Vice President of Schools

Job description

We're excited to provide the best education in the best environment to our students! AMS Impact Group Vice President of Schools Location: Arkansas (Blytheville, Little Rock, and Fort Smith) Position Type: Full-Time, Year-Round Compensation: Competitive, based on experience, with comprehensive benefits *This is not a remote position. The Vice President of Schools is expected to spend the majority of their time in schools and district settings. About AMS Impact Group & Academies of Math and Science AMS Impact Group (AIG) is an education management organization dedicated to providing strategic leadership, operational infrastructure, and resources necessary for schools to achieve excellence. AIG manages the Academies of Math and Science (AMS), a network of high-performing K–8 public charter schools serving students and families across Arizona, Arkansas, and Nevada. Through academic leadership, operational support, talent development, enrollment management, and strategic planning, AMS Impact Group partners with school leaders to create safe, supportive, and academically rigorous learning environments where every student has the opportunity to succeed. Our work is grounded in a commitment to educational excellence, continuous improvement, accountability, and equitable outcomes for students. We seek mission-driven leaders who are passionate about developing people, strengthening schools, and delivering measurable results. Position Summary The Vice President of Schools (VP) is a hands-on, field-based executive leader responsible for driving academic excellence, enrollment growth, operational effectiveness, and a strong school culture across AMS Impact Group's Arkansas portfolio. The VP serves as the listed Superintendent of the Blytheville School District, which is under Level 5 state intervention and managed by AMS Impact Group. In this capacity, the VP holds accountability for district leadership, performance, compliance, and the execution of a comprehensive transformation strategy. The VP also oversees the leadership and performance of AMS Little Rock and leads the planning, development, and launch of AMS's second Arkansas school in Fort Smith, scheduled to open in Fall 2027. The VP leads a small, school-facing team responsible for special education, enrollment, operations, and instructional coaching. This leader is expected to spend the majority of their time in schools and district settings, developing leaders and teachers, monitoring performance, addressing challenges, and ensuring that resources and support are aligned with student outcomes. The ideal candidate is a results-oriented education leader who can navigate complex organizational and state oversight requirements, build strong relationships with stakeholders, develop high-performing teams, and translate strategic priorities into measurable improvements in student achievement and school performance. Key Responsibilities 1. District Leadership & Transformation — Blytheville School District Serve as the listed Superintendent of the Blytheville School District on behalf of AMS Impact Group, maintaining accountability for district leadership, performance, compliance, and transformation. Lead the district's progress toward meeting the goals and exit criteria associated with Level 5 state intervention, ensuring all required improvement plans, documentation, reporting, and intervention activities are completed accurately and on time. Develop, implement, and monitor a multi-year district transformation plan with measurable goals, milestones, and accountability measures for academic achievement, school culture, enrollment, staffing, and operational performance. Report to and collaborate closely with the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) Commissioner, who serves as the district's sole board member, providing timely reports, presentations, recommendations, and required documentation. Maintain transparent, productive working relationships with ADE representatives, state and local agencies, and other relevant stakeholders. Supervise, evaluate, and develop district and school-level leaders, making timely personnel and organizational decisions to strengthen leadership capacity and improve outcomes. Ensure compliance with applicable state and federal requirements, including academic accountability, special education, federal programs, school finance, and required reporting. Partner with AMS finance and operations teams to oversee budgeting, resource allocation, facilities, transportation, nutrition services, and other essential district functions. Build trust and maintain consistent, visible engagement with families, employees, community leaders, faith-based organizations, and local partners. Provide regular updates to AMS Impact Group executive leadership on transformation progress, key performance indicators, emerging risks, and recommended course corrections. 2. School Leadership & Performance — AMS Little Rock Supervise, coach, and evaluate the AMS Little Rock school leader through regular on-site visits, classroom walkthroughs, leadership check-ins, and formal performance reviews. Establish annual performance goals for academic achievement, enrollment, attendance, student retention, staff retention, and school culture. Monitor school performance through a consistent scorecard and regular progress reviews, ensuring goals are supported by clear action plans and measurable outcomes. Ensure the school operates in accordance with its charter contract, authorizer expectations, and applicable state and federal requirements. Partner with the school leader to make effective staffing, budgeting, scheduling, and resource allocation decisions that support student achievement and school sustainability. Identify performance concerns early and implement targeted improvement plans, coaching, and additional support when results fall short of expectations. Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and shared responsibility for student and staff success. 