Executive Director / High School Principal

Sierra Academy of Expeditionary Learning is looking for a visionary leader who can help launch us into the next phase of our development as a school. We need someone with energy and passion who can work with our existing model, but also help us find areas of growth to become even stronger.

SAEL is a small, rigorous, project-based, interdisciplinary, college preparatory charter high school in Nevada City, California. The community is nestled among the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, in the western portion of Nevada County. SAEL prepares students, grades 9‑12, to create their own futures. The Executive Director has a substantial role in shaping the culture, reputation, and program of SAEL.

EL Education, formerly Expeditionary Learning, is the model and program at the core of this school. The mission of Sierra Academy of Expeditionary Learning is to create a safe environment that inspires students to achieve high standards, create quality work, develop strong character, and embrace lifelong learning and service through Expeditionary Learning.

Position Overview

The Executive Director is primarily responsible for leading the instructional program of the school and the implementation of the school’s curriculum and operations. This person must see individual student success (both academic and socioemotional) as paramount and this should guide work with teachers, students, and parents/families.

The Executive Director is the voice and face of SAEL and is responsible for the supervision, management and professional development of all staff. This person is responsible for all legal compliance, financial health and planning of the institution. The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors and works closely with them, as well as other administrators and EL Education staff to realize the mission and vision of the school.

Roles, Responsibilities and Duties

SAEL needs a leader who is a strong contributor to the community, a torch-bearer for excellence in EL Education implementation, and a visionary who is capable of inspiring students and teachers to achieve more than they thought was possible.

The following five Core Practices are traits crucial to EL Education and the success of this position.

1. Leadership
Serve as SAEL’s instructional leader and work closely with the staff to build an inclusive school culture that demonstrates integrity, diversity, appropriate risk-taking, and accountability in a safe and stimulating environment for students, staff, and families.

2. Culture and Character: “We are crew, not passengers.”
Model integrity, performance character, relational character, and the SAEL character traits daily. Develop and guide school structures to support these practices. Foster student leadership, service and stewardship. Support the Crew structure (advisory system) and help develop Crew curriculum.

3. Curriculum
Support staff in developing high quality learning expeditions (in depth, project-based investigations aligned with standards and intensives) that meet UC/CSU A-G secondary graduation requirements.

4. Instruction
Working with staff, help create school-wide instructional goals based on active pedagogy described in EL Core Practices. Ensure that instruction is effective and meets the needs of diverse learners. Support teachers by providing resources, technology, professional development opportunities and suggestions.

5. Assessment
Ensure that teachers assess student learning and use data and information to inform instruction. Confirm that teachers provide assessment information and data to parents/families.

IDEAL QUALIFICATIONS:

Required Credentials

• CA Administrative Credential
• CA Single Subject Teaching Credential

Leadership Experience and Skills

• At least 5 years’ experience as an instructional leader.
• Full-time administrative/supervisory experience, preferably working with high school students and staff.
• Demonstrate evidence of training and practitioner experience, preferably in project-based learning and reading curriculum.
• Demonstrate outstanding communication skills.
• Has experience supervising and evaluating staff.
• Proven experience managing budgets.

Instructional Experience

• Minimum 5 years of teaching experience in a classroom setting, ideally at an EL school or similar model.
• Have deep knowledge of CA & Common Core State Standards, learning targets, assessments, and regulations.
• Demonstrate ability to effectively collect, analyze, and leverage data to inform instruction.
• Show deep understanding of multiple methods to integrate fieldwork, experts, and service into public school curriculum.
• Appreciate developmental needs and different learning styles of high school students ages 14‑19.
• Demonstrate knowledge of multiple forms of assessment, including: Assessments for Learning, Portfolios, Student- Led-Conferences, etc.

EL Education Experience and Skills

• Preferably has experience working in EL schools (or similar, project-based model)
• Has a strong willingness to learn the EL Education model, and the ability to take that knowledge and communicate our methodology to the public.

Personal Qualities

• Has exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, who can build relationships in the school, and become a trusted coach and developer of teachers.
• A strong planner with exceptional organizational skills who enjoys working both independently and collaboratively.
• Will thrive in a rigorous, intellectually challenging, fast-paced and collaborative environment.
• Works well with a variety of people, listens first and seeks to understand, and accepts individual differences of all staff, students and family.
• Feels an unyielding commitment and unwavering conviction that every student can achieve at high levels and is willing to engage parents/families meaningfully and respectfully in their children’s education.
• Has an easy disposition, a sense of humor and the spirit of adventure.
• Is an advocate for social justice, equity and diversity issues.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may push or lift up to 40 lb. such as boxes of supplies. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision such as to read handwritten or typed material, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to accomplish each essential duty satisfactorily. The position requires the individual to meet multiple demands from several people and interact with the public and staff.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $122,000.00 - $136,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan

Work Location: In person

Salary : $122,000 - $136,000