Background

The Bronx Charter School for Better Learning provides its students with a solid foundation for academic success, through achievement that exceeds citywide averages and meets or exceeds New York State standards and national norms in all curriculum areas tested, especially in mathematics and language arts. Our teaching constantly adjusts to the needs of our students, leading to independence, autonomy, responsibility and a sustained love of learning, all of which contribute directly to high academic achievement.

To fulfill its mission, the school’s teachers endeavor to practice the subordination of teaching to learning, an instructional approach that does not dominate learning, but rather is guided by it. Implementing the approach involves: getting students actively and mentally engaged in lessons; assisting students to go beyond rote memorization, wherever the subject matter allows, and to develop criteria for understanding; recognizing every child’s high intellectual capacity and, thereby, welcoming errors in students’ work as guides to help them harness that capacity; promoting students’ use of what they know to master new content; and encouraging student initiative and self-sufficiency.

The Board of Trustees of the State University of New York approved the application for the Bronx Charter School for Better Learning 1 (BBL1) on February 23, 2003; it was subsequently approved by the Board of Regents on March 25, 2003. BBL 1 opened in the fall of 2003 with an enrollment of 50 students in Grade 1. One grade was added each year thereafter, and 285 students were enrolled in Grades 1-5 in the fall of 2007, the final year of its original charter term. On January 15, 2008, the State University Trustees granted BBL 1 a full-term charter renewal for 5 years, authorizing the school to provide instruction in Grades K-5 through the 2012-2013 school year. BBL 1 added a Kindergarten program in the fall of 2008 and served 345 students in grades K-5. In 2010-11 the school enrolled 386 students in those same grades. On March 4, 2013, the State University Trustees granted another full five-year renewal of the charter for Bronx Charter School for Better Learning.

Additionally, on June 4, 2014, the State University Trustees approved a five-year charter for the replication of BBL1 and, in turn, the opening of Bronx Better Learning 2 (BBL 2) for September 2015. Since September 2015, the Bronx Charter School for Better Learning Educational Corporation (Board of Trustees) has governed both charters, i.e., BBL 1 and BBL 2. BBL 1 enrolled 537 students for the 2017-2018 school year, concurrent with its being awarded an early, additional five-year renewal. BBL2 is up for a renewal of its five-year charter term which is set to begin in 2020.

Position

For More than a decade, The Bronx Charter School for Better Learning has been led by a successful Executive Director who is moving into retirement after building a strong foundation on which a new Executive Director will lead. 

The Board of Directors of the Bronx School for Better Learning (BBL) seeks an extraordinary and seasoned leader who can drive success in a cross-cultural environment, to be their Executive Director.  As the most senior executive overseeing both BBL1 and BBL2, the Executive Director will directly manage a team of academic, operations, programs, and community engagement professionals and is ultimately responsible for all the staff on both campuses.

The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors and is responsible for the entire operation of the school and serves as the key external representative on behalf of the school to the academic community, the local Bronx community, and local School districts.  A primary function of this dynamic and forward-thinking Executive Director will be the development of a robust resource generation plan and the ability to galvanize funders.

The Board of Directors seeks a proven leader with a commitment and openness to BBL’s pedagogic practice the subordination of teaching to learning and ethos and character of the school which that pedagogy imbues.  This next Executive Director will be an exceptional manager, motivating and trusted leader, and strong relationship builder with demonstrated success in cultural competencies in a similarly situated school or organization.

The Executive Director will work with the BBL Board of Directors, principals, teachers, professional development specialists, guidance department, parent organization, and community leaders to fulfill with excellence the mandate of the Charter.  

Responsibilities

The Executive Director’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Executive Leadership:

• Embody, advocate for, and execute on the mission, vision and strategic direction of BBL
• Supervise the school’s leadership team, including the Principals, Assistant Principals, Director of Professional Development, Director of Student Support, Director of Development, and Business Manager;
• Build on the deep culture of trust which currently exists at BBL, by maintaining a collaborative, open, and positive atmosphere amongst staff generally, and respectful professional relationships between individual staff members;
• Serve as the staff’s primary liaison to the Board of Directors bringing updates, concerns, recommendations, resource requirements, and major issues to the board’s attention in a timely manner;
• Reinforce the Board’s governance and fiduciary responsibilities by participating in monthly board meetings; preparing monthly administrative reports; and developing recommendations for board consideration that combine the best interests of students and the needs of BBL with the focus and direction the Board desires.

Operations:

The Executive Director will supervise key operational staff directly and develop and oversee all administrative and organizational support activities including:

• Human Resource policies and procedures;
• Technology (including planning, support, and all other administrative aspects);
• Facilities including custodial, maintenance, and cafeteria operations;
• Vendor management including physical supplies and required services;
• Coordination and development, with both school principals and assistant principals, various site calendars; and,
• Community outreach and routine fundraising activities.

Financial Management:

The Executive Director will manage the day-to-day finances of the organization including the following specific responsibilities:

• Develop an annual budget for board approval;
• Manage an annual operations budget ensuring fiscal stewardship and sustainability for the organization including timely accounts payable;
• Facilitate, prepare for, and attend annual audits and implement any audit findings;
• Provide financial reports to the Board of Directors, and other agencies as mandated by law and relevant policies;
• Inform the Board of Directors of general fundraising needs and requirements.

Resource Generation and Relationship Management:

The Executive Director is the school’s key spokesperson and primary public face to both the extended school community and external stakeholders.

• Provide regular communications with families and other stakeholders;
• Attend various school and community events;
• Nurture positive relationships with all community leaders including donors, elected officials, business owners, and residents;
• Work with the Board of Directors to establish fundraising goals, cultivate donors, and secure charitable contributions.

Compliance:

The Executive Director is directly responsible for ensuring that the school is in compliance with all policies. 

• Ensuring all legal and contractual obligations are met;
• Filing all necessary reports, claims, and forms to New York State DOE, and other governing bodies;
• Ensuring the school’s facilities meet health and safety requirements;
• Protecting the school, employees, and board by ensuring all prudent insurance policies are in place at sufficient levels;
• Developing and following safety and risk management best practices (including volunteer risk management, cybersecurity, and all other building safety risks); and,
• Assisting the Board in preparing for formal board approval of all relevant and prudent school policies and related procedures.
• Management and coordination of resources for a successful Charter renewal process.

Qualifications

As the incoming Executive Director, you will possess many, though perhaps not all, of the following characteristics and qualifications:

• Visionary Leader and developer of diverse executive and academic leadership talent;
• Communicator and team builder who is always focused on fostering a trusting and collaborative culture;
• Passionate and committed to the success of all students driven by the philosophy of the BBL pedagogy;
• Experience developing and managing a budget with transparent financial accountability;
• Demonstrated skill in building and managing relationships;
• Successful experience in building and developing a resource generation plan including stewarding donors, grants management and capital campaigns.
• Experience with Charter School management and the enuring of regulatory compliance;
• Effective Relationship builder and collaborator with cross cultural constituencies;
• History of effective decision making driven by data and analytics.

Equal Opportunity

BBL considers the diversity of its workforce to be vital to our organization’s success in meeting its mission. BBL strongly encourages applicants from all cultures, races, educational backgrounds, life experiences, socio-economic classes, sexual orientations, age, gender, and physical abilities to apply. Individuals with personal connections to the BBL community are particularly welcome to apply.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, it is BBL’s policy not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, familial status, marital status, predisposing genetic characteristics, actual or perceived domestic violence victim status, unemployment status, caregiver status, or any other category protected by law.