What are the responsibilities and job description for the Executive Director of Secondary Instruction position at Gaston County Schools Career Site?
Definition
An employee in this position works directly with Principals to assure the orderly and efficient operation of the secondary schools. The Executive Director will support the instructional program for secondary schools. In cooperation with other Executive Directors and instructional leaders, the employee is responsible for interpreting changes from the federal, state and local levels in order to inform Principals of the implications of those changes. The employee works with Principals and other leadership to monitor the instructional frameworks that have been identified by academic services. In addition, the employee will support principals as teachers implement instruction with fidelity in classrooms. The Executive Director will work collaboratively with the Superintendent to evaluate secondary principals.
Duties and Responsibilities
• Provides consultation and support for school-based leadership.
• Assists in the preparation of budgets for assigned programs and monitor expenditures.
• Maintains appropriate records and statistics regarding trends, needs and success at the secondary level.
• Maintains open communication with all levels of the school system hierarchy; serves as a liaison between schools and various departments with the Central Office; maintains regular contact with academic officers and central office personnel to exchange ideas, share information, and develop successful plans.
• Develops meeting agendas for regularly scheduled high quality professional development sessions.
• Compiles data and other information for various local, state or federal reports.
• Maintains appropriate files and documentation as required by law.
• Perform other related work/activities as required by the position or as requested by supervisor.
• Conducts on-site observations of assigned schools in the system; provides feedback, support, and suggestions to principals; conducts and documents formal evaluations of principals.
• Assists principals with decision-making and problem-solving.
• Monitors the development and implementation of school improvement plans.
• Supervises and conducts personnel administration duties for principals, including evaluating, assigning special duties, monitoring attendance and travel reports, and granting leave.
• Increase and accelerate the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the instructional service delivery system for students; to significantly increase student achievement across all student subgroups, close the achievement gap and meet school, district, and state annual targets.
• Exercise knowledge and skills in effective leadership, strategic planning and change leadership, management, human resource development, and customer service.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Considerable knowledge of local, state and federal policies and procedures regarding education.
• Considerable knowledge of the organization and communication channels of the school system.
• Considerable knowledge of the ethical guidelines applicable to the position as outlined by professional organizations and/or federal, state, and local laws, rules and regulations.
• Considerable knowledge of the principles of supervision, organization and administration.
• General knowledge of the Essential Standards/North Carolina course of study.
• Skilled in listening and developing relationships with a broad range of audiences.
• Demonstrates understanding of Federal and State leadership and the impact of Federal and State decisions on the school district.
• Remains current with educational trends and changing Federal and State policies and procedures.
• Ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or composite characteristics of data, people, or things.
• Ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving instructions, assignments or directions to subordinates or assistants.
• Ability to read a variety of correspondence, reports, forms, articles, proposals, contracts, etc.
• Ability to prepare correspondence, reports, forms, evaluations, policies, etc. using prescribed formats.
• Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form.
• Ability to record and deliver information, explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions.
• Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages including medical, legal, and counseling terminology.
• Ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; multiply and divide; and, utilize decimals and percentages.
• Ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions.
• Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with emergencies.
• Strong understanding of the growth and development of secondary school children.
• A meaningful understanding of secondary curriculum and scheduling.
• Ability to plan, develop, implement and evaluate programs.
• Ability to develop and implement policies, procedures and standards for services offered.
• Ability to evaluate existing programs and make recommendations for improvements.
• Ability to use common office machines and popular computer-driven word processing, spreadsheet and file maintenance programs.
• Ability to maintain complete and accurate records and statistics and to develop meaningful reports from that information.
• Ability to express ideas orally and in writing effectively and with excellent grammar.
• Ability to successfully make oral presentations before large groups of people; requires understanding of adult learners.
• Ability to exercise considerable tact and courtesy in frequent contact with the public.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
• Ability to work constructively within a team environment.
• Demonstrate an ability to manage fiscal, physical and human resources to successfully carry out the functions and programs of the office.
• Ability to interpret statutes and regulations for Principals and teachers.
Physical Requirements:
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms; talk or hear.
• The employee is occasionally required to sit and stoop, kneel, or crouch.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Must be able to perform light work exerting up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Must be energetic and flexible.
• Must possess the visual acuity to prepare data, work with records processes, and do extensive reading and research.
• Requires the ability to talk and hear ideas using spoken word.
Minimum Training and Experience
• Minimum of Master’s degree in Education
• Minimum of five years of successful teaching experience
• 7 years of administrative experience, including experience at the secondary level
• Licensure in at least one elementary, middle, or high school area required
• Strong data results to show impact within and across schools
This Position Reports Directly to: Associate Superintendent of Academic Services
Salary: North Carolina Central Office Salary
Classification: Exempt
Disclaimer
The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to this job.
If offered a position, prospective employee must pass a required health exam, criminal records check, and drug test.
Revised 08/2026 Academic Services
Supersedes 05/03/2018 MBalknight, 04/2021, 11/2023 EFolger, 04/23/2024 TKales