Join the Vanguard of Urban Education

Our Mission
Shelby County Schools—one of the largest school districts in the nation—is located in Memphis, Tennessee, a city in the midst of a grassroots renaissance, Perched above the roll of the Mississippi River, the Bluff City has long been a hotbed of cultural richness—blues, barbeque, and the legendary Beale run deep here—and a fresh wave of innovative thinkers are breathing new life into our city, resulting in an eclectic blend of historicity and innovation that you’ll find nowhere else on Earth. This renaissance spirit is evident in the food, music, architecture, and art of Memphis, but it is especially so in our schools, where you’ll find educators, administrators, and District staff who are earning national recognition for reshaping the traditional educational landscape.

Our Future

Though our challenges are significant, we are a district on the rise.

• We don’t believe in One Size Fits All: Our 111,000 students have a choice of over 200 schools, including traditional K-12 schools, theme-based Optional schools, alternative, career and technical, and charter schools
• We believe in results, not excuses: Our nationally acclaimed Innovation Zone (iZone) uses an extra hour of instruction to move schools from the State’s bottom 5% into the top 25%
• We believe in harnessing the power of our community: More than 1,400 volunteers are providing extra reading support to students at 43 schools through the Team Read Initiative
• We’re committed to closing the achievement gap: The Superintendent’s Summer Learning Academy offers specialized instruction at no cost for more than 6,300 students

• We believe that the greater the challenge, the greater our opportunity for growth: our District-wide math proficiency scores have doubled in the past three years.

Purpose and Scope

As the Chief Academic Officer for Shelby County Schools, you will . . .  

1. Help set the trajectory of one of the largest urban school districts in the nation. As one of the key contributors in the Superintendent’s cabinet, you’ll help synthesize patterns of success, challenge, opportunity and growth into a clear vision for the District, then serve as the lens through which this vision is translated into actionable items.
2. Leverage data to establish, evaluate, and adapt programming in ways that align curriculum with student success. You’ll help ensure that each of our 111,000 students gets the tailored support they deserve by coordinating our ever-expanding spectrum of unique services including CTE courses, ELL support, federal programs, guidance counseling, Optional Schools, STEM programming, Special Education, Curriculum and Instruction, Pre-K, and Exceptional Children.
3. Serve as a catalyst for continuous improvement in our schools. You’ll help build an environment in which all schools strive for—and thrive within—a relentless drive toward self-improvement, helping low-performing schools clearly outline a path upwards and challenging high-performing schools to polish their shine.
4. Build and hone a team of enthusiastic, effective teachers and school administrators. Our best work begins on the ground, and you’ll help draft plans to attract, support, and retain the best talent that the industry has to offer.
5. Coordinate resources to ensure the success of our portfolio of schools. You’ll harness interdepartmental insight to align our District’s needs with new school development, financial metrics and targets, planning and accountability, and the overall philosophy of the District.

Our Working Environment

We operate under the notion that we will only be successful if we challenge ourselves with new ideas and attack obstacles with a bold sense of courage, creativity and determination. We strive for a mission-driven working environment that empowers all staff to take ownership of their work and professional development. Our work is hard, but our work is pure. Are you up for the challenge?

Our Compensation & Benefits

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. A comprehensive benefits package is also offered that includes health, dental, vision, flexible spending account options, and generous paid time off.  Employees can earn up to two weeks of vacation in their first 18 months, 12 sick days and 17 federal/district holidays annually. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's Degree in Education or related field or equivalent

• 10 years of experience in in a top leadership position involving instructional programming in a major school district or equivalent, for a total education/experience of 16 years.
• Valid Tennessee School Administrator's license, along with other certifications as required by state and local policies (e.g., Tennessee professional teacher's license)

To Apply
Please submit your resume and tailored cover letter online to osbornel@scsk12.org

Learn More
Website: www.scsk12.org
Link to career homepage: http://www.scsk12.org/uf/employee/career