Director of Postsecondary Workforce Readiness

Description

The Academy is hiring a Director of Postsecondary Workforce Readiness, 6th-12th Grade.

The Academy of Charter Schools Is…

The Academy of Charter Schools is a public PK-12 school of choice located in Westminster, Colorado. We pair a rigorous, content-rich curriculum with opportunities to explore strengths and passions to achieve the highest standards for all. Our mission is to help all students grow into college ready, exemplary citizens by combining academic mastery with personal empowerment to drive lifelong success. We serve our full community by intentionally developing a school culture that embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Our approach to vertically aligning the full educational experience for our students from youngest to oldest centers around three notions – Prepare, Explore, and Empower – that keep us grounded in The Academy’s mission and vision as we set priorities and make decisions that impact instruction and school culture.

Academy Employees Are…

At The Academy, employees embody our mission, vision, and values every day. They guide and support staff to prepare students for academic mastery by delivering evidence-based curricula; they collaborate with students, staff, and families to design student-centered learning experiences that create opportunities to explore strengths and passions; and they support the implementation of social-emotional skills lessons that empower students to become leaders of their own learning. Academy employees work hard to provide an engaging, inclusive, and joyful learning environment. They embrace relationships and positive communication with a diverse community of students, staff, and families while helping maintain a culture of high expectations for all. Experience in school environments, strong people skills, and ability to work within a team is required.

What Makes a Good Academy Employee?

The Academy is looking for committed leaders who are prepared to perform at a high level in a demanding environment. Some of the characteristics that make for a successful employee at The Academy include:

• A people-first, relationship-focused orientation
• A growth mindset
• A belief that ALL children can achieve at high levels
• A passion for contributing to overall school success by working alongside and supporting others
• A creative, innovative, and caring attitude
• A spirit of openness, trust, and kindness
• A dedication to data-driven practices
• A highly motivated work ethic and willingness to tackle challenges
• Comfort with being flexible
• A sense of humor

At The Academy, we know that diversity makes us stronger and challenges us to think differently every day. The Academy provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status or disability. The online application should include a cover letter and resume.

• Copy of transcripts and three current letters of recommendation are highly recommended but not required with initial application
• 210 calendar days
• Salary range between $80,000. - $100,000. Based on years of experience.
• 2026-2027 school year
• Medical Benefits - 100% paid for employees on select plans
• PERA Retirement Benefits
• Responsibility to verify experience rests with employee

Visit our website at www.theacademyk12.org. The Academy’s comprehensive benefits package includes a number of different plans for full-time employees. Refer to Employee Benefits Enrollment Guide for details at https://www.theacademyk12.org/about-us/working-for-us. Information on employee paid leave is also available at this same location.

SUMMARY:  

