Director Of Federal Programs And Community Engagement - Georgia Connections Academy

School Summary

Georgia Connections Academy is a tuition-free, full-time virtual school for students in grades K-12 throughout Georgia. The school is authorized by the Georgia Charter Schools Commission and governed by an independent Board of Directors, with a mission to maximize academic achievement for students who are seeking other academic options. The school is operated by Georgia Connections Academy, a nonprofit corporation, through a contract with Connections Academy of Georgia, LLC, to provide its educational program and other services. Connections Academy, a division of Connections Education, is accredited by AdvancED, and GACA is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement.

Georgia Connections Academy strives to create an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the diversity of the people we serve. We foster fairness, equity, and inclusion to create a workplace environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity.

Position Summary

Working from our office in Duluth, Georgia, or from your home in Georgia, the Director of Federal Programs and Community Engagement provides strategic leadership, oversight, and compliance management for all federally funded programs while driving meaningful family and community engagement initiatives. This role ensures alignment between federal program requirements, school improvement priorities, and engagement strategies that support student achievement and school culture.

The Director leads cross-functional efforts to strengthen communication, partnerships, and student/family experiences while maintaining full compliance with federal, state, and organizational expectations.

All GACA staff must be able to participate in monthly in-person activities, including but not limited to:

• School and department meetings,
• Student engagement opportunities,
• Required training/development,
• School-level events, such as state testing and graduation.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

• Supervise and evaluate Parent Engagement Specialists and the Federal Programs

& Community Engagement Administrative Assistant

• Facilitate regular 1:1 meetings, team meetings, and performance development conversations
• Develop and manage team workflows, project management systems, calendars, and coverage plans
• Monitor comp time tracking and ensure adherence to organizational expectations
• Foster a collaborative, solutions-oriented, and high-performance team culture

Federal Programs & Compliance

• Oversee the development, submission, and monitoring of:

○ Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA)

○ School Improvement Plan (SIP)

○ Consolidated Local Improvement Plan (CLIP)

○ Ongoing Progress Monitoring

• Provide final review and strategic approval of all federal grant proposals and submissions
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and Connections Academy requirements
• Review and approve Time & Effort documentation
• Monitor teacher certification and professional development compliance
• Ensure implementation of instructional accommodations and ELPP documentation

Budget & Program Management

• Manage federal program budgets across the July 1-June 30 fiscal year
• Collaborate with school leaders to align spending with strategic priorities
• Ensure timely procurement, requisitions, and accurate documentation
• Monitor program expenditures for compliance and effectiveness

Family & Community Engagement

• Oversee ParentSquare utilization to ensure clear, consistent, and compliant communication
• Supervise planning and execution of:

○ District and School-level Student Engagement Opportunities (SEOs)

○ GACA University sessions

○ Parent Summer Orientation

○ Major school and district events

• Develop and implement Caretaker and Learning Coach Onboarding curriculum
• Ensure consistent collection of family feedback, success stories, and engagement data
• Lead initiatives to increase student and family participation in school programs
• Lead Summer Caretaker/Learning Coach Orientation

Strategic Communication & Branding

• Collaborate with internal teams to support branding, messaging, and content development
• Contribute to school-wide communication strategies across social media and publications
• Lead or present Federal Programs and Community Engagement updates at faculty meetings and strategic events

Partnerships & External Relations

• Cultivate and maintain business and community partnerships through outreach and networking (e.g., Chamber events)
• Represent the school in statewide leadership initiatives and innovation forums Collaborate with external partners to support programs such as:

○ Graduation

○ Field trips

○ Career and technical education (CTAE, DECA, STEAM)

Innovation & Special Projects

• Lead and implement innovative initiatives, including:

○ PBIS/Reward Store systems

○ Staff incentive programs tied to student engagement

○ Grant-funded engagement initiatives

• Ensure distribution and tracking of engagement materials (pins, lanyards, recognition items)
• Drive continuous improvement through data-informed decision-making

Essential Skills & Competencies

Key Competencies

• Strategic Leadership & Vision
• Compliance & Accountability
• Data-Driven Decision Making
• Communication & Stakeholder Engagement
• Innovation & Continuous Improvement
• Team Development & Coaching

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred (Education, Leadership, or related field)
• Tier I or Tier II Leadership Certification required

CERTIFICATION/LICENSE

Georgia Clearance Certificate

Georgia Service Certificate in School Counseling and/or Georgia Teaching Certificate

Requirements

• Experience in Federal Programs (Title I, II, III, IV) and compliance management
• Strong knowledge of school improvement planning and data analysis
• Demonstrated experience in team leadership and project management
• Experience with family engagement and community partnership development
• Exceptional communication, organizational, and strategic planning skills

Physical Requirements

• This position requires frequent travel throughout the state of Georgia to conduct official school business. Candidates must possess a valid driver's license, maintain a clean driving record, and be comfortable with regular day trips and occasional overnight travel as needed. A reliable personal vehicle is required.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit for extended periods of time. Employee is also required to talk, hear, stand, and walk. The employee may be required to use their hands to touch, handle, feel, and/or reach. Employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.