Managing Director of Academics

Description

Organization: Excel Academy Charter Schools

Position: Managing Director of Academics

Location: Greater Boston, MA or Providence, RI

Reports to: Nina Keough, Chief Schools Officer

Background:

Excel Academy is a growing network of five public charter schools in Massachusetts and Rhode Island serving students in grades 5-12. Since its founding in 2003, Excel has been committed to ensuring that every student, regardless of race, zip code, or economic status, has access to a free, high-quality, holistic education that prepares them to succeed in high school, college, and beyond. Today, Excel educates more than 1,700 students, the majority of whom identify as Latinx or Hispanic and will be the first in their families to graduate from college. Families choose Excel because students consistently achieve and grow at high levels. Excel students outperform their peers in growth and achievement and are five times more likely to graduate from college. Middle school students demonstrate academic growth at a pace faster than most of their peers statewide, driven by a combination of rigorous instruction, high expectations, and strong individualized supports. Excel Academy High School is nationally ranked for academic excellence and sets students up for long-term success, whether they pursue college or a career pathway after graduation.

Excel Academy’s culture is rooted in a deep belief in student potential and a set of shared values embraced by all staff members. Every day, team members choose to be positive, invest in their own development, uplift one another, and maintain the highest expectations for what students can achieve. The organization’s mission-driven educators and leaders are united in their work to expand educational access and ensure that students are positioned to thrive academically and engage meaningfully in their communities.To learn more about Excel Academy Charter Schools, please visit their website.

Opportunity:

Excel Academy is seeking a Managing Director of Academics (MDA), a senior, network-level leader responsible for setting direction for curriculum, instruction, and professional learning across the organization.Reporting to the Chief Schools Officer, the MDA is responsible for building instructional leadership across the network and developing leaders to improve the quality of teaching and learning across classrooms. The MDA’s work is grounded in developing people and improving practice, strengthening the instructional leadership capacity of network and school-based leaders, including principals, academic leaders, and content leaders. The MDA directly manages and develops the Director of ELA and Math and the Director of the Excel Teaching Fellowship.

Through this work, the MDA strengthens the quality and coherence of Excel’s academic program across grade levels and content areas. This includes improving curriculum and its implementation, overseeing the continued development of Excel’s high school academic program—including curriculum strategy for the founding Rhode Island high school and coherence with the Massachusetts high school model—and strengthening the middle school curriculum to consistently meet a high bar and prepare students for high school. The MDA ensures that curriculum and instruction are rigorous, aligned to college-ready standards, and culturally responsive, and prepare students for college and career pathways. As a member of the Network Team, the MDA works closely with leaders across student supports, data, talent, and operations to ensure that academic priorities are aligned across the organization.

Core Priorities of the Role

• Leader and Team Development: Lead and develop the Director of ELA and Math and the Director of the Excel Teaching Fellowship. Build the instructional leadership capacity of principals, academic leaders, and content leaders across the network. Develop leaders to improve teaching and learning in their schools.
• Curriculum Quality and Coherence (Grades 5–12): Ensure a coherent academic program across grades 5–12 and across Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Lead the selection, adaptation, and implementation of curriculum across grade levels and content areas. Oversee curriculum strategy for the founding Rhode Island high school and ensure coherence with the Massachusetts high school model. Improve the quality and consistency of the middle school curriculum to ensure strong preparation for high school. Ensure curriculum materials are rigorous, aligned to college-ready standards, culturally responsive, and connected to college and career pathways.
• Instructional Quality and Implementation: Strengthen Tier 1 curriculum implementation across schools. Develop leaders to improve instructional practice so that core instruction consistently drives strong and improving academic outcomes and reflects culturally responsive practices.
• Professional Learning and Adult Development: Design and lead (or oversee the design and facilitation of) professional learning for network and school-based leaders. Model strong adult learning and develop leaders to effectively coach teachers and instructional teams.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with leaders across student supports, data, talent, operations, and school leadership to ensure curriculum, instruction, and professional learning are aligned with broader network systems. Partner with the Managing Director of Student Supports to strengthen differentiation, accessibility, and culturally responsive practices within Tier 1 instruction.

