Executive Director
The Association of Alaska School Boards (AASB) seeks a dynamic and highly skilled executive to lead our team in Juneau, Alaska.
The Organization: AASB’s mission is to advocate for children and youth by assisting school boards in providing quality public education, focused on student achievement, through effective local governance. The leading advocate for public education in Alaska, AASB works with 50 member school districts and boards to strengthen the connections between schools, families, tribes, communities, and government so that every child has the opportunity to receive a quality public education. AASB advances its mission through program work in board professional development, policy services, school improvement, community engagement, legislative advocacy, strategic planning and superintendent search services, and publications. To guide its work, AASB continually evaluates and refines its foundational documents, including the AASB Pathways, its Long-Range Plan, the Belief Statements and Core Resolutions of AASB.
As defined by the AASB Board of Directors, the Association’s 2019 – 2022 goals are:
- Empower school boards to transform educational systems to increase the academic success of Alaska Native students and increase graduation rates of Alaska Native students who are grounded in their cultural identity with the ability to successfully pursue their goals.
- Strengthen the positive political influence of AASB at the local, state and national level.
- Support local school boards and districts to partner with families, youth, and their communities in shaping and enriching the education of all Alaska’s children.
- Support school boards and districts to collaborate and implement creative solutions to deliver personalized learning, and prepare Alaska’s children and youth for their future.
- Sustain the association by strengthening AASB’s capacity to provide board development, preparing board members for effective governance while highlighting educational trends.
The Position: The Executive Director serves as the AASB chief executive officer and reports to an elected Board of Directors through the President. They are responsible for leading, directing and administering a program of services responsible to the needs of the membership. The Executive Director is responsible for a team of up to 20 employees. Key areas of responsibility include the following:
Planning and Governance
- Leads, supports, and works collaboratively with the AASB Board of Directors in developing goals and strategies to carry out the purpose of the organization.
- Provides timely and appropriate information and guidance to the Board of Directors in support of informed decision-making and good governance.
- Champions AASB’s long range plan and legislative priorities, and effectively implements policies and direction set by membership resolutions and Board actions.
Leadership and Management
- Hires, empowers, motivates, and leads staff to effectively achieve Association programs and service goals.
- Determines and communicates performance expectations and accountabilities for staff supervision and evaluation.
- Provides leadership, allocates resources and assures monitoring of Association programs:
- advocacy,
- board development and training,
- community engagement,
- youth engagement, and
- contract services, to assure effective and efficient operation of Association programs.
Finance and Operations
- Works with staff to maintain sound financial practices to ensure the health, stability and transparency of the Association’s budget.
- Prepares proposed budget for approval by the Board of Directors, and ensures financial resources are aligned with AASB priorities.
Communications and External Relations
- Provides and assures an effective voice for the Association and local school boards. § Acts as a strong advocate for public education.
- Maintains an effective liaison with other organizations and associations at the local, state and national level. Experience and Qualifications
- Advanced degree in related field (Education, Adult Learning, Human Resources, Business, etc.)
- Relevant work history that demonstrates senior-level leadership and general management experience and/or elected governance service. § Knowledge of and extensive experience with Alaska and its educational system.
- Awareness of school boards, and their roles of governance experience in education, nonprofit and/or association management; education knowledge, leadership, and experience preferred.
- Track record of leading strong professional teams and motivating/empowering staff.
- Polished presentation skills, including the ability to interface with statewide leaders and professionals throughout the field.
- Proven track record of:
- leadership in an organization (membership-based organization preferred), § working with broad constituency groups,
- financial management, analysis and directional decision making, § programmatic activity development and management,
- working with and being accountable to a Board of Directors,
- building collaborative relationships, internally and externally,
- leading and navigating internal and external change,
- acting as an organization’s spokesperson / the face of the organization.
- Computer program literacy skills and knowledge of Microsoft Office, Google Suite, online teleconferencing to include but not limited to Zoom, Constant Contact and a variety of programs.
- Willingness to travel (about 30%), including regular evening and weekend work.
Compensation Competitive compensation package commensurate with experience. Base salary: $110,000 plus benefits.
Application Process Interested candidates should submit applications no later than: September 18, 2020. Names of applicants will be held in strict confidence whenever possible.