Chief of Staff, Cleveland Metropolitan School District
Alma Advisory Group, United States
Job Description
As the second largest school district in the state of Ohio, Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) serves approximately 35,000 scholars across 99 schools, including 65 schools serving PreK through 8th grade, 31 High Schools, and 3 remote or virtual school options. Our district is grounded in the progress achieved since the introduction of our community-driven reform framework and we are poised to continue these essential efforts to ensure that all public school scholars have a high-quality, equitable education in schools that inspire joy in learning. Our families have the opportunity to choose which schools their scholars attend, with extensive options that include STEM, the arts, single-gender education, International Baccalaureate, Montessori, and early college. Our Vision for Learning is personalized for each scholar and designed to engage scholars deeply with increased autonomy on their respective learning journeys. Rooted in the elements of Competency-Based Education, Anytime/Anywhere Learning, Whole Human Learning, and Personalized Learner Pathways, we aim to amplify the experience and opportunity for each scholar and family we are honored to serve. Strong community partnerships support our efforts to help scholars select, prepare for and access futures of their choice through Say Yes Cleveland’s wraparound support and tuition scholarships, advising through College Now, and Planning and Career Exploration (PACE).
In the spring of 2023, the Board appointed a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Warren Morgan to lead the district into its next chapter. In the coming year, Dr. Morgan is looking to thoughtfully assess the current state of the district and build a clear vision moving forward. He is establishing a leadership team that is laser-focused on building the conditions for student success, and ensuring that all schools have the resources, services and supports needed to ensure high-quality instruction in every classroom and every school.
What You’ll Do
Reporting to the CEO, the Chief of Staff is a critical member of the district leadership team, speaking for the CEO when he is not present, prioritizing and facilitating the resolution of critical issues on behalf of the CEO and ensuring that the CEO is informed and engaged appropriately in key organizational decisions. This role supports the overall management of the executive leadership team, serving as a liaison to the Board of Education, city leaders, and external agencies and partners to drive the implementation of the district’s top priorities.
Your Key Responsibilities
Executive Office Leadership
- Support the CEO in the overall management of the cabinet, managing the flow of information from the CEO’s Office to senior leaders and facilitating collaboration and synergy across district departments.
- Manage the performance and effectiveness of the Executive Leadership Team, performance management and strategic planning functions.
- Advise the CEO’s cabinet on the execution of district initiatives and priorities.
- Prepare the leadership team for effective decision-making conversations, anticipating and organizing key questions and data that support productive discussions.
- Ensure that the cabinet follows through on key decisions in accordance with team agreement and the CEO’s direction and expectations.
- Help CEO and senior executives navigate through uncertainty and risk.
- Facilitate and lead teams through crisis management.
Strategic Project Oversight
- Provide strategic project management oversight for priority short and long-term district programs and initiatives from strategy formulation and development through execution.
- Develop and maintain tools to track the district’s progress toward academic, financial, and operational goals including dashboards to monitor key performance indicators. Proactively address off-track programs, teams, and metrics to achieve the objectives outlined.
- Identify and lead the implementation of data-driven, evidence-based practices districtwide that maximize outcomes and provide equitable opportunities for all CMSD scholars.
- Conduct research and synthesize information on complex topics resulting in clear and concise recommendations to the CEO, the Board, and senior leaders as appropriate.
- Perform additional ad hoc duties as needed.
Collaborative Partnerships and Relationship Building
- Identify the key roles needed to anticipate, troubleshoot and solve critical issues.
- Ensure cross-functional collaboration and align teams to realize efficiencies.
- Represent CMSD before varied external partners such as city council, business community and civic groups, legislators, etc. regarding district programs, projects, and policies.
- Stand-in for the CE