Professional Learning Jobs in Ohio (NOW HIRING)

Position Type:
Exempt
Date Posted:
6/16/2026
Location:
Garfield Heights Central Office (BOE)
Closing Date:
Until Filled
Position: Chief Academic Officer
Reports to: Superintendent
Employment Status: Regular/Full-time
Status: Exempt
Description:
The Chief of Academics serves as the District's senior instructional leader and is responsible for the vision, strategy, implementation, and continuous improvement of all academic programs and services. Under the direction of the Superintendent, the Chief of Academics leads district-wide efforts to improve student achievement, ensure equitable educational opportunities, and close achievement gaps for all student groups, including economically disadvantaged students, English learners, students with disabilities, gifted learners, foster youth, homeless students, and other historically underserved populations.
The Chief of Academics provides executive leadership for curriculum, instruction, assessment, professional learning, federal and state programs, accountability systems, school improvement efforts, and strategic academic initiatives. The position ensures compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal requirements while fostering a culture of high expectations, innovation, continuous improvement, and student-centered excellence.
NOTE: The lists below are not ranked in order of importance
Essential Functions:
The following responsibilities are representative of the position and are not intended to be all inclusive:
Executive Academic Leadership
• Serves as the District's chief instructional officer and member of the Superintendent's Executive Leadership Team.
• Develops and implements a comprehensive academic vision aligned with the District Strategic Plan.
• Provides leadership for all curriculum, instruction, assessment, intervention, and school improvement initiatives.
• Establishes measurable goals and accountability systems to improve student achievement and organizational effectiveness.
• Leads district-wide efforts to ensure equitable access to rigorous, high-quality educational opportunities for all students.
• Monitors academic performance indicators and develops action plans to address achievement gaps.
Curriculum, Instruction, and Learning
• Oversees the development, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of the District curriculum.
• Ensures curriculum alignment with Ohio Learning Standards and national best practices.
• Leads the implementation of evidence-based instructional practices across all schools.
• Promotes innovative teaching strategies and effective integration of instructional technology.
• Collaborates with school leaders to improve classroom instruction and student outcomes.
• Supports instructional programs designed to prepare students for college, career, military, and life success.
• Guides curriculum review cycles and instructional resource adoption processes.
Assessment, Accountability, and Data Systems
• Oversees the District's comprehensive assessment system.
• Serves as the District Testing Coordinator or supervises testing coordination functions.
• Ensures compliance with all state and federally mandated assessment requirements.
• Directs the collection, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of student achievement data.
• Develops systems that support data-informed instructional decision-making.
• Prepares and presents assessment, accountability, and achievement reports to the Board of Education, staff, families, and community stakeholders.
• Leads the development of district accountability measures and performance monitoring systems.
School Improvement and Student Achievement
• Leads district-wide school improvement planning and implementation efforts.
• Collaborates with principals and instructional leaders to establish achievement goals and improvement strategies.
• Monitors school improvement plans and progress toward district performance targets.
• Supports intervention systems designed to improve outcomes for struggling learners.
• Ensures continuous improvement processes are embedded throughout the organization.
Professional Learning and Leadership Development
• Develops and oversees a comprehensive professional learning system aligned with district goals.
• Provides leadership development opportunities for principals, administrators, instructional coaches, and teacher leaders.
• Supports the implementation of professional growth plans designed to improve instructional effectiveness.
• Facilitates professional learning communities and collaborative leadership structures.
• Promotes a culture of continuous learning and professional excellence.
Federal and State Programs
• Oversees all federal and state educational programs, including but not limited to Title I, Title II, Title III, and Title IV.
• Ensures all programs are implemented in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and funding requirements.
• Coordinates federal monitoring activities and corrective action plans as necessary.
• Collaborates with district leadership to complete the Consolidated Application and other required submissions.
• Oversees development and implementation of the District One Plan and related improvement initiatives.
• Serves as the District Homeless Liaison or supervises assigned personnel responsible for this function.
• Represents the District in local, regional, state, and federal meetings related to educational programs and compliance.
Grants and Resource Development
• Oversees the identification, development, and management of state, federal, and private grant opportunities.
• Supervises grant implementation and ensures compliance with grant requirements.
• Seeks external funding opportunities that support strategic academic priorities and student achievement goals.
• Monitors program effectiveness and return on investment for grant-funded initiatives.
Budget and Resource Management
• Develops and manages departmental budgets related to curriculum, instruction, assessment, professional development, and federal programs.
• Collaborates with the Treasurer/CFO to align financial resources with strategic priorities.
• Ensures responsible stewardship of district resources and funding allocations.
• Recommends investments that support improved academic outcomes.
Community and Stakeholder Engagement
• Maintains effective communication with students, families, staff, community partners, and governmental agencies.
• Builds collaborative relationships that support district goals and student success.