Responsibilities:

Instructional Vision and Priorities

• Set and steward the network’s instructional direction, ensuring coherence across schools, grade levels, and content areas
• Identify and prioritize the highest-leverage opportunities to strengthen teaching and learning across the network
• Partner with school and network leaders to translate academic priorities into strong instructional practice
• Ensure alignment with Excel’s instructional philosophy while balancing network consistency with school-based flexibility.

Leader and Teacher Development

• Serve as a strong instructional leader, modeling effective practices in teaching, coaching, and adult learning
• Design and lead (or oversee the design and facilitation of) high-impact professional development for principals, academic leaders, and teachers
• Manage and develop the Director of ELA and Math and the Director of the Excel Teaching Fellowship, and coach and develop leaders across the network
• Build systems that support consistent, high-quality instructional feedback and development across schools

Curriculum and Instruction

• Oversee the selection, adaptation, and implementation of curriculum across grade levels and content areas
• Lead curriculum strategy for the founding Rhode Island high school and ensure coherence with the Massachusetts high school model
• Improve the quality and consistency of the middle school curriculum to ensure strong preparation for high school
• Work with content leaders to strengthen coherence across subjects and grade levels
• Ensure curriculum materials are rigorous, aligned to college-ready standards, culturally responsive, and connected to college and career pathways

Data-Driven Instruction

• Partner with data and assessment leaders to analyze student achievement trends and identify priorities for improving teaching and learning
• Support leaders in using data to inform instructional decisions, curriculum adjustments, and professional learning priorities
• Ensure coherence between curriculum, assessment, and instructional practice across schools
• Use network-wide data to inform academic strategy and continuous improvement efforts

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Organizational Leadership

• Collaborate with leaders across student supports, data, talent, and operations to ensure coherence of curriculum, instruction, and professional learning within broader network systems
• Partner with the Managing Director of Student Supports to strengthen differentiation, accessibility, and alignment of Tier 1 instruction with Tier 2 and Tier 3 supports
• Contribute to network-wide academic strategy as a member of the Network Team
• Build relationships with school leaders to support strong implementation of academic priorities across schools

Qualifications

Required Experience

• Demonstrated experience as a senior leader in academics, curriculum, or instructional systems, with responsibility for setting vision and designing systems across multiple teams or schools
• Experience leading at a systems level and/or managing and developing other leaders (e.g., principals, network leaders, or equivalent roles)
• Proven ability to lead through influence, including partnering with school leaders and coaching senior staff
• Strong judgment and problem-solving skills in complex, high-stakes situations
• Track record of building trust, developing leaders, and strengthening teams
• Ability to work across functional areas to integrate priorities into broader organizational systems
• Deep understanding of rigorous instructional practice, particularly in Tier 1 instruction
• Experience improving teaching and learning through curriculum and instruction
• Bachelor’s degree required

Preferred Experience

• Experience scaling systems in multi-site educational organizations.
• Experience working in growing charter schools and networks.
• Advanced degree in education, leadership, or a related field

Skills

• Strong systems-thinking and ability to create clarity in complex environments;
• Exceptional relationship-building and collaboration skills;
• Strategic and analytical thinking with a focus on continuous improvement;
• Strong communication and facilitation skills;
• Ability to balance long-term strategy with operational execution.

Mindsets/Values

• Commitment to and belief in all students and Excel Academy’s mission;
• Dedication to addressing racial and economic inequity in education;
• Collaborative, inclusive, and team-oriented approach;
• Growth mindset and openness to feedback;
• Strong sense of ownership and commitment to continuous improvement.

Compensation and Application:

The salary range for this position is $110,000 – $170,000, commensurate with experience.

Excel Academy Charter Schools do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, age, ancestry, athletic performance, special need, proficiency in the English language or a foreign language or prior academic achievement.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received and candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.