Vice President of A+ College Ready

ABOUT THE POSITION

This role is pivotal as A+ College Ready, a program of A+ Education Partnership, supports middle and high schools to raise academic achievement for all students and to change the trajectory of education in the state of Alabama. As the leader of the A+ College Ready Team, the Vice President is responsible for shaping and executing the vision, increasing program impact, and developing a high-performing, impactful team.

This position reports to the President of A+ Education Partnership and serves on the A+ Education Partnership leadership team, supporting the full organization’s strategic plan. This position will be responsible for ensuring the alignment of A+ College Ready with the entire organization and will support the execution of the organization’s vision and mission.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about creating great schools for every child and supporting excellent instruction in every classroom. The ideal candidate for this position will be visionary, proactive, strategic, collaborative, and committed to continuous improvement. The ideal candidate will be both innovative and self-reflective, an informed risk taker while maintaining consistent program quality and effectiveness; and a life-long learner who will lead the team and the program by personal example.

This is a full-time, in-person position based either in A+’s Birmingham or Montgomery office, with weekly travel between cities. The projected start date is June 16, 2025. 

ABOUT A+ EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP

A+ Education Partnership is building an Alabama where every child has access to a world-class education, regardless of circumstance. Driven by our relentless belief in every child, we partner with educators, communities, and policymakers to advocate for and expand access to a high-quality education so that every student can thrive. 

A+ provides student-centered, research-based information and the tools and training policymakers and educators need to improve educational opportunities for all Alabama students. In addition to statewide advocacy work and the A+ Student VOICES Team, A+ Education Partnership manages two programs, A+ Best Practices Center and A+ College Ready, that work in schools directly with educators to provide support and cutting-edge professional learning. Visit our website to learn more: http://aplusala.org/

ABOUT A+ COLLEGE READY

A+ College Ready is a passionate team of individuals committed to the mission of our organization. A+ College Ready staff members believe that the work that we do is our chance to make a lasting impact in schools and communities throughout the state of Alabama. As individuals and corporately, we are lifelong learners and education leaders. We are honored and humbled to have the opportunity to support hundreds of Alabama teachers and school leaders who, in turn, impact the lives of thousands of Alabama students. Our team members come from a variety of backgrounds, have unique skill sets, and offer diverse viewpoints. However, we all share a standard of excellence, hard work, and dedication.

In partnership with the Alabama State Department of Education, A+ College Ready manages three different grant programs for schools and teachers in Alabama. Each program focuses on high-quality professional learning and support for administrators, teachers, and students. It also provides classroom resources, stipends, and incentives for teachers and students.

The three grant programs are:

• Advanced Placement Training and Incentive Program (APTIP):  The traditional three-year grant program for high schools focusing on increasing access and success in Advanced Placement courses and raising academic expectations for all students in the school.
• Middle School Training and Incentive Program (MSTIP):  An adaptation of the traditional APTIP program for schools with grades 6 - 8 focusing on increased academic growth and achievement for all students in the school.
• Individual AP Teacher Training and Incentive Program (ITIP):  A program for individual AP teachers who are new to teaching the AP course or wish to expand access and access in their AP courses.  

In addition to the three grant offerings, A+ College Ready manages additional contracts for the Alabama State Department of Education or other entities. Currently, the ALSDE has contracted with A+ College Ready to provide high-quality, research-based computer science training to support the expansion of this discipline in the state.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

The major responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Lead program strategy, drive high-quality work, and execute continuous growth opportunities in order to support the sustainability of the program

• Oversee, manage, and promote the work of A+ College Ready
• Streamline the programmatic practices to ensure that strategic objectives are uniformly informed by evidence, data, and insights
• Research and recommend priorities for impact and influence that are strategic, balanced, and provide comprehensive support
• Foster a culture of innovation that drives continuous improvement and expansion of our program offerings
• Drive data analysis and promote data-driven decision-making

Manage a high-energy, self-motivated, and passionate team

• Encourage and support individual team member’s professional growth by collaboratively setting personal goals and giving feedback on job performance and the attainment of growth goals
• Evaluate and give feedback on new ideas, program modifications, and other proposals from individual or collective team members  
• Maintain an organizational level perspective while supporting individual staff members in their unique roles  
• Foster the use of common templates, common language, and common messages among all staff members
• Maintain the team momentum with celebration of results

Support the management of the grant contracts and budget

• Deeply understand the intricacies of the A+ College Ready budget and annual spending cycle
• Evaluate new work and modifications to current work based on their impact on the annual budget
• Be prepared to discuss program financial position, expenditures, etc., with ALSDE partners, organizational leadership, and/or team members
• Collaborate with CFO, Finance Director, and other finance staff in monthly meetings to analyze financial position
• Maximize efficient use of resources

Curricular Development

• Manage the work of the Content Director Team including the development of high-quality curricular resources and the creation of research-based training events.
• Remain abreast of current research and trends in effective professional learning and curriculum development to ensure that the content staff is well-trained and informed to lead the work in their individual disciplines.
• Encourage the constant updating and improvement of every aspect of A+ College Ready curricular materials and training plans.
• Maintain commonality in curricular templates, consultant selection and training, and educator training experiences.

Relationship Management (ALSDE, College Board, etc)

• Serve as the face and voice of A+ College Ready
• Pursue potential partnerships and new opportunities both within the state and across the country that align with the organizational mission in order to expand the work and maintain the relevance of A+ College Ready
• Foster and maintain positive relationships with partners, e.g., Alabama State Department of Education leadership, College Board leadership, district and school leaders, computer science community leadership, and Marzano Research

Serve on the A+ Education Partnership’s organizational leadership team

• Serve as an integral representative of the A+ College Ready program and support the organization’s operations, growth, and strategic plan
• Collaborate with the leadership of A+ Education Partnership and align the program with the organizational mission and vision

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• A deep belief in A+ Education Partnership/A+ College Ready’s mission and the potential of every child
• Experience in a school setting
• Administrative Certification and/or Administrative Experience and/or Curriculum & Instructional Leadership (preferred, but not required)
• A strong vision for the future of the program and its effectiveness
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work well with a team, state and organizational officials, and school personnel
• Outstanding managerial skills and experience managing a dynamic team
• Ability to work well and collaborate in a hybrid team environment
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, including public speaking
• Astute problem-solving skills
• Comfort with common technology platforms, including Google Suite, Dropbox, etc.
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Ability and willingness to travel, sometimes overnight, for multiple days as needed, with reliable transportation

SALARY & BENEFITS

• Salary is commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications*
• Blue Cross Blue Shield health, dental, & vision insurance is provided at no cost for individual employees (family coverage is available at a cost)
• Two weeks paid vacation in the first year (prorated from start date to calendar year-end); three weeks paid vacation beginning year two
• One week paid end-of-year holiday between Christmas and New Year’s
• Funded participation in company retirement plan after one year
• $100,000 company-funded life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• $50 cell phone reimbursement monthly

*QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS, PLEASE APPLY

Don’t check off every box in the requirements listed above? Please apply anyway! A+ Education Partnership is dedicated to building an accessible workplace that fosters a sense of belonging. So, if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t perfectly align with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to still consider submitting an application.

A+ Education Partnership is an equal-opportunity employer and will not discriminate, or tolerate discrimination, on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws.

HOW TO APPLY

Please complete this application and attach a resume. Submissions will be accepted until April 25, 2025. If you have any questions, please contact Megan Skipper at megan@aplusala.org.