Vision Statement: Los Angeles Education Partnership (LAEP) envisions a world where empowered learning communities foster hope and opportunity for all.

Mission Statement: LAEP cultivates the resilience and achievement of educators, children and families through collaboration and educational equity.

LAEP believes that public education is a community institution that deserves uplifting and respectful community-based strategies that address institutional achievement and opportunity gaps. LAEP works from diapers to diplomas to create strong, early childhood-focused families and great public schools in high-poverty neighborhoods that embody the six core elements of our school-transformation model: high-quality instruction, teacher leadership and collaboration, college and career prepared, parents as partners, youth empowerment, and educational equity. Our approach focuses on the needs of the whole child—both academic and nonacademic. Our model is characterized by collaboration with school communities, trusting relationships with educators and families, and building capacity so families and schools can continue the work beyond the term of our partnership.

LAEP supports 18 partner schools that enroll 14,000 students in grades K-12 on 11 campuses in the Los Angeles Unified School District and 170 children and 161 families in our early childhood programs.

THE POSITION

Our President & CEO has guided LAEP’s growth and success since she joined the organization in 2005. With a new strategic plan in place, LAEP is seeking a dynamic and creative leader who can further the vision and mission and continue LAEP’s legacy of being at the forefront of quality educational practice.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the President & CEO will lead a cutting-edge education organization working at the intersection of practice and policy change. The President & CEO will provide overall leadership for the organization, including implementing the newly adopted Strategic Plan and serving as the face of LAEP on the local and national stage.

LAEP is looking for a dynamic, progressive agent of change. Ideal candidates will have executive management and fund-development experience in mid-sized, mission- and equity-focused organizations serving under-resourced communities. While management experience working at this scale is critical, equally important is a passion for children and families and a deep, personal understanding of public education and educational equity.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The CEO will marshal the collective talents of the staff and Board to advance educational equity. The CEO will provide the vision and support to unleash their energy, talents, and expertise.

Organizational Leadership and Management

Provide creative and interactive leadership – modeling the kind of collaborative, distributed leadership that is a hallmark of LAEP’s approach to working in schools and in communities.
Effectively coach senior leaders in the distributed leadership model; ensure that staff competencies and the staffing mix align with the needs of the organization and its constituencies.

Program Excellence

Be an ally and champion for our staff and communities, ensuring that LAEP’s programs are responsive to the needs of school- and community-partners and have strong outcomes.
Identify and cultivate an expansive portfolio of strategic and community-based partnerships that further LAEP’s mission and financial sustainability.

Finance and Fundraising

Provide strategic guidance and lead efforts in revenue generation through grants, earned income, fundraising events, and marketing of products and services.
Manage the organization in a fiscally responsible manner within the Board-approved budget, ensuring that policies and systems that support financial control and effectiveness are in place and fully functioning.

Communications and Advocacy

Serve as a credible and effective spokesperson, in person and in writing, to increase visibility for the organization and to advance a public policy agenda that supports the mission, vision, and work of LAEP.
Ensure the organization is recognized by school and district leaders, partners, and influencers in the field for its leadership, particularly in designing and delivering early childhood and school transformation services.

Board Relations

Secure the Board’s trust, confidence and enthusiasm; regularly provide concise reports to the Board on the state of the organization.
Work collaboratively with the Board, its committees, and individual members to fulfill the Board’s governance functions.

DESIRED LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

Leading candidates will actively embrace the mission of LAEP and invest in its vision and goals, as articulated in the new Strategic Plan (available at www.laep.org). The successful candidate will be a dynamic and creative agent of change, ready and eager to embrace opportunities for entrepreneurial development and to enhance local, regional, and national visibility for the organization. Desired key leadership experience and attributes include:

Direct experience driving holistic school change; familiarity with community schools and teacher-led schools; familiarity with educational change theories (e.g., Michael Fullan, Cognitive Coaching, Adaptive Schools).
Direct experience providing community-responsive early childhood programming, including home-based models
Strong executive leadership experience in a progressive mid-sized organization (>50 staff, $5M budget) that provides education-related services and supports in underserved urban neighborhoods.
A track record of securing funding for education programs; demonstrated success in leading fundraising projects that include public and private sector funding sources.
Experience managing organizations through periods of change that include: development of new and expanded services; upgrades to operating infrastructure; and staff training, hiring and retention.
Proven success in developing strong relationships and working with nonprofit Boards of Directors.
Advanced degree in education, business, public administration or related field is preferred.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Passionate advocate for public education, educational equity, and social justice.
Demonstrated compassion, understanding and respect for children, parents, teachers, school leaders and communities served by LAEP.
Courageous and inclusive leadership style with a successful track record of creating collaborative and high performing work environments.
Demonstrated ability to listen, convene, facilitate and connect with staff and the Board of Directors in ways that encourages engagement.
Strong work ethic delivered with a sense of humor, humility and integrity.
Strong public speaking skills and ability to communicate effectively to multiple and diverse communities and audiences.

COMPENSATION

Annual compensation is competitive and will be commensurate with experience. An attractive employee benefits package is provided.

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