Head of School

Crosstown High

Crosstown High (XTH) is an innovative public charter high school which opened in August 2018 in Memphis’ city center with an inaugural class of 150 9th graders. XTH currently serves about 500 9th-12th graders. XTH is strategically and intentionally located in Crosstown Concourse, a 1.1M square foot “vertical urban village” that houses retail, restaurants and residential apartments. XTH students leverage the assets of this redevelopment and our greater community through hands-on partnerships and academic projects with participating Crosstown Concourse nonprofit and for-profit organizations that span health care, education, and the arts, to name a few. The idea for XTH was born from a 2016 application to the XQ Super School Challenge submitted by a cross section of Memphis volunteers, including young people, parents, educators and community members. The Challenge invited teams to reimagine how high schools can better prepare students for college, the workplace and life.

XTH’s approach to education is unique in a number of ways:

Location: The school’s location in Crosstown Concourse provides students with the opportunity to build rich and ongoing relationships with each other and the Crosstown Concourse community.

Instruction: XTH’s instructional approach is project-based and competency-based which provides students with real-world connections to what they are learning in school and allows them to broaden their understanding of content standards through real-world applications.

Support: XTH utilizes a personalized and highly relational approach to accommodate the learning needs and social-emotional development of students.

Diverse by design: XTH recruits its students from a diverse cross-section of the city to ensure that a broad range of students can take advantage of all the opportunities this school offers. Our students learn with and from one another.

The Opportunity

In its first five years, Crosstown High has become both a national model for innovative education and one of the top high school choices in the community. Crosstown High’s 2022 graduating class is featured in the documentary, “The First Class.” The school was recently named as the “Best Place to Work” (medium-sized company) by the Memphis Business Journal. The Head of School will be responsible for building on these initial successes as Crosstown High pursues its Mission and Vision in the next phase of school development.

OUR BELIEFS & MISSION

CONTEXT

Crosstown High is an integral part of the 1-million-square-foot vertical urban village of Crosstown Concourse in Memphis, Tennessee. We work alongside art studios, performance spaces, health clinics, non-profits, small businesses, and more in an intentional community that exposes students to a diverse range of learning opportunities

We are rethinking high school by:

ADVANCING EQUITY

We believe that learning leads to freedom, and so we:

• Seek equity and justice in and beyond the classroom.
• Empower students and teachers to use their voices for change.
• Share what we are learning with other educators

BUILDING COMMUNITY

We believe that learning happens best in an inclusive and joyful community, and so we:

• Work to create a space that reflects the diversity of our city.
• Affirm the unique identity of each learner.
• Create opportunities for connection, having fun together, and restoring relationships when they are harmed.

DOING MEANINGFUL WORK

We believe that learning can solve problems in this uncertain world, and that the community is a natural landscape for authentic learning experiences, and so we:

• Learn through projects that address a real challenge or issue, draw on different areas of learning, and allow us to explore our interests and passions.
• Center students through personalized learning experiences that develop the competencies we believe are necessary to thrive both now and in the future.
• Engage with our community and industry partners whenever possible.

OUR VISION

We aim to rethink the traditional American high school experience by being a place where every learner — students and educators alike — can thrive. We will be a community of confident thinkers and compassionate contributors who create more equitable spaces wherever we go.

Desired Qualities and Qualifications

Guided by the directives of the Board of Directors, the Director assumes comprehensive oversight of all school operations and acts as the chief executive officer for the school, responsible for the academic and business operations.

• Serves as the chief executive officer for the school, responsible for the academic and business operations.
• Ensures the financial health and sustainability of the school.
• Assumes the mantle of an instructional leader, igniting a passion for academic distinction and rigor.
• Embodies the school’s identity as its representative in all endeavors.
• Cultivates a thriving school culture, valuing contributions from diverse stakeholders.
• Furnishes strategic guidance of the highest order, aligning with the school’s established direction.
• Manages student recruitment and enrollment efforts with precision.
• Upholds unwavering ethical standards and safeguards confidentiality at all levels.

Academic & Professional Qualifications

• Possesses an advanced university degree in Educational Leadership (Masters or higher)
• At least 3 years of senior leadership experience overseeing instructional and/or operational management in a charter or public school
• Experience in strategic planning and implementation
• Proficiently builds collaborative teams through effective leadership and cooperation
• Demonstrated success in creating and managing budgets for sustainability and viable growth
• Prior successful experience with innovative curriculum development and implementation
• Sound knowledge and demonstrated success in managing the operational and financial aspects of school leadership
• Exhibits comprehensive grasp of good governance principles, engaging as a collaborative partner with the Board
• Inspires trust, cultivates community bonds, and exemplifies inspirational leadership
• Establishes robust relationships with diverse stakeholders, fostering unity
• Displays exceptional articulation in both written and oral communication
• Demonstrates empathetic listening skills and high emotional intelligence
• Nurtures a deep understanding of multicultural dynamics and sensitivity
• Pioneers strategic thinking, critically assessing information, data, and processes, facilitating organizational improvement
• Validates achievements in alignment with stipulated qualities and experiences

Skills, Experience and Attributes

• Demonstrates high ethical standards and inspires trust and respect as a mentor
• Passionate about teaching and learning; shows great commitment to young people
• Radiates enthusiasm, energy, and optimism, even in the face of challenges
• Exhibits adeptness in managing change, coupled with innovative thinking to surmount obstacles
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and a good sense of humor
• Embodies the spirit of diversity, igniting colleagues’ best performance
• Projects a visionary persona underscored by a resolute moral compass
• Exhibits firmness and steadfastness in addressing underperformance and behavioral issues
• Recognizes and elevates the significance of relationships, empowering staff and students while ensuring accountability
• Upholds a composed demeanor during crises, underpinned by optimism and resilience
• Communicates confidently and effectively, adjusting styles to suit diverse audiences
• Maintains an outward-looking, curious perspective, cultivating intellectual openness
• Recognizes and elevates the significance of relationships, empowering staff and students while ensuring accountability
• Showcases profound leadership acumen, evoking trust and engagement among faculty, students, the Crosstown community, and the Board of Directors

Compensation

Compensation is commensurate with experience and is very competitive. Benefit package includes participation in the Tennessee State retirement pension plan.

Applying

Candidates wishing to apply should send the following documents to: directorsearch@crosstownhigh.org

1. Letter of interest not to exceed one page
2. Current resume
3. Four professional references from direct supervisor or board chair, including one from your current employer
4. One page philosophy of education statement

Tagged as: Admin, Head of School, Leadership