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CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER - Lighthouse Community Public Schools

THE ORGANIZATION

At Lighthouse Community Public Schools, we are engaged in an educational movement that goes beyond our classrooms, working to disrupt inequities by providing our students and families with exceptional educational opportunities every day. Grounded in our core values of community, integrity, agency, love, and social justice, rooted in the EL Education Model, LCPS is a leader in fostering innovative schools that achieve exceptional student outcomes, where each child is at the center of their own learning. Our mission is to prepare diverse students for college, a career of their choice, and to be lifelong changemakers. Founded in 2002, LCPS operates two high-achieving K-12 public charter schools--Lighthouse and Lodestar--serving nearly 1,500 students in East Oakland. Lighthouse is a beacon for public education, and our graduates fulfill the promise of a better, brighter Oakland.  Learn more at www.lighthousecharter.org.

THE OPPORTUNITY

LCPS is seeking a Chief Academic Officer (CAO) who can lead a rigorous, equity-centered TK–12 academic program while operating effectively in the complex social, political, and community context of East Oakland. This role blends high-level academic systems leadership with hands-on, on-the-ground community engagement.

The CAO will be responsible for strengthening academic outcomes while ensuring that LCPS remains a trusted, credible community partner within a dynamic and multifaceted community context. This leader must be equally comfortable navigating California’s charter and accountability landscape as they are engaging families, community leaders, and external stakeholders with humility and respect.

The CAO reports directly to the CEO and oversees principals, special education and mental health services, college and career programming, and central academic teams—impacting approximately ~200 staff across the organization.

CAO CORE COMPETENCIES

• Leadership, management, and coaching of principals and senior academic leaders across TK–12 systems
• Deep expertise in inclusive academic systems, including special education, mental health, and student supports
• Ability to drive rigorous, equity-centered academic improvement through data-informed strategy and continuous improvement
• Strong community engagement and partnership-building skills, with the ability to navigate complex neighborhood dynamics and earn trust in historically marginalized communities
• Skill in navigating complex educational systems, accountability, and political landscape with credibility and strategic judgment
• Capacity to set clear academic priorities, align resources, and lead execution across multiple schools and teams
• Collaborative, adaptive leader who balances strategic vision with hands-on problem solving and relationship-centered leadership

CAO RESPONSIBILITIES AND OUTCOMES

Academic Strategy, Systems Alignment, and Instructional Excellence

• Lead the design, execution, and continuous refinement of a coherent, equity-centered TK–12 academic program that reflects LCPS’s mission, values, and East Oakland community context.
• Establish and communicate clear academic priorities that drive student achievement, engagement, and long-term success, with particular attention to historically underserved student groups.
• Oversee and align curriculum, instruction, assessment, literacy, English language development, and intervention systems across all schools to ensure consistency, quality, and impact.
• Ensure strong alignment between network-level academic strategy and school-based implementation through clear expectations, coaching, and performance monitoring.

Community Partnership, Political Navigation, and External Engagement

• Operate effectively within East Oakland’s complex social, cultural, and political environment, including violence-impacted neighborhoods and labor-centered community dynamics.
• Build, sustain, and repair trust-based relationships with families, students, community leaders, partner organizations, and local stakeholders.
• Engage in sustained, trust-based dialogue with community partners to center their voices in shaping and advancing shared, community-driven priorities
• Navigate a political climate with credibility, diplomacy, and strategic judgment, particularly during high-stakes charter renewals and accountability processes.
• Serve as a visible, trusted representative of LCPS in community, district, board, and public accountability settings.

Student Support, Special Education, and Whole-Child Systems Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership for a comprehensive special education program serving nearly 20% of students, including moderate-to-severe populations.
• Oversee special education, behavioral health, and mental health services to ensure high-quality, compliant, and inclusive support for students and families.
• Champion access, inclusion, and dignity for students with the greatest needs, reinforcing LCPS’s commitment to serving all students without exclusionary practices.
• Ensure strong collaboration between academic teams and student support services to promote holistic student success.

