Lighthouse Community Public Schools · 1 week ago
Chief Academic Officer
Oakland, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$180K/yr - $220K/yr
10+ years expLighthouse Community Public Schools is seeking a Chief Academic Officer (CAO) who can lead a rigorous, equity-centered TK–12 academic program while engaging effectively with the community. The CAO will oversee academic outcomes, manage principals and academic teams, and strengthen community partnerships to ensure the success of students within a complex social and political context.
Primary/Secondary Education
Responsibilities
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
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
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
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
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
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
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree with significant, relevant professional experience required
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
Oversight of large teams and systems, impacting approximately 200+ staff across academics, student supports, and college and career readiness
Bachelor's degree required
Valid administrative credential preferred
Preferred
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
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
Master's degree preferred (education leadership, administration, or related field)
Valid administrative credential preferred
Benefits
Comprehensive benefits package
Company
Lighthouse Community Public Schools
At Lighthouse Community Public Schools (LCPS), we believe an exceptional education brings out each child’s unique light and potential.
51-200 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Lighthouse Community Public Schools has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (3)
2024 (3)
2023 (3)
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageLeadership Team
Rich Harrison
Chief Executive Officer
Company data provided by crunchbase