Executive Director Lee Montessori Public Charter Schools

About Lee Montessori

Lee Montessori was founded in 2014 to challenge inequity and close the opportunity gap in Washington DC. Today, we operate two high-performing and diverse public charter schools that provide individualized instruction to each child in a welcoming, inclusive environment.

Our educational philosophy begins with the belief that all children — regardless of their race, zip code, or disability — have the ability to transform the world. To support children in meeting their full potential, we combine high-quality Montessori practices with best practices for academic development and social-emotional and equity learning principles.

Our Values

EQUITY

We acknowledge the outsized, generational impact of White Supremacy on historically underserved communities and endeavor to ensure that supports for students are provided equitably. This means that some students will receive more services or materials than others – in the areas of intervention strategies, supplies, face-time with Guides, and/or other ways that we support students.

BRAVERY

We achieve our mission in service to our students by making the best decisions we can with the information we have available. We will work to ensure that decisions are communicated promptly and clearly to all stakeholders.

GRACE

We strive to treat children, families, and staff with the utmost grace at all times. We understand the impact that the dynamic nature of everyday life can have on children and families, and will be flexible as families adjust accordingly. In exchange, we ask that families extend grace to school staff and other families as well.

GROWTH

We design programs to maximize students’ academic, physical, developmental, and social-emotional growth. This includes designing daily work that focuses on growth while also monitoring progress throughout the year using various assessment strategies.

JOY

We believe that it is critical for children, families, and staff to remain active and engaged in daily activities and work – and that’s why we design our programs and supports to be enjoyable and manageable.

Job Overview

We are seeking an experienced and visionary leader to serve as the Executive Director of Lee Montessori Public Charter School. As the Executive Director, you will be responsible for providing academic leadership, strategic direction, overseeing daily operations, and ensuring the overall success of the schools. Your primary goal will be to create an environment that fosters academic excellence, character development, and a strong sense of community among students, staff, and parents. This position requires a deep commitment to educational equity, the Montessori Philosophy, accountability for organizational and student achievement results, innovative instructional practices, and the ability to effectively manage a diverse team. We expect the ED to ensure the values of LEE are alive throughout the school community.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic, Visionary Leadership:

• Demonstrate dynamic leadership and the ability to rally and motivate teams effectively.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and high expectations for student achievement.
• Lead the development and implementation of innovative educational programs and initiatives.
• Implement, and transparently monitor and report on the long-term strategic plan to achieve academic and operational goals.
• Ability to advance a clear vision and mission of the charter school and support the school community and external stakeholders in achieving the mission.
• Use excellent communication and active listening skills to engage and influence stakeholders.
• Identify the Strengths, Risks and Opportunities for the Lee Community and establish a short- and long-term plan for leveraging existing strengths and addressing areas that need significant improvement.

Instructional Leadership:

• Foster a positive and inclusive learning environment that supports the social-emotional development of all students.
• Encourage enthusiastic implementation of a rigorous and comprehensive Montessori curriculum that meets the needs of a diverse student population.
• Monitor and analyze student performance data to identify areas for improvement and develop targeted interventions.
• Set direction and lead instructional improvement efforts along with school level leadership teams.
• Provide instructional leadership by promoting effective teaching practices and a culture of professional growth among faculty and staff.

Operational Management:

• Be a problem solver, addressing operational challenges and finding innovative solutions.
• Collaborate with the board of directors, providing regular updates on school performance, challenges, and opportunities.
• Develop and manage the annual budget and provide financial leadership, ensuring financial sustainability and resource allocation aligned with the school's priorities.
• Recruit, develop, and retain top talent.
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the school, ensuring compliance with all relevant laws, regulations, and policies.
• Demonstrate efficiency and the ability to execute tasks in a proactive and timely manner.
• Manage a qualified team of faculty, staff, and seek to continuous improvement of school leadership.
• Oversee effective management of facilities, including completion of construction projects.

Community Engagement:

• Build strong relationships with parents, community organizations, and local stakeholders to promote the school's mission and engage their support.
• Establish and maintain effective communication channels with staff, parents, students, and the broader community.
• Collaborate with external partners to provide students with access to enrichment programs, internships, and college/career readiness opportunities.
• Act as a spokesperson for the school, advocating for educational equity and the unique needs of charter schools.
• Represent the school at community events, public meetings, and relevant forums to enhance the school's visibility and reputation.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in educational leadership, including a successful track record of school level and or organizational leadership in a public school (strongly preferred), independent school, or educational organization.
• A results-oriented leader who demonstrates efficiency, execution, and problem-solving skills.
• A master's or other advanced degree in, education, organizational leadership, finance or a related field.
• A willingness to grow and learn in areas in which you will need additional knowledge to lead the school community.
• Demonstrated knowledge of charter school laws, regulations, and best practices.
• Exceptional instructional background with a deep understanding of effective teaching, academic programming and teaching and learning strategies.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Preferred experience with fundraising vis a vis vision setting, communicating and engaging others.
• Strong working knowledge and commitment to Montessori Methods and/or a willingness to take a Core Principles course.
• Senior level organizational leadership experience (strongly preferred); including financial oversight and the ability to develop and implement strategic plans, manage budgets, and drive organizational stability, sustainability, success and health of the school community.

Benefits

Lee Montessori Public Charter School offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package. The salary range for this position is $150,000 - $165,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Join us in our mission to provide an exceptional Montessori education and make a lasting impact on the lives of students in the DC community. Apply now to become our Executive Director and contribute to the success and growth of Lee Montessori Public Charter School.