College, Career, and Postsecondary Readiness & Pathways

• Lead and continuously strengthen college, career, and postsecondary readiness systems across middle and high school grades.
• Oversee CTE pathways, dual enrollment, and postsecondary partnerships to ensure alignment between academic preparation and real-world opportunities.
• Ensure students graduate with clear, supported pathways to college, career, and technical options aligned to their aspirations.

Leadership Development, Talent Strategy, and Performance Management

• Supervise, coach, and evaluate principals and senior academic leaders, building instructional leadership capacity across all school sites.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and shared accountability among academic leaders and teams.
• Develop and sustain leadership pipelines while maintaining high expectations for performance, growth, and results.

Governance, Accountability, and Long-Term Strategic Planning

• Lead academic accountability efforts, including charter renewals, state and federal reporting, accreditation, and internal performance monitoring.
• Partner closely with the CEO and Board, providing regular, transparent updates on academic progress, risks, and strategic priorities.
• Contribute to long-term organizational strategy, including the successful completion of the current strategic plan and the design of future academic priorities and initiatives.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education, Credentials & Certification
• Bachelor’s degree with significant, relevant professional experience required; Master’s degree beyond Administrative credential / certification preferred but not required.
• Strong preference for candidates with prior experience working in California; demonstrated familiarity with California’s charter, accountability, and regulatory environment is highly valued.

Professional Experience

• Senior TK–12 instructional leadership experience, including prior service as a principal and direct supervision of principals and/or senior school leaders.
• 10+ years of progressive public education leadership experience, with demonstrated scope across network-, district-, or multi-site school systems.
• Direct responsibility for academic outcomes in high-need, historically underserved, and culturally diverse communities.
• Demonstrated success leading academic improvement in complex environments, including schools and communities impacted by poverty and other systemic challenges.
• Strong academic systems leadership, with the ability to align curriculum, instruction, assessment, and interventions while remaining grounded in school- and community-level realities.
• Deep experience overseeing special education systems, including moderate-to-severe programming and integrated student support and mental health services.
• Experience operating within complex educational and community ecosystems, navigating diverse stakeholder interests with credibility, care, and effectiveness.
• Proven ability to engage families, community leaders, and external partners as core components of academic and organizational leadership, including experience with community-centered or community school models.
• Experience working in California’s public or charter school context, including familiarity with charter accountability, renewals, and state/federal compliance (strongly preferred); leaders from similarly complex urban contexts may be considered.
• Oversight of large teams and systems, impacting approximately 200+ staff across academics, student supports, and college and career readiness.
• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred (education leadership, administration, or related field).
• Valid administrative credential preferred.

Skills, Leadership Style & Attributes

• Ability to bridge rigorous academic outcomes with authentic community credibility and trust-building.
• Strong political, organizational, and stakeholder navigation skills, particularly in labor-focused and anti-charter environments.
• Deep commitment to equity, access, and culturally responsive leadership practices.
• Collaborative, humble, and relationship-centered leadership approach grounded in listening and partnership.
• Data-informed decision-maker with strong instructional, systems, and improvement expertise.
• Ability to balance high expectations for performance with care for students, families, and staff.

Benefits

COMPENSATION

• Full-time, 12-month, exempt leadership position.
• Competitive salary range anticipated between $180,000–$220,000, commensurate with experience.
• Comprehensive benefits package.

Target start date of June/July, 2026 with flexibility for the right candidate. This is an in-person leadership role based in East Oakland, California.

TO APPLY

People of color and bilingual candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.  

Interested candidates should submit:

• A detailed resume outlining your experience

Candidates who progress through the process will be asked to share the information below at a later date:

• 3-5 Professional References: Name, position, phone number, and email address. (Two of which should be current or previous supervisors of your role).
• A list of all prior school-based employers: In accordance with Education Code section 44939.5, Lighthouse is required by law to request information from your former school-based employers about your employment history, including verification of credentialed and/or classified experience and whether you were ever the subject of a credible complaint, substantiated investigation, or discipline for egregious misconduct at your school.

Lighthouse Community Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity at all levels.