Redwood Coast Montessori

Job Description: School Director

Reports To: RCM School Board

FLSA Classification: Certificated, 220-day, exempt

Full Time/Part Time Status: Salary, full time, H/W benefits

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Salary: Expected salary range is $77,000 - $124,000, and is commensurate with experience and education level

Job Opening/Closing: Until filled - applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis

Start Date: Position available immediately

About Redwood Coast Montessori

Redwood Coast Montessori (RCM) is a TK-12 rural charter school located across two campuses in Humboldt County, California. RCM, the only public Montessori school in Humboldt County, is authorized by the Arcata School District. Redwood Coast Montessori began the fall of 2005 as a single Montessori classroom on a traditional public school campus. Beginning with this first classroom, the goal of RCM has always been to provide students with a world-class public Montessori education. With continued success, Redwood Coast Montessori has grown to serve more than 215 students, with a strong emphasis on both Montessori education and Project Based Learning. The elementary campus (TK-8) is situated in Manila, a small, unincorporated community (population <1,000) situated on a narrow strip of land between Humboldt Bay to the east and the coastal dunes and Pacific Ocean to the west. The high school campus (7-12) is located a few miles north of Manila in the City of Arcata with a population of approximately 20,000. Redwood Coast Montessori is committed to providing a Montessori and Project Based Learning environment where students are guided to become intrinsically motivated learners who understand and value their work and their role in the community. RCM achieves this vision through authentic, rigorous, and individualized instruction that supports students to pursue their passions, address real-world problems, and engage in work that matters. RCM students build their own educational path by developing a growth mindset and engaging in meaningful work that demonstrates persistence, creativity, and critical thought.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Job Summary:

The RCM School Director is responsible for the administration of the school in all aspects of its day-to-day operations. The director reports directly to the RCM School Board and works collaboratively with RCM’s authorizer, staff, students, parents, community members, and other school governing bodies to ensure high-quality instruction and an equitable and positive educational experience for the entire school community.

The Director will cultivate positive relationships with students, teachers, families, colleagues, and the community at large to promote an inclusive, student-centered community that is connected across both campuses and is focused on high-quality interdisciplinary instruction and an equitable and positive educational experience for students, families, and staff.

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Bachelor’s Degree
2. Appropriate California Teaching Credential and at least 3 years of classroom experience
3. At least two years school administrator experience or equivalent leadership experience
4. Current or working to obtain a California Administrative Services Credential

Desired Qualifications:

1. Experience with public Montessori and Project Based Learning education
2. Experience with interdisciplinary education and integration across curricula
3. Knowledge of California State Standards and Core Curriculum
4. Robust leadership skills that promote developing a shared vision, involving team members in decision-making, and fostering a shared sense of responsibility and ownership
5. Experience developing an organization and maintaining sustainability through collaborative approaches
6. Demonstrated skills and experience with staff supervision and budget management
7. Capability and commitment to lead fund development, including donor identification, cultivation, and stewardship.
8. Demonstrated initiative and self-motivation
9. Strong written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking skills
10. Commitment to fostering a positive educational experience for students with learning differences and those from diverse family and socio-economic environments

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership

1. Provide visionary leadership as the educational head of Redwood Coast Montessori
2. Advocate for Montessori and Project Based Learning pedagogy and interdisciplinary education, such as integration of the arts across curricula, in service of schoolwide learning goals
3. Articulate and advocate the mission of Redwood Coast Montessori with students, families, staff, and community
4. Cultivate and uphold a safe, supportive and stimulating environment that fosters the growth and evolution of students, teachers, and the school
5. Promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in all areas of program development including student and staff recruitment, communication and relationship building, and support for all members of the school community
6. Be inspirational, visible, and accessible to members of the school community and beyond
7. Attend all Board meetings as primary staff member and prepare and present reports as requested by the Board
8. Build and maintain relationships grounded in RCM philosophy with students, faculty, and parents, and promote collaboration and community building across both campuses
9. Demonstrate sufficient security and judgment to handle a crisis and to use supervision constructively
10. Promote a culture of global citizenship and awareness at RCM
11. Meet periodically with other charter school leaders to exchange information, resources, news, and strategies
12. Cultivate and uphold a school culture that embodies the values outlined in RCM’s Schoolwide Learner Outcomes

