• Job Description

  Req#: 6402a7478fa4

  Background

  Founded in 2007 as one high school on the south side of Milwaukee, Carmen Schools of Science and Technology (Carmen) is one of the largest charter school networks in Wisconsin, with six schools and five campus locations serving over 2,000 students in grades K4 - 12th.

  Wisconsin, and specifically Milwaukee, is home to some of the largest educational achievement gaps between students of color and their white peers. Public education is supposed to be the great equalizer in America, and yet in Wisconsin and Milwaukee, most public schools are failing to equitably educate children and teens, particularly those of color who come from low-income backgrounds. Carmen was established to address these inequities. Carmen’s mission is to graduate all students as critical thinkers and self-directed learners prepared for success in college, meaningful careers, community involvement, and family life. The Carmen education model features a rigorous college preparatory curriculum, supportive intervention programs, and a focus on developing 21st century skills in students.

  Carmen students and alumni have lived up to this mission, and Carmen has achieved an enduring reputation for academic excellence in the communities it serves over the past sixteen years. Carmen’s first high school, Carmen South, has consistently been ranked among the top ten Wisconsin schools on one or both of the U.S. News & World Report’s Best High Schools listings, and the Washington Post’s Most Challenging High Schools listings, as well as receiving the Title 1 School of Recognition Beating the Odds Award. Additionally, Carmen is the only charter network in Milwaukee to be awarded expansion and replication grants from both the U.S. Department of Education Charter Schools Program and the national Charter School Growth Fund. Carmen’s college matriculation and graduation rates are some of the highest in the City of Milwaukee. On average, 44% of the Classes of 2014-2017 earned a bachelor's degree (or higher). Of the 2023 high school graduating class, 78% intended to enroll in a 2- or 4-year college or university.

  While the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting learning loss has left an indelible impact on student achievement, especially for schools and networks serving low-income communities and students of color, Carmen has navigated these unprecedented challenges and uneven academic outcomes across schools by implementing an aligned curriculum, overhauling its teacher and employee compensation system, and increasing teacher professional development, coaching, and support, in order to retain top educational talent and improve academic results.

  
  

  Opportunity

  Carmen is primed for a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to build on student and alumni achievements and ensure it delivers on its mission.

  The Carmen board seeks an experienced, transformational education leader who will set the vision for organizational excellence and identity, develop the teams and structures necessary to transform practice, and ultimately move the needle on student achievement across the network. The ideal candidate is a champion for children who embraces challenges, thinks strategically, is already familiar with or can quickly immerse themselves in the local community, and will be a credible, visible organizational leader.

  The CEO will report to the Board of Directors and directly manage the leaders of the academics, operations, talent/HR, financial, college and career, and external affairs teams who comprise the network-wide Carmen Leadership Team.

  Responsibilities

  Strategic Leadership

  ● Lead a multi-year strategic vision and plan that strengthens the organization and outcomes for students and families; ● Ensure accountability by setting clear academic, operational, talent, advancement, and financial goals and priorities aligned with the strategic plan;

  ● Clarify and promote Carmen’s mission; lead the organization to fulfill its mission.

  Leadership and Team Management

  ● Develop, coach, and retain a high-performing leadership team and manage them towards ambitious goals; ● Clarify the organizational structure, including leadership team roles and responsibilities; hire for key positions; ● Foster an inclusive, collaborative, and accountable culture where everyone is focused on student success and growth; ● Promote and model cultural competence, equity, and inclusion;

  ● Collaborate with the leadership team to strategize, develop, and implement plans for staff development, including establishing an organizational performance management system.

  External Partnership, Engagement, and Sustainability

  ● Externally champion the vision, mission, goals, and values of Carmen, including speaking publicly, and communicating widely about the work and accomplishments of the organization;

  ● Create and execute strategies to increase student enrollment and limit student attrition;

  ● Build and expand partnerships in the local community, including key local leaders, government officials, philanthropic organizations, and community-based organizations;

  ● Interact regularly with Milwaukee Public Schools and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (charter authorizers) to ensure compliance and the long-term sustainability of the schools;

  ● Serve on the Carmen Development Organization Board of Directors and support partnerships with key stakeholders; ● In collaboration with the Board of Directors and leadership, ensure that Carmen has a strong long-term financial plan; manage the organizational budget of approximately $28 MM while laying the groundwork to increase funding opportunities over time.