3. New School Development & Launch — Fort Smith Lead the planning and launch of AMS's second Arkansas school in Fort Smith, scheduled to open in Fall 2027, from pre-opening preparation through the first year of operation. Develop and manage a comprehensive launch plan with clear timelines, milestones, owners, and deliverables for facilities, staffing, enrollment, curriculum, operations, and regulatory compliance. Recruit, select, and onboard the founding school leader and support the recruitment and hiring of a high-quality founding team. Partner with AMS central teams and relevant authorizing and regulatory entities to meet all pre-opening requirements and deadlines. Lead community outreach and founding-year enrollment efforts by building relationships with prospective families, community organizations, local leaders, and other stakeholders. Monitor launch readiness, identify risks, resolve barriers, and coordinate resources to ensure the school is prepared to open successfully. Provide hands-on leadership and oversight during the school's first year, monitoring implementation, addressing emerging challenges, and making timely adjustments to establish strong academic, operational, and cultural foundations. 4. Academic Excellence & Student Outcomes Establish and maintain high expectations for academic achievement and student growth across all assigned schools and district operations. Ensure consistent implementation of AMS's curriculum, instructional model, assessment practices, and expectations for high-quality classroom instruction. Lead regular data reviews with school and district leaders to analyze student performance, identify achievement gaps, establish priorities, and develop action plans with clear ownership and deadlines. Direct and evaluate the work of instructional and academic coaches, aligning coaching priorities with school improvement goals and identified student needs. Ensure effective intervention and acceleration systems are in place for students who need additional academic support, including multilingual learners and students with disabilities. Monitor state assessment results, interim assessment performance, academic growth, and applicable accountability ratings to identify trends and drive improvement. Support leaders in using data, classroom observations, and teacher performance information to strengthen instructional practice. Share effective instructional strategies and successful practices across Blytheville, AMS Little Rock, and Fort Smith to accelerate improvement throughout the Arkansas portfolio. 5. Enrollment Growth & Student Retention Establish and achieve enrollment and retention targets for each assigned school, recognizing enrollment as essential to school sustainability and long-term success. Oversee the enrollment team in developing and implementing recruitment plans, community outreach initiatives, enrollment campaigns, and family engagement strategies. Review enrollment, waitlist, attendance, withdrawal, and retention data regularly to identify trends, address barriers, and implement corrective actions. Ensure families experience a welcoming, efficient, and responsive enrollment and onboarding process. Partner with school leaders and community stakeholders to strengthen family relationships, improve student retention, and build awareness of AMS schools. Hold team members accountable for enrollment goals, timely follow-up, accurate records, and consistent execution of recruitment strategies. 6. Team Leadership & Support Services Lead, manage, and develop a small team of school-facing support professionals across special education, enrollment, operations, and instructional or academic coaching. Establish clear performance expectations, measurable goals, regular one-on-one meetings, and accountability structures for each direct report. Ensure support services are responsive to school needs, aligned with organizational priorities, and focused on measurable improvements in student and school outcomes. Special Education: Oversee the quality and compliance of special education services, including individualized education program (IEP) timelines, service delivery, staffing, documentation, and required reporting. Enrollment: Direct recruitment, enrollment processing, family engagement, and student retention efforts to meet school-level targets. Operations: Oversee essential school and district operations, including facilities, safety, transportation, nutrition, and daily operating systems, in partnership with AMS central teams. Instructional and Academic Coaching: Set coaching priorities, align support with instructional goals, and monitor the impact of coaching on teacher practice and student achievement. Identify gaps in team capacity, strengthen collaboration across functions, and ensure resources are deployed where they can have the greatest impact. Foster a culture of ownership, responsiveness, collaboration, and continuous professional growth. 7. School Culture, Family Engagement & Community Partnerships Build and sustain positive school cultures grounded in high expectations, safety, belonging, respect, and joy for students and staff. Ensure consistent implementation of effective behavior management, attendance improvement, and family engagement systems. Model and reinforce AMS's mission, values, and service-oriented approach in all interactions with students, families, employees, and community partners. Monitor culture indicators, including student attendance, discipline data, staff retention, and family and employee feedback, and use findings to guide improvement. Promote staff engagement and retention through strong leadership, recognition of excellence, meaningful professional support, and a positive working environment. Maintain a visible presence in schools and communities, building relationships that strengthen trust, accountability, and shared commitment to student success. Partner with community organizations and local stakeholders to expand opportunities and resources for students and families. 