Hope Chinese Charter School, Head of School

ORGANIZATION

Hope Chinese Charter School (HCCS) is the first public Chinese immersion school in the Beaverton School District, located in Oregon state. The dream for this school first began in 2010, in a Saturday language school. Parents saw their children blossom in the Chinese classes and realized they wanted something more. The vision for the school was initiated by parents and quickly gained momentum and high interest from local educators, leaders, and community organizations. The original team was made up completely of volunteers – people who felt passionately that a peacebuilding, Chinese immersion education would greatly benefit their children and the community. These volunteers donated hundreds of hours and private funding for the dream of offering Chinese immersion to local students. The school successfully opened its doors in the Fall of 2012.

The school’s mission is to educate for global fluency by developing Chinese & English dual-language skills, nurturing cultural adaptability and inspiring excellence for a positive impact in our world. HCCS is currently a single-site charter school serving 375 students, K-8th grade. 

To learn more about Hope Chinese Charter School, please visit https://hopeccs.org/. 

OPPORTUNITY 

The Head of School (HoS) will be the administrative, educational, and instructional leader of HCCS. Duties will be performed as prescribed by the laws of the state of Oregon. In addition to the powers and duties set forth in the Oregon Revised Statutes and OR Administrative Rules, the Head of School shall have the additional powers and duties as set forth below.

This is an ideal opportunity for an instructional leader and strategic thinker to take HCCS into its next chapter, continuing to advance impact for the school community. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Key Responsibilities of the Head of School include:

• People Leadership & Program Leadership

• Inspire a culture of excellence in alignment with HCCS Mission and Vision;
• Oversee hiring, supervision, professional development, evaluation and monitoring of all personnel;
• In partnership with the Director of Finance & HR, develop and maintain personnel policies, procedures and job descriptions;
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to meticulously review the organizational chart, identifying opportunities to optimize personnel efficiency;
• Propose and implement adjustments to existing positions, as well as design innovative roles and structures to align with the school's strategic goals and foster a dynamic and effective work environment;
• Ensure that teachers are highly qualified and have individual professional development plans on file that are aligned with HCCS charter contract, handbook and annual improvement plan;
• Oversee and implement a staff performance evaluation cycle; set clear expectations with teachers and staff each year, creating systems to monitor and check in on progress;
• Collaborate with Academic Program Directors to ensure the educational program has clearly defined goals and monitor programmatic success as part of the annual report assessment process;
• Ensure teachers and staff are adhering to HCCS philosophy and curriculum;
• Facilitate regular staff meetings, and support the process for resolution of interpersonal conflicts;
• Serve as liaison between Board, staff and Beaverton School District, including regular engagement with other local school leaders;
• Ensure needs of special education students are met and its programs conform to legal requirements;
• Support staff with student discipline and meet with students, faculty and parents as necessary.

• Administration & Operations

• Exercise decision-making authority for policies and daily operation of HCCS;
• Ensure policies and procedures are in place that allow for a smooth and efficient operation and a professional front office;
• Manage data keeping and reporting of data required by state law and/or by the charter contract including student attendance and all testing requirements;
• Participate as administrative representative on IEP, 504, TAG teams or identify a designee;
• Ensure that school records are current, organized and as required, confidential;
• Direct reporting of financial and student data to Beaverton School District and Oregon Department of Education;
• Oversee maintenance of the HCCS calendar and communicate changes to the community;
• Oversee and monitor progress of HCCS contracts, lease agreements, permits, grants, etc.;
• Facility, Safety & Emergency Planning, including:
• Making decisions about maintenance, safety or improvement of school site and equipment; 
• Coordinating emergency safety planning and ensuring implementation of Safety Plan and adequate site supervision during school hours;
• Assuring HCCS is safe and clean, developing procedures and rules in alignment with PBIS and good sanitation practices; 
• Monitoring property and staff safety and ensuring appropriate risk management and loss control strategies are employed.

• Financial Leadership - Work in partnership with the Director of Finance and HR on the following: 

• Conduct financial activities of HCCS to comply with generally accepted accounting principles & all applicable reporting requirements;
• Oversee development of the HCCS annual budget and present to the Board as required; supervise annual audit and annual report;
• Approve all expenditures, including payroll in accordance with Board policy and within Board-approved limits;
• Manage monthly, quarterly and annual fiscal reporting to all constituents including authorizer and Board, with separation of public and private programs financials.

• Compliance & Legal 

• Develop and maintain intimate knowledge of all academic, personnel, and financial requirements per charter authorizer and manage compliance related to HCCS Board and charter renewal;
• In collaboration with the Board Chair assist in charter renewal every 5 years (due for renewal in 2028); review annually;
• Ensure the organization has operating procedures and policies that meet local, state, and federal policies;
• Maintain and track HCCS insurance coverage to verify legal compliance and operational integrity.

• Community & External Relations

• Promote a strong sense of community and exercise cultural competence in communication;
• In collaboration with the Development Director, develop and maintain a variety of community connections that contribute to school programs;
• Encourage and cultivate volunteer leadership;
• Represent and advocate for HCCS in the local and state government and charter school community.

• Board Partnership 

• Provide input and make recommendations to the Board about organizational direction and finances, goals, policies and guidelines for operations and implementation after approval;
• Attend monthly Board meetings and committee meetings (as appropriate) to report on school operations, informing the Board of any legal, financial or political issues likely to impact HCCS. *Please note that there are some evening and occasional weekend obligations;
• Meaningfully engage in mid-year and end-of-year reviews, an annual retreat, and bi-weekly leadership meetings;
• Participate in the preparation of an annual report and school improvement plan for the Board in accordance with the HCCS contract.

Requirements

In order to fulfill these responsibilities, the ideal Head of School candidate will be or have the following:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university; an advanced degree is preferred (MBA, MPA, JD, M.Ed);
• Demonstrate the ability to acquire and maintain a valid Administrator license or registry from Oregon TSPC, ensuring adherence to all applicable regulations and standards for educational leadership;
• A proven track record of successful school leadership experience and academic results, particularly in charter schools or immersion-focused educational institutions;
• 3 years of experience as a lead administrator, including oversight responsibilities for each of the following areas: strategic development, operational planning, management and evaluation, program development and implementation, communications; contract development and administration, budget management, and accounting and personnel management;
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills to engage with diverse stakeholders, including parents, students, teachers, staff, board members, community leaders, and educational partners;
• Preference for an individual knowledgeable of Chinese culture, and/or proficient in Mandarin, and/or Chinese immersion/dual language programs;
• Experience working effectively in multicultural communities and demonstrates a commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI);
• Certification or work toward an administrative license is desired.

Benefits

This position offers a competitive salary range of $121,000 - $151,000, and robust benefits including 100% employee premiums covered for medical, dental, and vision insurance; as well as enrollment in Oregon’s retirement program (PERS) and the option to participate in a 403(b). More details can be provided upon request.

TO APPLY

For additional questions about this position or to speak with someone about your interest, please contact Brett Kunsch at [email protected].

Hope Chinese Charter School is an equal opportunity employer and an organization that values diversity. Recruiting staff to create an inclusive organization is a priority, and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds. Candidates are evaluated solely on their qualifications to perform the work required.