Management

1. Establish clear goals and action plans to achieve the strategic objectives collaboratively set with the Board
2. Advise the Board and make written recommendations to the Board on programs, policies, budget, and other school matters
3. Hire, supervise, mentor, and evaluate teaching and support staff as needed
4. Develop and implement an enrollment plan while ensuring proper student-teacher ratios
5. Oversee admission of students, including lottery procedures
6. Develop and maintain transparent systems that insure equity, diversity, and inclusion
7. Promote a system of accountability and support for school attendance that aligns with a restorative justice framework
8. Invite productive input from students, staff, and community to inform management practices
9. Provide guidance and a structured process for the development and support of extra-curricular activities
10. Ensure the provision of special education services in partnership with relevant staff, adhering to state laws and federal IDEA regulations
11. Lead and facilitate staff meetings to guide and support staff
12. Oversee all aspects of facility management and safety
13. Promote positive relations with all lessors and oversee site lease negotiations

Communication

1. Act as the primary spokesperson for Redwood Coast Montessori, while encouraging outreach efforts by staff and board members
2. Maintain regular and transparent dialogue with the Board, and serve as the primary liaison between the Board and school staff
3. Promote clear, open, and effective communication among staff, parents, and the Board
4. Strengthen connections and dialogue between students and faculty, as well as across campuses
5. Foster positive relationships with the Arcata School District as well as the Humboldt County Office of Education and the California Department of Education
6. Oversee public relations, ensuring open communication and fostering strong, positive relationships with the Manila and Arcata communities
7. Spearhead marketing campaigns to support and achieve enrollment goals

Finance

1. Prepare and present all interim and EOY operating budgets to the Board, with collaboration and input from the Business Manager
2. Seek community input and oversee development of LCAP
3. Oversee funding and operations of Manila Community Resource Center
4. Administer the operating budget and be accountable to Board for effective fiscal management
5. Prepare annual budget recommendations including personnel, committees, facilities and programs, with collaboration and input from Board Treasurer
6. Work with Business Manager to prepare reports for annual audits – financial and academic
7. Assist in identifying and cultivating prospective donors or grantors, with support from Board Members, staff and other community members
8. Lead a team to identify and secure grants to strengthen the school's financial sustainability and enhance educational programs, resources, and infrastructure
9. Act as philanthropic ambassador within the school and broader community

Professional Staff Development

1. Support teaching staff in effectively implementing Montessori and Project-Based Learning philosophies while upholding RCM’s mission.
2. Facilitate ongoing professional development to enhance staff growth and instructional excellence
3. Encourage staff to propose, plan, and develop programs in accordance with the mission of the school
4. Foster mentorship opportunities, provide guidance, and ensure access to resources such as funding, substitute coverage, and progress tracking

Compliance and Accountability for School Operations

1. Maintain various records and statistics, and complete annual reports to fulfill state and local requirements
2. Monitor budget expenditures
3. Conduct written evaluations of staff
4. Oversee and monitor student attendance and reporting requirements
5. Prepare high school student report cards and transcripts
6. Provide academic counseling support for high school students and others as needed
7. Oversee ongoing program evaluation, including WASC Accreditation and Charter Renewal
8. Ensure compliance with all federal, state, county, and local regulations by meeting reporting requirements and adhering to applicable laws and policies
9. Evaluate and optimize school operations to ensure efficiency and effectiveness
10. Oversee school requisitions and grant obligations

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

1. Thorough knowledge of cognitive, affective, social and physical development of school-aged children
2. General knowledge of the California content standards and Frameworks
3. Skills in counseling and developing staff
4. Skills in counseling students TK-12
5. Ability to assess the needs of students
6. Ability to evaluate the effectiveness of existing programs and make recommendations for improvements
7. Ability to use common office machines and popular computer driven word processing, spreadsheet and file maintenance programs
8. Skills to maintain accurate and comprehensive records, analyze data, and generate meaningful reports
9. Ability to effectively express ideas orally and in writing
10. Ability to make oral presentations before large groups of people
11. Ability to exercise considerable tact and courtesy in frequent contact with the public
12. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments
13. Talent as a strategic thinker and skillful implementer, with a systems approach to improvement and change
14. High levels of emotional intelligence, excellent listening skills, and the ability to navigate the complexities and ambiguities of leading and inspiring others in a complex, deeply invested community
15. Ability and dedication to evaluating and incorporating multiple perspectives when making decisions
16. Personal and professional commitment to ongoing learning and professional development, as well as a capacity to grow within the role
17. A strong work ethic, yet also the ability to maintain, uphold, and model appropriate boundaries and work standards for others
18. Warm character, a strong ethical compass, and values consistent with the mission and culture of Redwood Coast Montessori

EEO Statement

Redwood Coast Montessori provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Redwood Coast Montessori complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.