Executive Director of Secondary Education

 
Position Summary

The Director of Secondary Education provides leadership for grades 6–12 instructional programs, athletics, school safety, and secondary operations to improve student achievement and ensure alignment with district strategic goals and the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. The position oversees curriculum, instruction, assessment, professional learning, extracurricular programming, and school safety supports; supervises secondary principals; and collaborates with district leaders, School Resource Officers, athletic personnel, and community partners to ensure high-quality educational opportunities, safe learning environments, and college and career readiness.

 Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Education, Educational Leadership, or related field required
• Valid North Carolina Administrator License
• Minimum of 5 years of successful teaching experience
• Minimum of 5 years of school or district-level administrative experience
• Experience as a secondary school principal preferred
• Demonstrated success in improving student achievement
• Experience leading professional development and school improvement initiatives
• Strong knowledge of curriculum, instruction, assessment, and NC education policies

Duties and responsibilities

Leadership & Program Oversight

• Provide leadership for all secondary education programs, including middle and high schools
• Supervise and support secondary principals to ensure effective school leadership
• Coordinate and monitor district-wide secondary initiatives and programs
• Lead development and implementation of strategic plans to improve student achievement
• Direct and evaluate secondary curriculum and instructional programs to ensure alignment with district goals and state standards

Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

• Oversee development, revision, and implementation of curriculum guides, pacing, and instructional resources
• Ensure vertical and horizontal alignment across secondary grade levels
• Collaborate with curriculum and instruction teams to evaluate instructional practices and recommend improvements
• Support development and use of formative and summative assessments
• Analyze student data (achievement, graduation rates, etc.) to inform decision-making and program improvement

Professional Development & School Improvement

• Design and facilitate professional learning for principals and instructional staff
• Support school improvement planning and implementation across secondary schools
• Collaborate with principals to identify professional development needs aligned to district goals
• Promote research-based instructional practices and continuous improvement

College & Career Readiness

• Oversee programs such as Advanced Placement (AP), Career and Technical Education (CTE), AVID, IB, and dual enrollment
• Serve as liaison to community colleges, universities, and business/industry partners
• Coordinate postsecondary pathways and college/career readiness initiatives

Athletics Oversight

• Provide district-level leadership and oversight for middle and high school athletics programs
• Supervise and support athletic directors to ensure compliance with district, conference, and North Carolina High School Athletic Association regulations
• Oversee athletic policies, procedures, eligibility compliance, and risk management practices
• Support development of equitable and high-quality extracurricular opportunities for students
• Coordinate responses related to athletic concerns, investigations, and appeals as needed
• Collaborate with principals and athletic staff to promote sportsmanship, student wellness, and program excellence

School Safety and Student Services

• Provide oversight and coordination for School Resource Officers (SROs) in collaboration with law enforcement and school administrators
• Support implementation of district safety plans, crisis response protocols, and school security procedures
• Collaborate with principals and SROs on prevention, intervention, and student discipline matters
• Support safe and orderly learning environments through coordination of student conduct and discipline processes
• Serve as district hearing officer for long-term suspensions and related student discipline proceedings

Collaboration & Communication

• Maintain effective communication with principals, district leadership, staff, parents, and community stakeholders
• Facilitate secondary principal meetings and professional learning communities
• Serve as liaison between schools and central office departments
• Respond to stakeholder concerns and support resolution of issues

Operations & Compliance

• Develop and manage budgets related to secondary programs
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local policies and regulations
• Monitor program effectiveness and prepare reports for district leadership and Board of Education
• Participate in board meetings, leadership teams, and district planning efforts

Personnel Management

• Supervise and evaluate assigned staff (e.g., curriculum coordinators, instructional coaches)
• Assist with recruitment, selection, and retention of highly qualified personnel
• Support leadership development for principals and instructional leaders

Other Duties

• Stay informed of current research, trends, and legislation in secondary education
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor

Physical requirements

• Ability to perform light work, including occasional lifting up to 20 pounds
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, and travel between school sites
• Ability to operate standard office equipment and technology
• Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written forms

Direct reports

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 in this job.

Salary : $7,573 - $9,731