Responsible for developing, maintaining, and expanding school-wide postsecondary workforce readiness programming, including Career & Technical Education programming, Concurrent Enrollment programming, and Work-Based Learning programming and supporting educator certification in those programs at the secondary school levels. The Director of PWR identifies gaps in programming and supports the school in the design of multi-disciplinary educational opportunities that align to community workforce needs and  student Individual Career & Academic Plan goals. The Director of PWR is the voice of The Academy’s PWR programming to teachers, counselors, administrators,  regional and state-wide partners, local business leaders, community members, the community college system, and agencies of the state and federal government. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Create, implement, and monitor the planning and implementation of a diverse set of  school-wide  secondary PWR programs such as: 
  • Business and Marketing CTE Education 
  • Design & Multimedia Arts CTE Education
  • Health Science CTE Education
  • Work-Based Learning including Internships, Apprenticeships and Work Study
  • Concurrent Enrollment opportunities that align with PWR
• Lead, support, coordinate, and deliver school-wide secondary CTE programs through planning and  implementation processes, which include concurrent enrollment, industry certifications, and  Colorado’s Essential Skills. Coordinate with school leadership, staff and community members to identify opportunities to create  innovative programs and connections such as Internships, Apprenticeships, Capstones, Industry Tours, and  other work-based learning opportunities. Instruct students in large, small, and one-on-one situations, as needed.
• Expand and support CTE programs and courses in middle school to expose 6th- 8th grade students to high school pathways.
• Coordinate school-wide collaboration and staff development for all middle and high school CTE teachers.
• Periodically provide one-to-one, small group and classroom instruction as needed to support CTE and WBL students.
• Provide instructional support to internship teachers, internship hosts and interns in the field.
• Collaborate with teachers, and counselors to ensure the implementation of school-based ICAP and PWR systems that match students with postsecondary planning opportunities to effectively support them toward  graduation, college, and career success.
• Build effective and impactful relationships with  business partners for the purpose of providing WBL and PWR experiences. 
• Assist school as needed in identifying, interviewing, and recommending qualified candidates for CTE teaching positions.
• Support school in ensuring that education and certification requirements are met/maintained by all CTE  teachers.
• Manage CTE assessment systems, including interfacing with vendors, managing accounts, analyzing data, and  sharing with CTE teachers and school leadership.
• Serve as the primary report writer for various grant funded operations and collaborative    community groups, including, but not limited to, Carl Perkins Federal Grant (CTE), Career and Technical Act (CTA), Colorado Vocational Act, and the Colorado Community College System (CCCS). Collaborate closely with the Director of Finance on budgeting, as well as interim and annual financial reporting for all Federal and State Grants.  
• Report, monitor, research, and analyze program data to assure compliance with programs. 
• Prepare and monitor CTE, CE, PWR and WBL budgets.
• Lead CTE teachers in curriculum selection, standards alignment, and vertical articulation which includes the selection of textbooks, hardware, software, and other teaching materials for CTE programs.
• Collaborate with Special Services, Multilingual Learners, Curriculum Committee, Gifted and Talented and other ACS departments to deliver instructional programs aligned with the needs of exceptional populations.
• Help to facilitate and coordinate CTE Advisory Committee meetings at least 2 x per year.
• Serve and actively participate as an educational leader on a variety of state, regional and district committees. Consult other districts seeking to replicate ACS’s industry-leading programs.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s degree in Education or Business preferred.
• Three or more years of related experience or teaching experience in a CTE program.
• Experience in career and technical program coordination and reporting procedures preferred.  

Requirements

 LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS or CERTIFICATIONS:

• Criminal background check required for hire. 
• Hold a valid Colorado teacher license, principal license, administrator license (with either a school administrator or a special education director endorsement) or a valid Colorado CTE authorization. 
• CTE Director Credential preferred. 
• Valid Colorado driver’s license. 

TECHNICAL SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES:

• Excellent interpersonal relations and oral and written communication skills
• Advanced skill in dealing with students and staff with diverse needs at various levels
• Experience in and knowledge of business operations, management, and ownership
• Some experience in grant writing/management and fund-raising
• Ability to communicate, interact, and work effectively and cooperatively with people from diverse ethnic and educational backgrounds
• Ability to recognize the importance of safety in the workplace, follow safety rules, practice safe work habits, utilize appropriate safety equipment and report unsafe conditions to the appropriate personnel
• Proficient in Quickbooks, website-building, and social media platforms
• Proficient at building and sustaining community partnerships
• Ability to effectively communicate and network among all socioeconomic levels

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT OPERATING KNOWLEDGE:

• Operating knowledge of and experience with personal computers and peripherals.
• Operating knowledge of information technology systems and any other department specific software and equipment required within one month after entering position.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS & DIRECTION/GUIDANCE:

Reports to: High School Principal

Direct reports and # of Employees:

CTE Instructors 0-3 employees

BUDGET AND/OR RESOURCE RESPONSIBILITY:

• Sole responsibility for level budget allocation and expenditures.
• Sole responsibility to develop, administer, monitor and coordinate the budget.
• Sole responsibility to following The Academy budget request and purchases determined by finance.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The physical demands, work environment factors and mental functions described below 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.