Managing Director - Alabama

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 SUMMARY As the Managing Director-Alabama Region for Freedom Preparatory Academy Charter Schools, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the successful operation and growth of our charter school campuses across the state. You will be responsible for overseeing the educational, operational, and administrative aspects of the schools within your region. Your leadership and strategic vision will drive excellence in education, student achievement, and community engagement.
RESPONSIBILITIES REGIONAL-TEAM MANAGEMENT Provide vision and direction
• Ensure the vision and direction of Freedom Preparatory Academy Charter Schools in Alabama: prepare all students in PK-12 to excel in college and in life.
• Have strong knowledge of both public and charter schools in Alabama and use this knowledge to set the direction for organizational priorities and goals.
• Serve as a voice for your region on Freedom Prep's senior leadership team. Continually ground your team in Freedom Prep's vision, mission, and goals. Determine additional priorities, as necessary, for your region to be successful.
Be the accountable leader of the region
• Ensure all academic, operational, talent, and financial goals are met year in and year out across your region.
• Keep your eye on the regional landscape: what is changing about funders, authorizers, other charter networks, other school districts, and how might all of this affect our ability to serve our students?
• Conduct regular region-wide talent reviews to determine current capacity and future needs for the region to be set up to meet all goals.
Hire and Support a Regional Leadership Team
• With support from the Freedom Prep network talent team, hire a team of regional leaders to ensure each functional area has the leadership and capacity necessary to meet your goals and realize both your and the network's vision for your region.
• Provide regular leadership and management to all regional leaders to ensure they are growing, developing, and thriving in their role.
• Ensure a healthy adult culture exists on your regional team and problem solve when necessary.
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS School Expansion
• Be the face of our school in grassroots student recruitment efforts, connecting directly with families, hosting events, and building trust in the community.
• Partner with leadership to identify opportunities for growth and develop plans rooted in the needs and strengths of our community.
• Take the lead in executing school expansion projects including but not limited to student enrollment, while managing timelines, budgets, and communications.
• Forge partnerships with local organizations, businesses, and leaders to create collaborative opportunities that support school growth.
• Lead the expansion into Montgomery, AL.
Regional Board Management
• With support from the Chief Executive Officer, recruit, vet, and onboard a team of local leaders to serve in an advisory capacity on your regional board of directors.
• Ensure your regional board of directors meets regularly with a proactive eye towards regional management balanced with an adept ability to support your problem solving around reactive issues.
• Inspire, motivate, and manage your regional board of directors to serve as a catalyst for regional fundraising and advocacy work.
Financial Fundraising
• Build a robust network of donors and stakeholders throughout the region who are heavily invested in Freedom Prep's success.
• Regularly communicate and interface with network stakeholders to ensure deep commitment and investment in the Freedom Prep brand, mission, and goals.
• Meet all network goals related to fundraising for your region each year.
Authorizer Relationships
• Develop and maintain a deep understanding of the regional context from political entities, school authorizers, peer charter school networks and school districts, and the state department of education.
• Build and maintain relationships across entities to ensure Freedom Prep is able to successfully navigate all potential adjustments or pivots from any of the above regional actors.
• Ensure full compliance with all authorizer, local, and state requirements and regulations so that Freedom Prep can be in good standing for future charter applications, charter renewals, and grand applications.
OPERATIONAL OVERSIGHT
• Ensure smooth day-to-day operations of all schools within the region, including managing budgets, resources, facilities, and transportation services.
• Monitor and maintain compliance with all state and federal education regulations, charter agreements, and reporting requirements. Implement data-driven decision-making processes to improve school performance and student outcomes.
STRATEGIC PLANNING
• Develop and execute a strategic plan for the region, aligning with Freedom Prep's broader goals and objectives.
• Monitor key performance indicators and make data-driven decisions to ensure continuous improvement in student achievement and operational effectiveness.
• Identify opportunities for growth, expansion, and program enhancement within the region.
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES KNOWLEDGE OF:
• Comprehensive knowledge of the principles, practices, and procedures of school administration
• Comprehensive knowledge of school division objectives, procedures, and organization
• Comprehensive knowledge of school personnel and administrative practices, procedures and methods
• Curriculum, instruction and assessment
• Record-keeping techniques
• Operation of a computer terminal and data entry techniques
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Research methods and report writing techniques
• Laws, rules, and regulation related to assigned activities
• Policies and objectives of assigned program and activities
• Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy
• Technical aspects of field of specialty
ABILITY TO:
• Understand and follow oral and written directions
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others
• Maintain record and prepare reports
• Operate a computer terminal
• Prioritize and schedule work
• Learn, apply and explain policies, procedures, rules, and regulations
• Maintain current knowledge of program rules, regulations, requirements and restrictions
• Determine appropriate action within clearly defined guidelines
• Work independently with little direction
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university is required.
• Advanced degree in business, public policy or administration, or related discipline preferred.
• At least 5-10 years of related, leadership level experience in the non profit sector, management consulting, and/or education management fields strongly preferred;
• Strong understanding of charter school operations, education policies, and regulations in Alabama.
• Must have proven track record of improving student achievement and school performance.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to develop and execute regional plans aligned with organizational goals.
• Experience in managing budgets, resources, and administrative functions.
• Proficiency in data analysis and utilizing data to drive decision-making.
• Experience serving students who are traditionally underserved, in an urban public school or high-performing public charter school setting strongly preferred.
$115,000 - $132,500 a year
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.

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