Executive Director of Schools

Rocky Mountain Prep • Denver, CO

9d • $165,000 - $185,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Executive Director of Schools trains, coaches, manages, and monitors principals so they can drive school outcomes. The role builds principals’ skills and mindsets to improve their schools and deliver strong results, and is accountable for the Big Five goals across the assigned portfolio. The work takes place in schools, not around them. The Executive Director reports to the Chief Achievement Officer, who sets expectations, holds the role accountable for portfolio results, observes work in the field, and provides coaching.

The role leads principal management and coaching cycles; uses data-driven action cycles to diagnose performance, set goals, and monitor outcomes; advocates for schools and helps drive network systems; facilitates a principal learning community; and invests time in high-impact areas, including school visits and crisis response.

Network Support Team positions are primarily in person: team members are expected to work on-site 80% of the week at the NST office or an RMP campus, and may work remotely up to 20% of the week. This is a full-time position with a salary range of $140,000 to $190,000, based on experience and qualifications. Compensation is set through a standardized ladder and is not individually negotiated.

Requirements

• At least three years of experience as a principal, with documented gains in student achievement and school performance, strong attendance, and staff retention.
• Proven ability to coach adults to proficiency in walkthroughs, lesson rehearsal, and student work analysis.
• Strong data analysis skills.
• A record of building and managing systems that change practice and drive results across multiple schools or teams.
• Willingness to work an 80/20 schedule, with most time spent in schools.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in educational leadership or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Establish trusting management and coaching partnerships with principals, including clear expectations and consistent two-way feedback.
• Execute the principal development and management cycle: hold principals accountable, monitor progress, retain and promote high performers, and develop or, when necessary, manage out low performers with dignity.
• Lead effective one-on-ones focused on developing principal skills and improving school outcomes; set concrete action steps and monitor follow-through and impact.
• Coach principals through walkthroughs, lesson rehearsal, and student work analysis, including setting success criteria, observing, facilitating reflection, giving targeted feedback, modeling and practicing, and establishing accountable action steps.
• Diagnose school and leader performance using quantitative and qualitative data, identify root causes, and connect schoolwide gaps to leader performance gaps.
• Create principal coaching plans with SMARTIE goals, time-bound plans, clear benchmarks, and principal investment in the plan.
• Monitor portfolio data, adjust coaching plans and support as needed, and manage principals to outcomes through consistent feedback and performance conversations.
• Elevate principals’ perspectives in network decisions and protect their time for instructional leadership and driving outcomes.
• Build collaborative relationships with network teams and engage the Academic Team and other experts to solve problems and remove barriers to student learning.
• Coordinate network people, materials, and funds equitably according to school strengths and trends, and provide input on network priorities and systems.
• Set a vision and norms for the principal learning community, fostering candid collaboration and using data to share exemplary practices.
• Lead principal professional development based on data and development needs, incorporating practice to mastery and aligning coaching cycles and data gathering with topics.
• Analyze portfolio-wide data at critical points in the year, triangulate sources, and identify high-leverage focus areas for schools and principals.
• Create and share monthly priority plans with principals, including priorities, actions, and allocation of time; build weekly schedules focused on school visits and differentiated by need.
• Provide on-the-ground support during crises and work with principals to prevent recurrence.

Benefits

• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, and sick days.
• Five weeks of paid organizational holidays, including Winter and Summer breaks.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance; employee-only medical coverage is 100% covered.
• Retirement through the Public Employees' Retirement Association of Colorado (PERA).
• Paid leave of absence options, including parental, medical, and disability leave.
• Mental health and wellness support.
• Pre-tax flexible spending, dependent care, and health savings accounts.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: No Education Listed