Academy Director

At Acceleration Academies, we believe in transforming the lives of students who have disengaged from traditional schooling to achieve their high school diploma through personalized, flexible learning and innovative educational practices, we empower young adults to earn their high school diploma tuition-free. Partnering with school districts nationwide, our dropout recovery and student re-engagement programs are supported by cutting-edge technology and a commitment to compassionate, impactful teaching.

As an Academy Director, you will serve as the operational and instructional leader of your academy site(s), ensuring alignment to our mission of helping young adults re-engage with their education and achieve postsecondary success. You will lead a team of educators and support staff, foster a positive and inclusive school culture, and collaborate with district partners and community stakeholders. This role blends strategic oversight with hands-on support, requiring a visionary leader who can coach staff, drive student outcomes, and manage academy operations with excellence.

This is a full-time, in-person position reporting to the Regional Vice President.

• Lead student enrollment efforts through outreach and recruitment campaigns.
• Oversee onboarding and orientation of new Graduation Candidates (GCs).
• Partner with Career and Life Coaches to develop Personalized Learning Plans (PLPs) that align with each student’s goals and pathway to graduation.

• Lead implementation of the Retention Cycle Protocol to address disengagement.
• Build a strong academy culture that fosters attendance, perseverance, and belonging.
• Monitor daily attendance trends and partner with staff to proactively support struggling students.
• Supervise instructional planning, delivery, and assessment to ensure rigorous and relevant learning.
• Ensure compliance with all graduation requirements including course completions, GPA thresholds, and standardized testing.
• Support data-driven instructional decision-making through regular reviews of student progress. Ensure that all ESE and ELL documentation and supports are current and in compliance.

• Coach and manage a team of instructional and support staff, ensuring clarity of roles, goals, and accountability.
• Conduct regular staff check-ins, performance evaluations, and provide professional development.
• Maintain fidelity to organizational procedures, district requirements, and contractual obligations.
• Manage schedules, resource allocation, and site-level logistics to ensure operational excellence.

• Serve as the academy’s primary liaison with district partners, families, and community organizations.
• Represent the academy at community events, school board meetings, and partner convenings.
• Champion student achievement and advocate for services that address both academic and non-academic barriers to success.

• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and mission alignment.
• Perform additional duties as needed to support the success of the academy and its students.

Bachelor’s degree required;
Master’s degree in education or a related field preferred.

Educational Leadership endorsement in the state of employment highly preferred.

Minimum 7 years of relevant education experience, including at least 3 years in a direct supervisory role.

Visionary leadership, data-driven decision-making, staff development, and stakeholder engagement.

A deep commitment to serving non-traditional learners and improving student outcomes through innovative education models.

• Familiarity with competency-based learning, project-based education, and alternative school models
• Proficient in ESE, ELL, and behavior intervention practices
• Experience managing multi-site or alternative education programs
• Comfort using digital tools and data systems to drive instruction and operations

Being part of Acceleration Academies means joining a team dedicated to transforming student outcomes. Here, you’ll directly impact lives, championing students’ growth, resilience, and path to graduation.