Executive Director of Schools

Pawtucket School Department•Pawtucket, RI

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Executive Director of Schools serves as the district's school performance leader for an assigned network of schools and is responsible for supervising, coaching, developing, and evaluating principals while ensuring consistent implementation of the district's instructional priorities, operational expectations, and school improvement strategies. Reporting directly to the Assistant Superintendent, the Executive Director of Schools owns the performance of an assigned portfolio of schools by supporting principals, monitoring implementation, removing barriers to success, and ensuring alignment between school-based practices and district priorities. The Executive Director of Schools serves as the primary liaison between schools and central office, translating district priorities into action through principal supervision, leadership development, instructional monitoring, performance management, and continuous improvement. This position works collaboratively with Curriculum and Instruction, Student Services, Human Resources, Operations, Technology, and external instructional partners to ensure schools receive coordinated support while maintaining clear accountability for results.

Requirements

Valid Rhode Island Building Level Administrator Certification required.
Rhode Island Superintendent Certification preferred.
Master's Degree required; Doctorate preferred.
Minimum of five (5) years of successful administrative experience as a principal or district-level administrator.
Demonstrated success improving student achievement and school performance.
Experience leading school improvement, redesign, or turnaround initiatives preferred.
Demonstrated expertise in instructional leadership, organizational leadership, principal development, and data-informed decision making.
Instructional leadership and school improvement
Principal supervision and evaluation
Rhode Island accountability systems
Comprehensive School Improvement Planning (CSIP)
MTSS frameworks
High-quality instructional materials
Professional learning systems
Data analysis and continuous improvement
Attendance improvement strategies
School culture and climate
Federal and state education regulations
Budget development and resource allocation
District operations, policies, and procedures
Executive leadership
Principal coaching and evaluation
Organizational leadership
School improvement planning
Strategic planning and implementation
Data analysis and performance management
Facilitating professional learning
Building collaborative relationships
Conflict resolution
Written and oral communication
Organizational problem-solving
Leading change and continuous improvement

Nice To Haves

Rhode Island Superintendent Certification preferred.
Doctorate preferred.
Experience leading school improvement, redesign, or turnaround initiatives preferred.

Responsibilities

Directly supervise, coach, mentor, and formally evaluate principals assigned within the portfolio of schools.
Conduct regular school visits, leadership coaching sessions, instructional walkthroughs, and performance conferences.
Develop principal leadership capacity through individualized coaching, feedback, and professional growth planning.
Establish principal performance goals aligned to district priorities and school improvement objectives.
Complete all required components of the district's administrator evaluation process.
Participate in districtwide calibration of principal evaluations to ensure consistency and fairness.
Support the recruitment, selection, onboarding, development, and retention of school leaders.
Design, facilitate, and deliver professional learning for principals aligned with district priorities, identified leadership needs, school improvement goals, and patterns observed through school visits, walkthroughs, and performance reviews.
Own the academic, attendance, school climate, operational, and organizational performance of assigned schools.
Monitor school progress toward district strategic priorities and accountability goals.
Hold principals accountable for implementing district expectations with fidelity.
Identify performance gaps and develop action plans in collaboration with principals and district leadership.
Ensure consistent implementation of district initiatives across all assigned schools.
Oversee, support, and monitor the development and implementation of each school’s Comprehensive School Improvement Plan, ensuring alignment with district priorities, measurable benchmarks, and required progress-monitoring cycles.
Oversee the development, implementation, monitoring, and continuous improvement of each school's Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP).
Support CSI, ATSI, redesign, and other priority schools through strategic coaching and progress monitoring.
Conduct regular school performance reviews using measurable implementation benchmarks.
Ensure school improvement efforts are aligned to district priorities and state accountability expectations.
Monitor implementation of district instructional expectations, including: High-quality instructional materials, Tier I instruction, Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), Instructional walkthrough expectations, MTSS implementation, Attendance improvement systems, Data-driven instructional decision making.
Partner with the Directors of Curriculum and Instruction to ensure district instructional initiatives are implemented consistently across assigned schools.
Support principals in strengthening instructional leadership and developing teacher capacity.
Lead regular school performance review meetings with assigned principals.
Analyze academic achievement, attendance, discipline, climate, and implementation data to guide school improvement efforts.
Utilize district assessment data, walkthrough evidence, and implementation metrics to inform coaching and decision-making.
Monitor progress toward district and school performance goals and recommend strategic interventions when necessary.
Serve as the district liaison for assigned schools with external instructional partners, including Mass Insight, RIDE, and other school improvement organizations.
Coordinate partner-supported initiatives to ensure alignment with district priorities and school improvement plans.
Collaborate with district departments to identify and remove operational barriers impacting school success.
Ensure schools receive coordinated support across curriculum, student services, operations, technology, and human resources.
Participate as a member of the district leadership team in advancing the Superintendent's vision and strategic priorities.
Assist the Assistant Superintendent in establishing districtwide systems, routines, and implementation expectations.
Participate in principal meetings, leadership development, district planning, and organizational improvement initiatives.
Present reports and recommendations to the Superintendent, School Committee, and stakeholder groups as requested.
Perform such other duties as assigned by the Assistant Superintendent or Superintendent.