• Presents academic updates, program evaluations, and achievement data to various stakeholder groups.
• Serves on district and community committees as assigned by the Superintendent.
Organizational Leadership
• Participates in strategic planning and organizational decision-making as a member of the Executive Leadership Team.
• Advises the Superintendent on academic priorities, educational trends, policy implications, and school improvement strategies.
• Maintains awareness of emerging educational research, innovations, and best practices.
• Represents the District at professional conferences, workshops, and educational organizations.
• Leads special projects and initiatives as assigned by the Superintendent.
OTHER DUTIES
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Superintendent.
Professional Responsibilities
• Maintain professional competence through ongoing professional learning and participation in conferences, workshops, and professional organizations.
• Demonstrate ethical leadership, sound judgment, and professionalism at all times.
• Maintain regular and reliable attendance.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Superintendent.
Qualifications
• Valid Ohio Superintendent License. • Valid Ohio Principal License.
• Master's Degree from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum of three (3) years of successful building-level principal experience.
• Demonstrated success improving student achievement and organizational performance.
• Demonstrated knowledge of curriculum development, instructional leadership, assessment systems, school improvement processes, and educational accountability.
• Experience managing state and federal education programs and grants.
• Demonstrated experience using data to drive instructional decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Strong written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with staff, families, community organizations, and governmental agencies.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment.
• Demonstrated strategic planning, organizational leadership, and project management skills.
Preferred
• Doctorate (Ph.D. or Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership, Curriculum and Instruction, Urban Education, Organizational Leadership, or related field.
• Experience in multiple grade levels or school settings.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Knowledge of educational leadership principles, curriculum, instruction, assessment, and school operations.
• Knowledge of federal and state laws, Board policy, labor relations, and compliance requirements.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and strategic planning skills.
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships with staff, students, parents, community members, and stakeholders.
• Ability to analyze data, solve problems, and make informed decisions.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise professional discretion.
• Proficiency with educational technology and district information systems.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a leadership team.
Equipment Operated
• Computer and related technology equipment
• Printer/copier/scanner/fax equipment
• Telephone and mobile communication devices
• District vehicles and personal motor vehicle
Working Conditions
• Occasional evening, weekend, and summer work required.
• Frequent travel between district buildings and occasional out-of-district travel.
• Occasional exposure to communicable diseases, bodily fluids, and challenging student behaviors.
• Occasional operation of a vehicle in varying weather conditions.
• Frequent use of computer equipment and repetitive hand motions.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, hear, speak, and move throughout district facilities for extended periods.
• Occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling of materials and equipment up to 25 pounds.
About Our District:
The Garfield Heights City Schools collaboratively and cooperatively serve students and families of the City of Garfield Heights. Located in Cuyahoga County and bordered on the north by the City of Cleveland proper, and on all other sides by the first ring communities of Northeast Ohio. Our District proudly serves approximately 3,500 students in three Kindergarten through Grade 5 schools, one middle school, and one high school. The district also provides an award-winning Preschool program to educate the youngest students in our community at William Foster Elementary. All those who seek academic, co-curricular, student leadership, diversity, and community engagement success, can find these things and more in the Garfield Heights City Schools.
As a product of our community-based strategic planning process completed in 2021, our district's mission is: As the heart of the community, Garfield Heights City Schools fully prepares students to pursue their dreams and give back as engaged citizens and future leaders. Our vision is: to become a premier educational institution, recognized throughout Ohio as fully preparing students to be leaders equipped with real-world skills to contribute to a global society.
The Garfield Heights City School prides itself on providing a rigorous and comprehensive pre-k through 12th-grade educational curriculum that clearly focuses on student success through college and career readiness. To that end, Garfield Heights High School offers a variety of Advanced Placement courses, including AP English, AP Government, AP American History, Honors Chemistry, Honors Calculus, Honors Physical Science, and more. While the District offers these high-level academic courses, the GHCS also proudly sends more than 225 students on an annual basis to the Cuyahoga Valley Career Center for those individuals deeply interested in learning a skilled profession or hands-on expertise in one of the trades. Middle School students have increasingly greater opportunities to prepare themselves for high school and parents are readily encouraged to be involved. Elementary School students in the GHCS also participate in such valuable literacy programs as LETRs and social/emotional initiatives as the Zones of Regulation. The GHCS places a great deal of emphasis at all levels of education on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (P.B.I.S.) and each school has won awards from the State of Ohio for encouraging and promoting positive behavior.
A wide variety of co-curricular offerings are available to students of all ages in the Garfield Heights City Schools as well. Such opportunities include more than 18 varsity sports, the district's show choir, Music Express, Marching Band, Theater, A ?Capella Choir, National Honor Society, Student Council, Glass Ceiling, Future Engineers, and more. These co-curricular offerings are award-winning on the state, regional and local levels. Students can expect success when they become involved in the various academic, co-curri