  Partnership with the Board of Directors

  ● Continue to develop an engaged and active Board in close partnership with the Board Chair; ● Update the Board of Directors regularly regarding the academic state of the network, policy review, board directives, and fiscal matters;

  ● Continue to help diversify the board, recruit new board members, and ensure board members bring different perspectives, experiences, community ties, and areas of expertise to bear in their roles;

  ● Receive and incorporate board feedback on performance annually;

  ● Partner with the board on fundraising and capital campaign efforts.

  Qualifications

  The ideal CEO candidate will bring the following experiences, skills, and mindset/values:

  Required Experience

  ● At least 10 years of professional experience, including successful management of a team of adults in a complex educational organization or school network with ambitious organizational, fiscal, and student achievement goals;

  ● Experience teaching and leading at a high performing charter or district elementary, middle, and/or high school with a student population similar to the communities Carmen serves;

  ● Successful experience with academic and culture improvement efforts and the ability to move schools/networks to improve student achievement outcomes;

  ● Experience successfully building, managing, developing, and supporting inclusive, high-performing, diverse teams; ● Experience leading, investing, and motivating stakeholders in a shared vision for an organization, and defining strategies to operationalize that vision;

  ● A bachelor’s degree from an accredited, four-year university.

  Preferred Experience

  ● Experience creating, improving, and scaling organizational systems and infrastructure;

  ● Experience successfully building coalitions and navigating environments with diverse stakeholders; ● Experience building and stewarding external partnerships and serving as the external face of an organization; ● Fundraising/development experience;

  ● Experience managing a large organizational budget equal to or greater than $10 MM;

  ● Experience successfully working with boards;

  ● Connection to and/or understanding of the Milwaukee educational landscape;

  ● Advanced degree or equivalent preferred.

  Skills

  ● Culturally competent leader with the ability to build an inclusive workplace where diversity is valued and leveraged to achieve the vision and mission of the organization;

  ● Ability to create a strategic plan with clear metrics for success, and lead a team to execute the plan; ● Demonstrated ability to create a positive work environment defined by a culture of high expectations, accountability, and continuous improvement;

  ● Depth and breadth of academic knowledge including an understanding of effective school models and current trends in education;

  ● Ability to collect different perspectives, make difficult decisions with a sense of urgency, and stand by them; ● Superior relationship management skills, and the ability to engage and inspire a variety of stakeholders; ● The executive presence to inspire confidence and mutual respect that engenders an environment of trust, collaboration, teamwork, and psychological safety;

  ● Clear, tested philosophy and understanding of operational excellence and the connection between operations and academics in schools/networks; ability to carry out this vision at Carmen;

  ● The ability to communicate clearly internally and externally; bilingual in Spanish preferred.

  Mindset/Values

  ● Alignment with the mission and vision of Carmen and an appreciation for the organization’s history and legacy in Milwaukee; ● Belief in the importance of engaging with and investing in students, families, and the communities Carmen serves; ● Equity-driven mindset;

  ● A deep-seated commitment to leading with authenticity, integrity, and transparency;

  ● Evidence of well-developed emotional intelligence, humility, growth mindset, and receptiveness to feedback; Compensation and Application

  Compensation & Benefits

  The salary range starts at $200,000 and is commensurate with experience. The CEO will also be eligible for a bonus structure tied to specific organizational and academic outcomes, currently being determined by the Board. Carmen provides excellent medical, dental, and vision plans, free life insurance, free employee assistance program (EAP), free short-term and long-term disability insurance, 403b retirement plan with 4% employer match, flexible spending accounts, 15 days of PTO, and 26 paid holidays/school breaks.

  Carmen understands that there are many paths to acquiring experience and that lived experience can provide important skills and abilities. Therefore, we welcome candidates from diverse and nontraditional backgrounds for this role, including those who have demonstrated transferable skills to carry out the major duties outlined in this job description.

  Carmen complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination. Carmen is committed to equal employment opportunities (EEO) for all employees and applicants and employment without regard to race, color, gender, disability, genetic information, marital status, age, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, lay-off, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training. Carmen expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Any actions or behaviors that create an uncomfortable work environment and prohibit an employee to perform their expected duties will not be tolerated.

  To apply, please email your resume to Jobs[@]k12searchgroup.com with a subject line of “Carmen CEO.” Initial Application Deadline: Midnight CST on December 22, 2023.

  
  

  More info here: https://bit.ly/CarmenCEO
  

• About the company

  Updated Calendar for th e 2021-2022 School Year  Calendario actualizado para el año escolar 2021-2022 English | Español

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