About The SEED Network

SEED is the nation's first and only network of public, college-preparatory boarding schools providing a 24-hour, 5-day per week learning environment. In classrooms, dorm meetings, dining halls, evening study halls, and exposure opportunities, our students cultivate their strength, determination, and self-awareness. With the gift of time, we build a community of support that empowers students to own their educational journeys and succeed in college and beyond. 

As the first public, college-preparatory boarding schools in the U.S., SEED’s mission and approach to education are unique. SEED schools are tuition-free and, by design, serve traditionally underserved students. Our schools and graduates are supported by The SEED Foundation. The SEED Foundation provides programmatic and operating support to SEED schools in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Miami, and Los Angeles. The SEED Foundation’s College Transition & Success (CTS) team provides intensive, individualized support to each SEED graduate from their junior year of high school through their college graduation. The success of the SEED model has been showcased in media outlets and publications such as 60 Minutes, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and in the documentary film Waiting for “Superman”. President Obama has hailed SEED as “a true success story.” For more information, please visit www.seedfoundation.com.

Within the SEED network, at an operational level the Foundation and the SEED schools each have specific day-to-day responsibilities and areas of focus:

The SEED Foundation

· Sets strategic direction for the SEED network.

· Defines SEED’s core model. 

· Designs systems and strategies. 

· Dispatches experts within SEED and nationally. 

· Cultivates opportunities for additional SEED schools. 

· Advises scholars on their journey to earning a college degree.

· Supports fidelity and accountability to the SEED model.

The SEED Schools

· Partner with local families and communities. Provide 5-day/week, 24-hour college preparatory education to students. 

· Cultivate enriching learning opportunities for scholars nationally and internationally.

· Prepare students academically and socially/ emotionally for success in college and  beyond. Develop people.

· Maintain compliance and accountability by adhering to performance management framework of local authorizers and the SEED Foundation.

Position Overview

The Senior School Leader in Residence is a key role designed to advance SEED’s mission to provide a public college-preparatory education for underserved students in a boarding school setting. The Resident will report to the Chief Executive Officer at The SEED Foundation and primarily participate in leadership development opportunities with SEED Foundation leaders and SEED Heads of School at our Washington, DC and Maryland schools, along with having experiences working with our Heads of School in Los Angeles and Miami. Throughout the Resident’s tenure with SEED, they will be given the opportunity to step into short-term leadership roles at the schools. At the successful conclusion of the program, the Resident will receive priority consideration for future opportunities including interim and permanent Head of School vacancies within the network, as well as leading special projects that align with the network vision.

The Resident will use this opportunity to gain mastery of leading and operating a SEED school by doing the following:

· Engage in learning and applying the SEED model under the guidance of senior leadership, focusing on aligning school practices with SEED’s mission and building a college-going culture.

· Fully engage as a peer with the Network Leadership Team, including the CEO and Heads of School.

· Collaborate with leadership teams to learn about recruiting, hiring, managing and developing talented staff, including setting performance goals and using feedback systems to foster professional growth.

· Gain experience in managing daily school operations, such as finance, facilities, fundraising, and compliance to ensure that operational systems support a high-quality learning environment.

· Develop skills to build relationships with families, community partners, and stakeholders, fostering a collaborative environment that supports student success and outcomes.

· Practice analyzing school performance data, including SEED’s Network Success Measures and work with leadership to develop strategies that address achievement gaps, making data-driven decisions that lead to continuous improvement.

· Provide direct support to improve literacy and numeracy outcomes in service to improving Lexile and Quantile scores.

· Engage in creating an inclusive school environment that values diversity and promotes equity for all students, participating in discussions and training on equitable and inclusive practices to ensure a welcoming and supportive school culture.

Qualifications and Competencies

The Senior Leader in Residence will possess the following:

· Commitment to the mission of SEED and our core values of COMPASSION, GRATITUDE, GROWTH, INTEGRITY, PERSEVERANCE, RESPECT, and RESPONSIBILITY.

· Minimum of a Master’s degree from an accredited university.

· A resident of or willing to relocate to the DMV (DC, Maryland, or Virginia) area.

· Senior-level managerial or leadership experience in high performing schools is preferred—ideally in high school and/or middle schools serving underrepresented students. 

· Extensive knowledge and background in literacy affirmed by increased test score results.

· Proven success in program implementation.

· Evidence of leadership development resulting in measurable improvements in student performance.

· An equity-oriented systems leader that is passionately committed to students and to their education at every level.

· Evidence of instructional leadership by finding or creating new ideas and actively seeking out innovative strategies to improve student achievement.

· Commitment to academic excellence and an awareness of the best practices in education and pedagogy. 

· Cultural awareness with the ability to navigate conversations on societal differences and experience working with diverse communities.

· Ability to work in a dynamic school environment.

A SEED Employee 

· Is committed to SEED’s mission and its beliefs.

· Thinks strategically in aligning one’s own work streams to the larger organizational mission.

· Possesses exceptional interpersonal skills, with creative and positive energy for working with youth.

· Behaves professionally in a dynamic environment and with a variety of constituents.

· Works independently as well as collaboratively with a team while managing multiple tasks.

Compensation and Benefits

The SEED Foundation’s fiscal year runs from July 1 – June 30. The Residency program will begin in January 2025 and offer an annual salary of $125,000. There will be an opportunity to extend the residency based upon outcomes, vacancies, and readiness at the successful completion of the program. The residency includes a robust benefits package, including health and dental insurance, up to four weeks of vacation, a 403(b)-retirement plan, and life insurance.