8. Leadership Development & Continuous Improvement Spend most of the working time on-site in schools and district settings, conducting classroom walkthroughs, observing leadership practices, and providing timely, actionable feedback. Develop school and district leaders through consistent coaching, goal setting, performance management, and targeted professional learning. Build leadership capacity and a pipeline of future leaders through succession planning, talent development, and opportunities for increased responsibility. Conduct regular reviews of district and school progress against established goals, identifying gaps and adjusting strategies when results do not meet expectations. Establish a culture in which performance is measured, accountability is shared, effective practices are recognized, and lessons learned inform future decisions. Facilitate collaboration and the sharing of effective practices across Blytheville, AMS Little Rock, and Fort Smith. Communicate progress, challenges, and strategic recommendations clearly to AMS Impact Group executive leadership. Balance immediate operational needs with long-term priorities to ensure sustainable improvements in school performance. Required Qualifications Education Bachelor’s degree in Education, Educational Leadership, Business Administration, or a related field. Advanced degree in Educational Leadership, School Administration, Education, or a related field preferred. Experience Significant leadership experience in K–12 education, including school, district, or multi-site educational leadership. Demonstrated success improving academic outcomes, organizational performance, and school or district effectiveness. Experience supervising and developing school leaders, managing teams, and holding individuals accountable for measurable results. Experience managing complex operational responsibilities, budgets, staffing decisions, and organizational priorities. Demonstrated ability to use student achievement data, operational metrics, and performance indicators to guide decisions and drive improvement. Experience building relationships with families, employees, community organizations, and external stakeholders. Demonstrated ability to lead change, manage competing priorities, and execute strategic initiatives in a fast-paced environment. Leadership Competencies Strong instructional leadership and a commitment to academic excellence. Strategic thinking and execution, with the ability to translate organizational goals into measurable results. Strong interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills. Sound judgment, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and follow-through. Ability to develop talent, provide constructive feedback, and build high-performing teams. Commitment to educational equity, continuous improvement, accountability, and student success. Additional Requirements Must meet all applicable Arkansas requirements for service in the listed Superintendent role. Ability to travel regularly among Blytheville, Little Rock, and Fort Smith and spend the majority of working time in school and district settings. Ability to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings or weekends, based on school, district, community, and organizational needs. Ability to successfully complete applicable background checks and other employment-related requirements. Preferred Qualifications Experience leading a school district or school system undergoing state intervention, turnaround, restructuring, or comprehensive school improvement. Experience working with a state education agency, district board, authorizer, or other governmental oversight body. Experience managing multiple schools or educational sites across different communities. Experience opening a new school, launching a new educational program, or leading a large-scale organizational initiative. Knowledge of Arkansas K–12 education regulations, school accountability systems, charter school operations, and applicable state and federal compliance requirements. Experience overseeing special education, enrollment, school operations, and instructional support functions. Experience developing and implementing multi-year strategic plans with measurable academic, financial, operational, and organizational goals. Working Conditions This position is based in Arkansas and requires frequent on-site work across Blytheville, Little Rock, and Fort Smith. The VP must be comfortable working directly in school and district environments, conducting classroom observations, meeting with school and district leaders, engaging with families and community stakeholders, and responding to time-sensitive operational needs. The position requires regular travel between assigned locations, flexibility in scheduling, and the ability to manage multiple complex priorities while maintaining a strong focus on student outcomes, organizational effectiveness, and leadership development. Compensation & Benefits AMS Impact Group offers competitive compensation based on experience, along with a comprehensive benefits package that may include medical, dental, and vision insurance; retirement benefits with employer contributions; paid time off; and disability and life insurance, subject to applicable plan terms and eligibility requirements. Why Join AMS Impact Group? At AMS Impact Group, we believe strong leadership transforms schools, strengthens communities, and expands opportunities for students. The Vice President of Schools will have the opportunity to lead meaningful district transformation, develop exceptional school leaders, expand access to high-quality education in Arkansas, and build the foundation for a new school community in Fort Smith. We are seeking a mission-driven, results-oriented leader who is ready to take on complex challenges, build strong teams, and deliver measurable improvements in academic achievement, school culture, and organizational performance. If you are passionate about educational excellence, leadership development, and creating lasting change for students and families, we invite you to apply and join the AMS Impact Group team. Join us to enjoy rewarding challenges and ongoing opportunities!