Chief Academic Officer; CAO; SY

CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER - Lighthouse Community Public Schools THE ORGANIZATION

At Lighthouse Community Public Schools, we are engaged in an educational movement that goes beyond our classrooms, working to disrupt inequities by providing our students and families with exceptional educational opportunities every day. Grounded in our core values of community, integrity, agency, love, and social justice, rooted in the EL Education Model, LCPS is a leader in fostering innovative schools that achieve exceptional student outcomes, where each child is at the center of their own learning.

Our mission is to prepare diverse students for college, a career of their choice, and to be lifelong changemakers. Founded in 2002, LCPS operates two high‑achieving K‑12 public charter schools—Lighthouse and Lodestar—serving nearly 1,500 students in East Oakland. Lighthouse is a beacon for public education, and our graduates fulfill the promise of a better, brighter Oakland. Learn more hthousecharter.org.

LCPS is seeking a Chief Academic Officer (CAO) who can lead a rigorous, equity‑centered TK–12 academic program while operating effectively in the complex social, political, and community context of East Oakland. This role blends high‑level academic systems leadership with hands‑on, on‑the‑ground community engagement.

The CAO will be responsible for strengthening academic outcomes while ensuring that LCPS remains a trusted, credible community partner within a dynamic and multifaceted community context. This leader must be equally comfortable navigating California’s charter and accountability landscape as they are engaging families, community leaders, and external stakeholders with humility and respect.

The CAO reports directly to the CEO and oversees principals, special education and mental health services, college and career programming, and central academic teams—impacting approximately ~200 staff across the organization.

CAO CORE COMPETENCIES

• Leadership, management, and coaching of principals and senior academic leaders across TK–12 systems

• Deep expertise in inclusive academic systems, including special education, mental health, and student supports

• Ability to drive rigorous, equity‑centered academic improvement through data‑informed strategy and continuous improvement

• Strong community engagement and partnership‑building skills, with the ability to navigate complex neighborhood dynamics and earn trust in historically marginalized communities

• Skill in navigating complex educational systems, accountability, and political landscape with credibility and strategic judgment

• Capacity to set clear academic priorities, align resources, and lead execution across multiple schools and teams

• Collaborative, adaptive leader who balances strategic vision with hands‑on problem solving and relationship‑centered leadership

CAO RESPONSIBILITIES AND OUTCOMES

Academic Strategy, Systems Alignment, and Instructional Excellence

• Lead the design, execution, and continuous refinement of a coherent, equity‑centered TK–12 academic program that reflects LCPS’s mission, values, and East Oakland community context.

• Establish and communicate clear academic priorities that drive student achievement, engagement, and long‑term success, with particular attention to historically underserved student groups.

• Oversee and align curriculum, instruction, assessment, literacy, English language development, and intervention systems across all schools to ensure consistency, quality, and impact.

• Ensure strong alignment between network‑level academic strategy and school‑based implementation through clear expectations, coaching, and performance monitoring.

Community Partnership, Political Navigation, and External Engagement

• Operate effectively within East Oakland’s complex social, cultural, and political environment, including violence‑impacted neighborhoods and labor‑centered community dynamics.

• Build, sustain, and repair trust‑based relationships with families, students, community leaders, partner organizations, and local stakeholders.

• Engage in sustained, trust‑based dialogue with community partners to center their voices in shaping and advancing shared,…