Network Director of School Culture

About Mastery:

We believe educational inequity is the most pressing social problem facing our country and the civil rights issue of our day. Mastery exists to help solve this problem. Our ultimate goal is to create a model urban school district that serves all students with excellence. We are organized around one driving mission: All students learn the academic and personal skills they need to be truly prepared for postsecondary success and able to pursue their dreams. To fulfill this mission, we attend to the whole child - academically and emotionally - matching high expectations for students with high levels of support.

Mastery Charter Schools is a nonprofit network of more than 24 schools serving over 14,000 students in Philadelphia and Camden. We are the largest turnaround school operator in the nation and have been lauded by President Obama and the US Department of Education for our ability to dramatically boost academic achievement in historically low-performing schools.

We know neighborhood schools matter, all students deserve access to a great education, and the people in our building can grow and develop sustainably to make the biggest impact possible in this work.

Mastery's Equity Vision:

We believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential to achieving our mission.

We strive to be an anti-racist school district that eliminates the inequities in academic achievement that limit our students' choices; that cultivates classrooms where every student is affirmed, supported, and held to high expectations; and that nurtures a diverse organization where students, staff, and families are valued, respected, and included .

Position Summary:

The Director of School Culture is responsible for driving a healthy network-wide school culture model, rooted in both love and outcomes, that supports breakthrough student growth. Reporting to, and working closely with the Deputy Chief of Student Development, this person will collaborate with other NST staff, and school-based personnel, to train and develop leaders across the organization to actualize the Mastery school culture vision. The ideal candidate is a culturally competent leader who knows how to invest staff in a bold, equity-focused, school culture vision, and can design and facilitate learning opportunities that build critical mindsets and tangible skill sets such that school-based culture leaders and teachers will be able to implement the Mastery school culture vision with a high degree of executional excellence.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Work collaboratively with the Deputy Chief of Student Development and Specialized Services team to strengthen Mastery's approach to building a positive, culturally responsive school culture
• Support schools in developing corrective action plans to address issues of disproportionality with regards to school culture data (suspensions, referrals, etc.)
• Work, in collaboration with the Instructional Coaching Team, to developing training supports and coaching for 1st and 2nd year teachers around developing effective learning partnerships with students and families
• Partner with key stakeholders to clarify the essential culture leadership skills and key strategies necessary to align all schools to the Mastery school culture vision.
• Strengthen and codify school culture resources and tools to disseminate to the network's school-based culture leaders
• Provide on the ground support to strengthen school culture systems: Partner with a cohort of schools to support strengthening the school's Tier I and Tier II Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) structures; Build the capacity of school leaders to manage change at their school sites; this includes
• systems oversight, APSC Development, teacher skill building and data driven action planning
• Design and deliver school culture professional development to teachers, deans and leaders across the organization at various times of the year
• Provide mentoring and regular campus-based coaching supports for Assistant Principals of School Culture
• Partner with the Recruitment team to recruit and retain high quality culture leaders.

Qualifications:

• Proven skills in a school leadership position, preferably a school culture position; past experience driving results, managing and/or coaching people, and overseeing strategic Initiatives
• Strong professional development leader; experience designing and facilitating high-quality professional development.
• Proven record of building power partnerships with families that support students' academic development
• Ability to interact with and motivate diverse stakeholders and create adult learning communities
• High degree of emotional intelligence and adaptive leadership skills
• Focused on equitable outcomes for all students- a flexible thinker who deeply believes that a safe and supportive school culture has a positive impact on student achievement
• Ability to lead within a fast-paced, dynamic, and rapidly-changing environment
• Zest, a sense of humor, a strong work ethic, and a one team spirit

Education and Experience:

• Master's degree in education or related field preferred
• Experience managing adults in a public school setting;
• Teaching experience required (Elementary or special education preferred)
• Experience with building culturally responsive teaching practices
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience leading in a historically underserved community

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required such as maneuvering in classrooms and office space-reaching file cabinets, filing, faxing, scanning, coping, typing, mailing, and making phone calls; Must be able to sit for up to two (2) hours looking at a computer monitor, using a keyboard and mouse and typing.

Mastery Charter Schools is an equal opportunity employer and actively encourages applications from people of all backgrounds. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience. We offer a full benefits program and opportunities for professional growth.

UPDATE AS OF MARCH 2021 - Please review Mastery's Back to School Plans here to learn about our response to COVID-19 for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years. For ongoing positions, Mastery roles are designated as in-person, with regular on-site responsibilities, unless otherwise noted. As such, Employees must be able to support Mastery Schools' academic plan and business strategies on-site - at a Mastery campus - as required.

Exceptions to this requirement will be considered on an individualized basis.