Job Description:
Friendly Academy is a new K-5 charter school in St. Louis, MO. Friendly Academy's mission is to equip students with a quality and holistic education rooted in love. Partnering with the community and families, Friendly Academy empowers all students to live purpose-driven lives by using their gifts and talents to make a positive difference in their families, their communities, and the world. 

We seek a Director of Academics to lead our school to strong academic outcomes by managing and guiding our founding academic team to uphold our high educational standards and ensure students succeed academically and socially/emotionally. 

Responsibilities:
Instructional Leadership: Will be responsible for driving academic performance as measured by formative and summative assessments for both proficiency and growth. 

• • Direct the development and execution of academic programs, ensuring alignment with our mission. Lead in curriculum adoption and assessment practices.
  • Conduct daily observations and execute feedback meetings for teacher and instructional leader development, supporting the implementation of action steps.
  • Provide real-time feedback during instruction and contribute to teacher reviews.
  • Plan and deliver high-quality professional development focused on Friendly Academy’s curricular systems and key pedagogical
  • Organize and lead grade-level or content-area team meetings.
  • Manage organization-wide curriculum and assessment work, including lesson planning, assessment revisions, collaborative scoring, and network analysis.
  • Facilitate assessment cycles, ensuring scheduling, quality assurance of materials, and preparation of teachers and students.

Organizational Leadership: Will be responsible for supervising faculty and students as a senior building leader aligned with the school’s mission, vision, and values. 

• • Assist the Executive Director with implementing a school-wide strategic academic plan 
  • Utilize data-driven systems and strategies to monitor and evaluate student progress and data on a consistent basis. 
  • Develop and maintain a high-achieving academic environment that provide for the safety, health, and welfare for all students, 
  • Conduct interviews and select instructional staff with high growth potential in collaboration with the CEO. 
  • Supervises and evaluates the performance of all academic staff members.
  • Oversee training and evaluation of instructional staff, ensuring professional growth and alignment with our academic objectives.
  • Build relationships and strong communication with students and families across the school; ensure an inclusive school environment that respects the culture of students served. 
  • Collaborate with the operations and culture team leaders to ensure the team is united in messaging and communications.
  • Represent the school at events and programs during evenings and/or weekends as necessary.
  • Work with the operations team to coordinate and manage coverage of all instructional classroom periods in case of absences. 

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Education, Educational Leadership, or a related field
• MO teacher certification is required, and principal certification is  strongly preferred  
• At least three years of experience in an educational leadership role, ideally in a K-5 setting.
• Proven track record in leading academic programs and elevating student outcomes.
• Comprehensive knowledge of curriculum development, pedagogical theories, and best educational practices
• Exceptional organizational, leadership, and communication skills.
• Alignment with Friendly Academy’s philosophy and commitment to educational excellence.
• Possess an attention to detail and the ability to think and act strategically with a sense of urgency.

What we offer you:

• Join a school community where love is the center of our education model without deprioritizing academic rigor and excellence. 
• A school culture that promotes wellness by serving the whole child and adult through community partnerships and monthly wellness days. 
• The opportunity to  innovate and be a part of a founding team that creates the landscape for strong student outcomes. 
• Professional development based on growth areas and interests. 
• Earn competitive compensation, pension, health, dental, and vision benefits.