Summit Public Schools uses Expedition learning experiences to empower young people to identify, explore, and experience their authentic interests through 7 weeks of deep exploration each year. Four times throughout the year, students pause their core classes to dig deeply into exploring 1-2 Expeditions courses. Students have the opportunity to choose courses that help them explore potential pathways for their future and learn more about themselves in the process. 

Upon leaving 12th grade each student will have an acceptance and enrollment in a best-fit next step that is directly connected to their purpose-driven life plan. Summit supports students in exploring their concrete next step primarily through two experiences: Expeditions and Mentoring. 

Through this exploration over multiple years, students gain an understanding of potential education and career pathways through which to extend their interests into their lives after high school and assist with their Concrete Next Step.

The Senior Director of Concrete Next Step drives the vision and outcomes for our Concrete Next Step  program, and will oversee our Expeditions and postsecondary pathways work. They are responsible for making sure the vision of Expeditions and postsecondary pathways are implemented effectively.

This position is a member of the Schools team and will report to the Chief Academic Officer. They will directly manage a Director of Postsecondary Pathways. Additionally, they will support 12 site-based Executive Directors and Deans of Expeditions in designing, staffing, and executing our Concrete Next Step program. As a member of the Schools team, the Senior Director of Concrete Next Step will work closely with leaders across the organization to move forward priorities and initiatives of the organization.

The ideal candidate is a system leader who has experience in both a classroom and in school leadership. They have expertise in operationalizing a vision within a complex ecosystem, cultivating community partnerships, and connecting students’ passions, values, and identities to experiences that will help them develop their Concrete Next Step. The ideal candidate has experience in supporting young people as they navigate their postsecondary pathway choices. As a leader in the organization, the ideal candidate will have expertise in developing other leaders.

This role requires occasional travel to Summit school sites within the California Bay Area and Washington State.

Who We Are:

What if all students graduated high school with the knowledge, skills and habits they need to lead a fulfilled life? This is the question that guides our mission at Summit Public Schools. 

Summit is a leading network of public schools that prepare a diverse student population for success in a four-year college and to be thoughtful, contributing members of society. We operate 12 schools serving over 3,000 students in the Bay Area and Washington state. Summit graduates are college ready and Summit graduates complete college at double the national average.

We need exceptional, diverse, and mission-aligned individuals to join our team to help prepare our students for a fulfilled life. Join us!

What You’ll Do:

Strategic Vision

  • Lead the collective realization of the vision for the Concrete Next Step program with clearly articulated goals and measures of success.  
  • Meet regularly with campus-based leadership and community partners to communicate and inspire them around the mission and vision.  
  • Ensure the Expeditions and postsecondary pathway programming promotes the “Concrete Next Step” outcome for all students - this includes facilitating Expeditions leadership team meetings,  providing professional development and coaching, and closely collaborating with site-based teams.

Data Management & Student Outcomes

  • Implement data analysis, action planning routines and systems that regularly collect, analyze and share progress for both postsecondary pathways and Expeditions.

 Relationship Management 

  • Cultivate strong relationships with all internal and external stakeholders. 
  • Develop and maintain a strong relationship with community partners that are working with the whole network; when needed, negotiate and execute appropriate contracts with community partners.
  • Support Deans with effective community partner management including, serving as an escalation point if a vendor or partner is no longer an effective or safe match for the program.

Recruitment and Retention

  • Collaborate with the Recruitment & Selection team and other school leaders to recruit, interview, assess, and select faculty, staff, and community partners.
  • Partner with school leaders to train, coach, and support Expeditions staff, including Expedition Deans, to ensure professional progression and growth. 

Program Operations for Concrete Next Step

  • Steward program operations for Expeditions including:
    • Spearhead network-wide Expeditions calendar, budgeting, and financial procedures.
    • Support individual school sites with program operations (securing supplies, managing student transportation, attendance systems, independent study compliance, etc.).
  • In collaboration with the Director of Postsecondary Pathways, coordinate:
    • The Summit Public Schools Network calendar, network-wide MOUs (ex. Washington State Guaranteed Admission Program), programmatic contracts and systems (ex. Overgrad and National Student ClearingHouse).
    • Continuous improvement projects and work
  • Support CEO and CAO in the development and execution of annual fundraising goals and strategies and external engagement work.

What You Need:

Key Qualities and Skills   

  • Bachelor’s Degree is required. 
  • A Master’s Degree in Education, Educational Leadership, or similar program is strongly preferred. 
  • 4+ years in school leadership is strongly preferred.
  • 2+ years in district, network, or systems leadership equivalent is strongly preferred.
  • A Teaching Credential in California or another US state is strongly preferred, as is prior teaching experience. 
  • An Administrative Credential in California or another US State is strongly preferred. 
  • Proficiency in Google Platforms, including Google Drive, Google Sheets, Google Docs, and Google Slides. 
  • Clear health and background check.

Who You Are:

About You

  • You maintain high expectations for all students and believe all students can find success in school, college, and life.
  • You thrive while collaborating and are excited to work with your colleagues. You find positivity in sharing successes. 
  • You possess excellent organizational and project management skills, with an obsession for details and can lead projects from start to finish while demonstrating flexibility and adaptability. 
  • You share our vision to reimagine what schools should be and are excited to make an impact on the public education landscape. 
  • You have strong management and coaching skills with a passion for developing others, identifying learning needs and creating the appropriate support.
  • You have an ability to apply honest, actionable, and timely feedback that results in improved performance.
  • You possess strong relationship skills, with the ability to motivate, inspire, develop, and communicate with a diverse group of faculty and community members.
  • You are empathetic and culturally competent. You’re open to having hard conversations.
  • You have expertise in planning learning experiences that model skills-based, personalized instruction. 
  • You’re committed to continuous improvement, see feedback as a positive, and have a growth mindset.

What You Get: 

In addition to joining a highly motivated team and engaging in meaningful work, you’ll have access to a comprehensive suite of benefits including a retirement plan, “take what you need” PTO policy, 12 paid holidays, and 3 weeks of organization-wide closures during the year. You and your dependents will have access to multiple health, dental, and vision plans at 25% cost (we cover the other 75%) and employee life and disability insurance at no cost. Our compensation policy strives to be equitable and transparent. The salary for this position starts at $140,309 and goes up to $184,636 commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Summit is an equal opportunity employer. We believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are directly intertwined with education. We are ALL better when we are able to bring our whole selves to work and honor each other’s voices across identities, cultural backgrounds, and life experiences. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals who are members of historically marginalized communities. Spanish language proficiency is a plus.

To see Summit Public Schools' full non-discrimination statement as it relates to students and parents along with designated compliance coordinators for each school, see here for Washington and here for California. To see Summit Public Schools' full non-discrimination statement as it relates to employees, see here for Washington and here for California. 

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