Managing Director Teaching and Learning

About Us:

Freedom Preparatory Academy Charter Schools (www.freedomprep.org) is a network of PreK-12 free public charter schools serving students in Memphis, TN, and Birmingham, AL. Our mission is to prepare all students in grades PreK-12 to excel in college and in life. Since our founding in 2009, we have grown from a class of 96 sixth grade students to now serving over 1950 students across multiple campuses. In 2024, we expanded into Birmingham, AL, starting with grades K-1, with plans to grow to a K-5 campus. 

At Freedom Prep, we are committed to transforming education for students of color across the South, ensuring they have access to high-quality educational opportunities that empower them to thrive. Over the past 15 years, our students have consistently exceeded both local and state averages in math and have surpassed local benchmarks in English Language Arts on state assessments. Our mission is guided by three core beliefs: every child deserves the right to a high-quality public education, character development is essential to student success, and exposure to diverse opportunities builds the confidence and skills needed to excel in college and in life.

At Freedom Prep, we cultivate a structured, academically rigorous environment that fosters excellence in core subjects, promotes advanced academic skills, and encourages students to embody the core values of Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Excellence, and Community.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Managing Director of Teaching and Learning reports to the Chief Academic Officer. The Managing Director of Academics will assist in the design and implementation of the Freedom Preparatory Academy instructional approach. The Instructional approach will focus on building the content and child development knowledge of teachers and leaders. In addition to building knowledge, the Managing Director of Teaching and Learning will codify best practices in methods, drive the selection of rigorous, standards-aligned, and culturally relevant curriculum, and provide direction for how learning best occurs in schools and classrooms. Additionally, the Managing Director of Teaching and Learning will support the development of instructional coaching skills for all leaders. All efforts driven by the Managing Director of Teaching and Learning will be in service of an equitable, inclusive, rigorous, and diverse learning experience for all students.

Job Description:

Lead the Implementation and Management of a World-Class Academic Program:

•Design and implement a strategy for curriculum and assessment adoption and/or modification.

•Create content blueprints for Freedom Preparatory Academy across all content areas.

•Analyze and recommend research-based curriculum to supportstandards based approach to teaching and learning.

•Develop and oversee systems for quality control and vetting of curricular materials, assessments, and professional development resources.

•Implement data-driven instruction protocols for analysis and response to mastery data and students' GPA.

•Collaborate with Heads of Schools to deploy talent and resources based on academic progress monitoring.

•Manage all academics and academic operations matters in the region.

•Ensure instructional practices, curriculum, and assessments are aligned, created and used with fidelity with the Teaching and Learning team.

•Closely monitor success metrics and take appropriate action when necessary.

•Recommend best practices and collaborate with the CAO.

Assessments and Accountability: 

•Create and implement the Freedom Preparatory Instructional instructional approach across all content areas with aligned scope and sequences and assessments.

•Collaborate with Data Analyst to analyze all assessments and correlate student achievement to best in class teaching and learning practices.  

•Collect, revise and share exemplar unit/module plans in core content areas for teachers and leaders.

Develop and Lead a Teaching & Learning Team:

•Act as a bridge between program and school management, building relationships and supporting T&L teammates.

•Develop short-term and long-term growth strategy for the Teaching & Learning Team.

•Support T&L Team in managing academic programs, curriculum, assessments, and implementation support.

Lead and Engage in Professional Development:

•Create and implement professional development strands for teachers and teams on content, methods and curriculum related to all content areas.

•Create and implement professional development strands for leaders and teams on the instructional coaching teachers. 

•Create and implement an approach to catalog excellent teaching, planning, and practices through the collection of videos and artifacts.

•Lead professional development sessions for leaders and teachers while using insight from student performance while collaborating with other regional academic team members, Heads of Schools, and teachers. 

•Support in the planning and facilitation of content team meetings in elementary literacy or math.

•Engage in research and professional development opportunities.Collaborate with the Teaching & Learning team on sharing best practices with teachers and leaders.

Serve as an Outstanding Colleague with Leadership Team:

•Collaborate with Executive Directors and Heads of Schools.

•Develop regional strategies for improvements in academics, culture, and staff engagement.

•Participate in region-wide events and processes.

•Report to the FPA Chief Academic Officer.

•May need to be called in to support schools through school leadership or coaching and model academic leadership and excellence.

Qualifications:

Education: 

Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.

Licensure: 

• Tennessee Professional Educator License preferred; eligibility required.

• Eligibility for Tennessee Professional Educator License required.

• Considered highly-qualified based on NCLB guidelines.

Experience:

• 8+ years of leadership in instruction, curriculum within an urban setting.

• 8+ years managing a high performing leadership team.

• Proven success in driving student performance and managing high-achieving classrooms.

• Experience managing curriculum development and instructional resources across multiple schools (preferred multi-state experience).

Skills:

• Strong computer proficiency (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

• Exceptional content knowledge and instructional alignment.

• Strong data analysis capabilities.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to lead, motivate, and provide constructive feedback to staff for student growth.

• Team-oriented with goal-setting and strategic planning abilities.

• Ability to give and receive constructive feedback to drive growth and academic achievement for both students and faculty.

Mindset & Values:

• Unwavering commitment to FPA’s educational excellence and high expectations.

• Passionate about education reform and dedicated to serving students from high-poverty communities.

• Proactive, detail-oriented, flexible, and results-driven.

• Demonstrated curiosity, initiative, and a commitment to continuous learning.

• Strong presence and communication skills to engage stakeholders at all levels.

• Alignment with Freedom Prep’s mission, vision, and goals.

We are excited that you are inspired or called to learn more about our mission, values, and potential opportunities. We’d encourage you to explore a few additional resources about us, the recent investment for what’s possible, and why you should consider our community as a place for you to become a part of. We are one of the few networks that centers the whole person and their needs to thrive and support themselves and their families in the South.

BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION: At Freedom Prep, we prioritize transparency in everything we do. We believe that open communication fosters trust and collaboration. As part of this commitment, we make our salary scales available online for you to view, ensuring clarity and fairness in our compensation practices. You can view our compensation scales on our website. Please click HERE to be redirected.

Check out some of the unique and rare benefits here, including but not limited to: 

-Paying higher, scaffolded teacher salaries from Year 1 to retirement stage

-Zero dollar monthly premium options, including holistic options such as chiropractic or acupuncture care (TN ONLY)

-Focus on staff well-being and collective care through our Adult Social-Emotional Learning

-Support in obtaining licensure

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: Freedom Preparatory Academy is actively seeking to build a diverse and experienced team of educators. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, handicap, age, religion, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin. We are an equal opportunity employer.