Position Purpose

The Chief Academic Officer serves to advance the mission of Hill Country Christian School by promoting excellence at all levels of the school's academic program and by ensuring all academic programs embody a commitment to Christ-centered and classical education. 

Position Type:

The Chief Academic Officer reports directly to the Head of School and is considered executive level management and is therefore salaried and exempt.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in an academic leadership position or relevant in a school (Christian school preferred)
• A Masters degree or other advanced degree in education or relevant field of study  
• Must be a Christ-follower who upholds, in word and deed, Hill Country Christian School of Austin’s Core Values and Statement of Faith
• Must faithfully attend a church whose fundamental beliefs are in agreement with Statement of Faith of this school
• Successful record of developing academic programs and/ or overseeing curriculum and instruction practices is required
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with a high degree of competency to build and maintain effective professional relationships
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Key Results Areas:  The Chief Academic Officer will ensure academic excellence by:

• Training, developing, and overseeing division level principals 

• Hire (when necessary) and then lead/manage Elementary, Middle and High School Principals 
• Provide visionary leadership to principals for the academic program
• Ensure principals are leading and managing their teachers in alignment with the academic vision and the curricular objectives 
• Hold principals accountable to excellent execution of our academic program

• Serving as top level advisor to the Head of School on all academic programs 

• Keep Head of School informed on all levels of academic progress
• Maintain and further develop academic dashboard to measure school’s academic performance

• Coordinating and analyzing all standardized tests

• Work with school administration to coordinate CLT testing days (3-10
• Work with the College Board to schedule ACT, PSAT, and SAT testing on site. 

• Aligning Curriculum scope and sequence from 12 down to Kindergarten

• Work with Principals and teachers to ensure all curriculum scope and sequences are in alignment with our academic and cultural visions
• When necessary, revise standards to meet current academic vision 
• Review and refine current grade by grade scope and sequence documents to ensure they are reflect our academic aspirations
• Develop any scope and sequence documents that are either non-existent or too outdated to be useful

• Developing, leading, and coordinating all faculty development 

• Act as the primary point of contact and driver for all faculty development
• Work with principals and Head of School to outline yearly professional development plans
• Coordinate with outside/guest speakers to deliver excellent PD opportunities for faculty
• Maintain a teacher training track to ensure new teachers are intentionally developed into master teachers according to the Hill Country way

• Providing teacher coaching to Department Chairs

• Work with principals and Department Chairs to coach individual teachers under their care 
• Provide master teacher level coaching for Department chairs so that they can be master teachers on their own, but also ensure all teachers in their departments are moving towards teacher mastery.  

• When necessary, providing teacher coaching to lowest performing teachers 

• Work with principals and Department Chairs to pinpoint lowest performing teachers and work out a plan to provide intense coaching and feedback to quickly get teachers up to speed or moved out of their position 

Physical and environmental requirements

• Frequently move about inside campus buildings and outside on the grounds
• Must be able to exchange accurate and professional information whether in person, via email or telephone. Frequently communicate, via email, telephone, or in person, with colleagues
• Grasp, move, or assemble small objects
• Must be flexible and adapt to various classroom settings and learning styles, schedules, and changes
• Possible exposure to a variety of childhood and adult diseases and illnesses