Deputy Chief of Staff

Performance Academies•Columbus, OH

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Deputy Chief of Staff works in close partnership with the Chief of Staff to support statewide operations, compliance systems, staffing strategy, student services, and organizational growth across all Ohio Performance Academies Schools. This role ensures operational excellence, regulatory compliance, staffing stability, and accountability systems that support high-quality instruction and student outcomes.

Requirements

Uphold and champion the mission and vision of Performance Academies.
Adhere to all Board policies, staff handbook policies, and student code of conduct requirements.
Attend leadership, management, and Board meetings as requested.
Maintain strong, professional relationships with school leaders and staff.
Serve as a problem-solver and steady leader during operational challenges.
Demonstrate a reliable, dependable and trustworthy work ethic; a strong sense of integrity.
Demonstrate a strong ability to gather, analyze, and interpret data to make sound decisions.
Understand the community and student demographics. The ideal candidate has strong, positive local connections and the ability to develop new ones.
Exhibit sound judgment while exhibiting flexibility regarding decision-making, daily challenges, and job duties.
Manage and communicate with difficult or emotional students, staff, parents, board members, and community members.
Work well under pressure, and effectively prioritize and execute tasks to meet deadlines consistently.
Maintain excellent written and oral communication skills.
Be an active listener and critical thinker and make sound judgments.

Responsibilities

Serve as a strategic partner to the Chief of Staff in implementing statewide initiatives and operational priorities.
Support oversight of school leaders, directors, and central office functions as assigned.
Assist in developing and maintaining systems that promote accountability, compliance, and performance consistency across schools.
Provide regular updates to the Chief of Staff regarding staffing, investigations, discipline, compliance, and operational progress.
Assist with expansion initiatives and organizational growth efforts across Performance Academies.
Ensure all schools maintain appropriate and strategic staffing levels.
Collaborate with Superintendents and Principals to proactively identify and address staffing needs.
Oversee job postings, recruitment pipelines, interview processes, and hiring timelines to ensure efficiency and consistency across schools.
Participate in interviews for senior-level positions including Directors, Principals, Superintendents, and Central Support staff.
Support recruitment and hiring of specialized personnel including Intervention Specialists (IS), Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs), Occupational Therapists (OTs), and School Psychologists.
Develop, implement, and monitor staff probationary plans and Corrective Action Plans (CAPs).
Establish clear performance expectations, measurable goals, and structured timelines in collaboration with supervisors.
Monitor progress and ensure thorough documentation throughout probation/CAP periods.
Support supervisors in conducting formal staff evaluations to ensure consistency, fairness, and adherence to organizational standards.
Review evaluation data to identify trends, professional development needs, and staffing recommendations.
Partner with Human Resources and legal counsel to ensure staff investigations are conducted thoroughly, appropriately, and within required timelines.
Ensure proper documentation and compliance with Board policy, employment law, and organizational procedures.
Collaborate with executive leadership to determine and implement staff discipline outcomes when necessary.
Maintain strict confidentiality and professionalism in all personnel matters.
Work closely with HR to address staffing concerns and improve personnel systems and processes.
Assist in resolving employee relations matters across the organization.
Support onboarding, retention strategies, and implementation of staff conduct policies.
Oversee the Student Services Program across all schools.
Meet weekly with the Director of Student Services to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local special education regulations.
Ensure appropriate staffing levels for special education and related service providers.
Monitor delivery of mandated services to ensure alignment with IEPs and other required plans.
Oversee annual Child Count reporting in coordination with EMIS and Student Services leadership.
Monitor special education compliance indicators and corrective action requirements.
Partner with the EMIS Coordinator to review Special Education and ESL FTE reporting, discipline data, and compliance indicators.
Ensure data accuracy and alignment with funding requirements.
Monitor special education compliance reporting and resolve discrepancies.
Support timely and accurate submission of state reporting requirements.
Review and analyze monthly suspension and expulsion reports across all schools.
Ensure consistent implementation of student discipline policies and reporting procedures.
Develop and maintain procedural flowcharts for:
Expulsion processes
Special education suspensions and manifestation determinations
Monitoring cumulative suspension days
Required communications with appropriate personnel
FBA/BIP requirements and compliance tracking
Identify trends in discipline data and provide corrective guidance to school leaders.
Ensure compliance with federal and state discipline regulations.
Lead and oversee statewide testing operations.
Coordinate with Directors, Superintendents, and Principals to ensure testing schedules, security procedures, accommodations, and documentation align with state protocols.
Monitor testing compliance deadlines and post-testing data processes.
Support the development, execution, and monitoring of service contracts (e.g., DeSalvo, PSI, Interpreters Unlimited, Samegoal, and other contracted providers).
Ensure contracts align with student needs, compliance requirements, and budget parameters.
Review invoices for accuracy and collaborate with the accounting team to ensure timely and accurate payment.
Monitor vendor performance and service delivery quality.
Provide recommendations regarding renewal, modification, or termination of contracts.
Assist with expansion planning and implementation.
Support staffing projections and operational readiness for new school growth initiatives.
Contribute to long-term strategic planning efforts that enhance sustainability and perform