Organization

Two Rivers Public Charter School is an Expeditionary Learning (EL) charter network that serves approximately 1000 students in preschool through eighth grade across three schools in Washington, DC. Two Rivers was founded in 2004 by more than three dozen parents from the Capitol Hill neighborhood with a mission to nurture a diverse group of students to become lifelong, active participants in their own education, develop a sense of self and community, and become responsible and compassionate members of society.

When students graduate from Two Rivers, they will have the cognitive and social skills to succeed in high school and college so that they are positioned to have rich and varied options for their future. The team at Two Rivers implements the interactive, hands-on, project-based learning EL model that uses expeditions to create an exciting educational environment in which students and staff become learners on a journey of discovery.

Each of the 175+ staff members at Two Rivers strongly believes all children can learn and be high achievers, and the rigorous and standards-based curriculum provides opportunities for students to excel. In addition to the core academic program, Two Rivers offers students integrated arts, content-based Spanish programs, and at least 22 real-world expeditions.

The entire Two Rivers community is guided by their motto: “We are crew, not passengers”. The Two Rivers approach focuses on the whole child, recognizing the importance of character education and the social-emotional needs of children. Students reflect on and evaluate themselves on 5 scholarly habits:

• I am independent and resilient.
• I can connect and collaborate.
• I know myself.
• I act with integrity.
• I show compassion and embrace diversity.

Two Rivers has a reputation as one of the top charter school networks in DC and has achieved DC Public Charter School Board’s highest rating 9 years in a row. To learn more please visit https://www.tworiverspcs.org/.

Opportunity

The Two Rivers Board of Trustees believes an experienced and dynamic Executive Director (ED) who has a passion for working with kids and families is essential to Two Rivers achieving its ambitious mission:

To nurture a diverse group of students to become lifelong, active participants in their education, develop a sense of self and community, and become responsible and compassionate members of society.

Reporting to the Board of Trustees, the ED is responsible for organizational and team leadership: developing and executing a clear strategic vision, fostering a strong organizational culture, continuing Two Rivers’ equity and anti-racism initiatives, and ensuring strong academic engagement and outcomes for all students. The ED must have strong relationship-building, communication, and interpersonal skills and be a strategic thinker who can see potential issues and develop workable solutions.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities of the Executive Director include:

• Mission and Vision Strategy
  • Ensure that all strategic decisions are driven by and connected to Two Rivers' mission.
  • Collaboratively develop an inspiring vision and strategy for how the organization will continue to achieve its mission and goals.
  • Develop a strategic planning process with a focus on network alignment that ensures engagement of campuses from ideation to implementation.
  • Nurture the bravery in the Two Rivers community and normalize talking about race and equity; leverage that bravery to honestly analyze the racial climate at Two Rivers and incorporate social justice work within the constructs of the Two Rivers model.
• Team Leadership
  • Attract, retain, manage, and coach a senior leadership team that includes leaders of academics, staff, operations, development, human resources, and campus principals.
  • Anticipate challenges and problems before they occur, and quickly lead others in implementing a variety of effective and realistic solutions in a timely manner.
  • Work closely with senior management to refine operational processes and identify planning strategies that are effective, efficient, and connected to key stakeholders.
  • Foster an organizational culture where all community members feel seen, understood, and valued.
• Organizational Leadership
  • Set and track progress toward clear metrics for success across the organization with a strong focus on goals, accountability, and results.
  • Manage network programs and systems that support school leadership and instructional staff. This includes but is not limited to professional development, data systems, and talent management.
  • Anticipate, elevate, and respond to shifts within the internal and external environments in a timely, measured, and thoughtful way.
  • Demonstrate understanding of, and oversee the successful completion of all compliance processes, including but not limited to accreditation, Public Charter School Board (PCSB) reporting, federal reporting, and charter renewal processes.
  • Oversee fiscal planning, spending, and yearly budget development to ensure that the organization is fiscally sound and that the budget reflects the Two Rivers’ mission.
• Academic/Instructional Leadership
  • Ensure all students achieve consistently high academic outcomes; actively seek innovative strategies to improve student achievement.
  • Demonstrate cultural competence; engage in continual self-assessment around issues of difference and coach others on equity pedagogy.
  • Foster an inclusive school culture by strengthening and maintaining systems of support that increase inclusive engagement for most vulnerable students (SPED, At Risk, Marginalized), and including systems of professional development for teachers and tiered responses to student needs and behaviors.
  • Develop opportunities for staff to engage in short- and long-term planning of education programs, including but not limited to curriculum development.
  • Use tools to track and measure data, including but not limited to enrollment, grades, testing, and other student and school information.
  • Lead and coach others in the use of assessments and other evidence to inform decision-making and strategic recommendations.
• Engage Key Stakeholders
  • Meaningfully contribute to the development and support of a strong Board of Trustees. Promote Board engagement in governance, resource development, and overall organizational wellness.
  • Represent Two Rivers to the broader community, connecting personally with all stakeholders (e.g., students, staff, parents, and board members) and representing the network with external partners, policymakers, funders, and other supporters, demonstrating an exceptional and compelling articulation of Two Rivers’ work.
  • Represent Two Rivers in all public forums.
  • Nurture and manage relationships with key local and national donors, foundations, businesses, and community organizations.

Priorities

A successful first year in this role for the new Executive Director will mean:

• 
  The organization and educational model are fiscally sustainable so that they can use the structures and strategies that enable their entire community to be lifelong learners.
• Leaders can unify their teams under Two Rivers’ mission and towards their goal, foster a strong sense of adult crew, and develop their collective engagement towards a more profound impact.
• Teachers are supported and developed to manage and grow their practice and student learning productively, with ample opportunities for collaboration and preparation.
• Review and strengthen systems of support that increase inclusive engagement for most vulnerable students (SPED, At Risk, Marginalized), including systems of professional development for teachers, tiered responses to student needs and behaviors, and our identification and support for students in need of specialized instruction.

To fulfill these responsibilities, the ideal Executive Director candidate will have/be:

• 10+ years of demonstrated success as a school-based administrator, nonprofit executive, or senior manager in an education-focused organization; experience within an elementary school and/or middle school setting or leading a team of educators is preferred;
• Authentic interest in or demonstrated commitment to Two Rivers’ mission to nurture a diverse group of students to become lifelong, active participants in their own education, develop a sense of self and community, and become responsible and compassionate members of society;
• A passionate advocate for all students and families, with the commitment and demonstrated ability to build a strong culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at Two Rivers;
• An exceptional relationship-builder who can quickly gain the confidence of students, faculty/staff, parents, and the board; an individual with the ability to solicit, elevate, understand, and value–either through personal experience or empathy–the perspective of a wide variety of stakeholders;
• A stellar communicator with exceptional written, oral, and visual communication skills and the ability to speak to, engage and inspire diverse audiences and build consensus among stakeholders;
• Knowledgeable about the academic and social-emotional needs of students, especially those of different racial, linguistic, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds;
• Familiar with fundraising/development initiatives and comfortable with building strong connections to individual donors, foundation leaders, and others in the philanthropic community;
• Demonstrated business, financial and entrepreneurial acumen; experience building and managing a budget; experience with facilities finance, lease negotiation, and navigating school compliance matters is a plus.

This position offers a competitive salary and robust benefits, including medical, dental, and life insurance. More details can be provided upon request.

Additional Information

If you are interested in this position, please apply using the following link: https://apply.workable.com/edgility-consulting-4/j/CC9EF2E60B/

For additional questions about this position or to speak with someone about your interest, please contact Mara Cooper at mcooper@edgilityconsulting.com.