Executive Director

Endazhi-Nitaawiging Charter School•Red Lake, MN

11d•Onsite

About The Position

Our mission is to prepare each student for college with an enhanced knowledge of the Ojibwe language, culture, leadership, and environmental stewardship. The ultimate goal of the educational program at Endazhi-Nitaawiging is to create a school where our students can see themselves in all that they are learning. Endazhi-Nitaawiging will foster a learning environment for young people grounded in Anishinaabe culture that focuses not just on instruction in academics but also on social-emotional well-being. We are firm believers in the Indigenous genius that exists among our people. The educational philosophy and school culture at Endazhi-Nitaawiging will be grounded in the Seven Values that inform the school’s Vision and Mission: Manaaji’idiwin (Respect) Nivwaakaawin (Wisdom) Zoongide’ewin (Courage) Enigok izhichigewin (Commitment) Mashkawi’ayaawin (Resilience) Bagosendamowin (Hope) Niigaaniziwin (Leadership) We will teach our students to enjoy the natural curiosity about the world and to love learning about their place in the world. Our purpose as a school is to help all of our students learn their true inherent identities through a lens of Ojibwe language and culture and to build on a sense of who we are as a revitalized and thriving Red Lake community. POSITION SUMMARY The executive director will actively work to build positive working relationships with students, families, community, the school district, and local, state, and Tribal governments and will be responsible for all school operations, facility operation and growth, strategic planning, financial sustainability, public relations, and reports to the Endazhi-Nitaawiging Board of Directors. The Endazhi-Nitaawiging Executive Director is responsible for communicating the overall strategic vision, driving work aligned with the school’s mission, serving as the internal and external face of the organization and leading the Organizational Leadership Team. The Executive Director expands and diversifies funding relationships; hires and manages staff; ensures all team members focus on mission-aligned goals and have the support they need to succeed in better outcomes for Indigenous students and their families; works with the Board to implement strategic priorities and ensure financial health of the organization. The executive director scales emerging innovations, guides Endazhi-Nitaawiging’s leadership in Indigenous education, and leads constituent relationships to support the sustainability of the school. The Executive Director will have high alignment with Endazhi-Nitaawiging’s core values.

Requirements

Educational Specialist Degree
Administrative license
Understanding of Indigenous perspectives and willingness to learn more about Ojibwe language and culture.
At least three years of experience with educational leadership.
Experience developing and managing operating budgets.
Experience developing and managing staffing patterns.
Experience working with boards.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills; including collaboration, leadership, mentoring.
Superb interpersonal skills,
Excellent organizational, time management, and multi-tasking skills.
Ability to maintain good working relationships with staff, partners, volunteers, parents, and others.
Valid MN driver’s license.
Must successfully pass pre-employment drug testing and background checks.

Nice To Haves

Experience in administrative leadership in a school setting
Experience implementing Indigenous education philosophy and curriculum
Demonstrated experience with strategic planning and program evaluation
Background knowledge of the fiscal and operating needs of a school
Experience working with children, families, and communities in school vision
Experience and knowledge with Red Lake constitution and law
Experience and knowledge with State and Federal school policy

Responsibilities

Embody, advocate for, and execute on the mission, vision and strategic directions.
Primary point of contact with the charter school authorizer, Red Lake Tribal Council and other strategic partnerships.
Outreach to communities, the school district, and local, state, Tribal and national governments about Endazhi-Nitaawiging’s systems for cultural relevance and academic excellence.
Share extensive knowledge of and experience with Indigenous education.
Set and monitor the organization's goals in support of the mission, including leading an organizational performance framework for continuous improvement.
Communicate with consistency, transparency, respect, breadth and depth.
Be present with and proximal to team members, students and families.
Bridge understandings between the Organizational Leadership team and other staff.
Lead decision-making protocols with team members.
Identify and set priorities for professional development responsive to internal need.
Oversee high-level financial functions: financial and business processes, procedures, systems, controls of the school, fund development plan annually: create the preliminary and revised annual budget for the school, monitoring the financial health of the organization and ensuring compliance with all of the expectations of the grant requirements and donations received to implement Endazhi-Nitaawiging’s core mission.
Manage recruitment and selection of staff: Ensuring staff evaluation of staff aligned to goals of improving academic and mission-aligned outcomes for students; Establish and maintain professional and cooperative working relationships with all stakeholders.
Facilitate setting of agendas for monthly meetings with the Endazhi-Nitaawiging Board and other on-going committees and consultants.
Attend and report to Board of Directors meetings, at least monthly, to communicate issues, needs, strategic initiatives' impact, school performance evaluations, and academic and environmental learning data.
Ensuring that school building is clean and safe with continuous maintenance and plans for improvements as needed.
Ensure Endazhi-Nitaawiging’s brand contributes positively within the community.
Work with financial managers to set economic objectives necessary for fiscal health and sustainability.
Actively oversee day-to-day staff placement, presence, and flow, ensuring all students are supported throughout the school day.
Manage student conduct, discipline, and attendance, upholding school policies and state guidelines while fostering a fair and respectful atmosphere.
Serve as the primary contact for concerns related to student behavior, investigating incidents, documenting outcomes, and keeping families informed and involved.
Work closely with teachers, counselors, and administrators to nurture students’ academic, social, and emotional growth, including leading intervention meetings and developing individual support plans.
Implement and sustain restorative practices, conflict resolution strategies, and positive behavior systems that create a safe, welcoming school environment.
Coordinate with external agencies and support networks for students facing behavioral, mental health, or social challenges, ensuring access to resources and care.
Monitor and interpret data related to discipline, attendance, and engagement, preparing clear reports for school leadership and the board as needed.
Implement and run school-wide events, assemblies, and extracurricular activities, cultivating a strong sense of community and school spirit.