing, evolving, and aligning our instructional systems to drive transformational outcomes for all students. This is a pivotal moment at RMP. Three years post-merger, we are realigning our academic and school leadership models to ensure that every classroom—whether in our early childhood centers, elementary schools, middle schools, or high schools—offers a cohesive, high-quality academic experience grounded in rigor, love, and contextual relevance. Our CASO will champion vertical alignment across schools while honoring the unique strengths and needs of each campus. We are looking for a systems-thinking leader who can integrate academics and school management, zooming in to the details of curriculum implementation and instructional planning, and zooming out to ensure that each school "feels" like RMP while delivering results in their own context. This is a rare opportunity to build, scale, and innovate in a deeply collaborative and equity-driven environment.

Requirements

10+ years of education leadership experience, including successful principal and/or network leadership across grade levels.
A proven track record of improving student outcomes across ECE–12, with a particular strength in translating academic vision into execution.
Deep expertise in curriculum, instruction, assessment, and data-informed decision-making.
Experience managing and coaching leaders of leaders, with skill in developing both people and systems.
Comfort navigating complexity—integrating operations, academics, and culture to support school success.
A learner’s mindset: insatiable curiosity, humility, and a desire to evolve in service of student impact.
Strong commitment to equity, and the ability to hold both high expectations and deep care for staff and students.
A leadership style that is joyful, purpose-driven, and aligned to RMP’s values and mission.

Nice To Haves

Background knowledge in supporting Multilingual Learners (MLLs) and students with disabilities (SpEd) is a strong plus.

Responsibilities

Academic performance and growth across all RMP schools—from early childhood through 12th grade.
Leadership development, coaching, and accountability for principals and academic leaders.
Cohesive, standards-aligned curriculum, instruction, assessment, and data practices.
Driving a culture of continuous improvement rooted in inquiry, reflection, and joyful urgency.
Establishing aligned systems and practices that differentiate based on context while driving shared outcomes across the network.
Serve as the co-architect and co-steward of RMP’s academic vision across ECE–12, ensuring rigorous, culturally responsive, and joyful instruction at every grade level.
Drive vertical alignment across content areas and school levels, creating a cohesive academic experience while supporting schools to adapt based on student needs and school context.
Champion a discovery mindset across elementary schools to identify and scale effective practices—while ensuring strong, measurable outcomes in middle and high school environments.
Oversee the adoption and implementation of high-quality curriculum (e.g., CKLA in upper elementary, Eureka in middle school), instructional rubrics, and tools that help novice and experienced teachers alike deliver high-quality “first teach.”
Embed intellectual preparation practices, minute-by-minute lesson guides, and student work protocols into the academic culture of all schools.
Inspire a mindset of curiosity and discipline across academic teams—where data informs hypotheses, adult learning is ongoing, and innovation emerges from reflection.
Own network-wide school performance outcomes, including academic achievement, growth, culture, and instructional quality.
Build integrated academic and school leadership systems that align expectations and support across all schools—driving toward equitable outcomes while acknowledging diverse starting points and contexts.
Implement data cycles and learning rhythms that support fast, evidence-based decision-making—including real-time analysis of student work, observation data, and academic performance metrics.
Lead proactive academic interventions and supports, especially where gaps or stagnation are identified, and model a mindset of accountability without blame.
Ensure that all schools—regardless of grade band—experience the support, clarity, and consistency needed to thrive.
Coach, manage, and inspire senior academic and school leaders (e.g., Executive Directors, principal managers, academic directors) to drive instructional excellence and team culture.
Build strong, trust-based relationships with school leaders while maintaining high expectations for execution, learning, and outcomes.
Lead the design and evolution of leadership development pipelines and succession strategies, especially in underserved grade bands and high-stakes transitions (e.g., middle to high school).
Embed equity and inclusion into leadership development, talent practices, and decision-making structures.
Create clarity amidst complexity by establishing a small number of aligned, high-leverage priorities for the academic year.
Build operational systems and decision-making routines that support consistent execution without stifling innovation.
Collaborate across departments (operations, talent, culture, student services) to ensure schools receive integrated, responsive support that aligns with instructional priorities.
Balance standardization and flexibility—creating shared “floors” while empowering schools to adapt and elevate their unique “secret sauces.”
Champion equity by ensuring all students—particularly MLLs, students with disabilities, and historically underserved communities—experience rigorous, affirming academic opportunities.
Model emotionally intelligent leadership—bringing humility, joy, and humanity into every space.
Be a visible presence in schools, listening to and learning from students, teachers, and families to inform decisions and build trust.
Represent RMP externally with credibility, curiosity, and pride—contributing to the broader public education ecosystem as a learner and leader.