Executive Director - Dallas Fort Worth (26-27)

IDEA Public Schools•Fort Worth, TX

11d•$161,600 - $198,800•Onsite

About The Position

The Executive Director for IDEA Public Schools is responsible for all measures of student outcomes, staff performance, operational stability, financial stewardship, state and federal compliance, and regional board development. The Executive Director sets out the vision for excellence regarding academics, organizational culture, and long-term success across the state by implementing the IDEA Public Schools model with fidelity. They are also responsible for attracting, developing, and setting the tone for adult culture, and managing the interpersonal and Human Resources | Human Assets expectations of the entire region they oversee. They will report to the Area Superintendent and partner closely with senior leaders and national teams across the organization to contribute to the overall success of ALL our students on their path of getting to and through college. They also ensure effective external stakeholder engagement to build and maintain strong support with our state and local constituents.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required
Experience as a campus principal for at least 3 years
10 years in PK-12 education with significant experience in leadership, management, and supervisory responsibilities
Make Strategic Decisions: This team member uses data and trends to drive decisions that impact multiple teams, while anticipating risks and planning contingencies for key initiatives. They apply strategic frameworks to clarify challenges and guide coherent action, and they actively support others in strengthening their strategic thinking and decision-making capabilities.
Manage Work and Teams: This team member leads cross-functional coordination to align efforts with strategic goals, optimizing resource use and minimizing silos. They build accountability frameworks, monitor key performance indicators to guide adjustments, and mentor emerging leaders, while implementing scalable systems that enhance efficiency and team effectiveness.
Grow Self and Others: This team member identifies development needs across multiple groups and integrates them into broader strategic plans. They create structures that support ongoing growth, engage in succession planning, and continuously refine development strategies based on outcomes and data. Through this work, they foster a culture where continuous learning is a core part of daily work and leadership.
Build a Culture of Trust: This team member builds trust and drives positive engagement across multiple groups, as reflected in strong feedback and survey results. They proactively address concerns, model transparency and authenticity, and foster collaboration through open, honest communication and shared ownership.
Communicate Deliberately: This team member communicates a clear and compelling vision that aligns team efforts with organizational goals. They proactively identify and address communication gaps across workstreams, implementing solutions to enhance coordination, while anticipating and resolving stakeholder concerns before they surface.
Building and maintaining strong relationships across stakeholders, both internal and external
Organization, prioritization, follow through, and attention to detail to ensure effective use of time and earn a reputation for delivering on promises
Effective communication skills, both verbally and in writing, including ability to engage an audience and inspire confidence

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in educational leadership and or Administration or related

Responsibilities

Establish and execute a clear regional vision and multi-year strategic plan that integrates academics, special programs, operations, culture, and finance, while staying true to the fidelity of IDEA Programs.
Design and manage systems for setting goals, tracking progress, and holding leaders accountable to regional and organizational priorities.
Develop, codify, and implement regional systems and standard operating procedures that ensure consistent execution across all campuses and departments.
Monitor the fidelity of these systems, use data to identify trends and gaps, and drive continuous improvement through structured reflection and action cycles.
Supervise, coach, and evaluate Vice Presidents and regional leaders, ensuring they establish clear metrics and systems for performance management within their teams to build school leader capacity and effective systems at schools.
Create feedback loops and accountability structures that promote strong leadership pipelines and sustained excellence across schools and departments.
Lead and manage overall regional team effectiveness, even for those they do not directly manage through influence.
Oversee and monitor financial systems within the region to ensure responsible resource allocation, compliance with state and federal requirements, and achievement of financial goals.
Lead quarterly and annual financial review cycles with transparency and accountability and make critical decisions using influcence to build buy in for financial decisions within the region and schools.
Build a culture of high expectations, inclusivity, and ownership by creating systems for communication, recognition, and feedback across staff levels.
Monitor culture indicators, respond to data trends, and hold leaders accountable for maintaining healthy and high-performing teams.
Establish and maintain systems for stakeholder engagement—including regional advisory boards, community partners, and philanthropic supporters—to strengthen IDEA’s brand, support regional initiatives, and ensure sustainable growth and replication of the IDEA model.
Additional Duties as assigned.