Chief Academic Officer

CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER - Lighthouse Community Public Schools THE OPPORTUNITY

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.

• 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

• 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.

• 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, community‑driven priorities
• Navigate a political climate with credibility, diplomacy, and strategic judgment, particularly during high‑stakes charter renewals and accountability processes.
• Serve as a visible, trusted representative of LCPS in community, district, board, and public accountability settings.

• Provide strategic leadership for a comprehensive special education program serving nearly 20% of students, including moderate-to‑severe populations.
• Oversee special education, behavioral health, and mental health services to ensure high‑quality, compliant, and inclusive support for students and families.
• Champion access, inclusion, and dignity for students with the greatest needs, reinforcing LCPS’s commitment to serving all students without exclusionary practices.
• Ensure strong collaboration between academic teams and student support services to promote holistic…