Colorado Executive Director

What We Do

Teach Plus is a national nonprofit whose mission is to empower excellent, experienced, and diverse teachers to take leadership over key policy and practice issues that advance equity, opportunity, and student access. The Teach Plus team exists to breathe life into the Student Opportunity Mandate: All students should have the opportunity to achieve their potential in an education system defined by its commitment to equity, responsiveness to individual needs, and ability to prepare students for postsecondary success. At the heart of our work is advocacy for collective impact, beginning with classroom teachers.

At Teach Plus, we believe in equity-driven teacher leadership. When we invest in developing our most talented teachers into teacher leaders who are well-informed, persuasive, and prepared to lead, they have deep leverage in advancing equity for students, especially for students of color, low-income students, and those from underserved communities. To close the opportunity gap and to ensure equitable access to a world-class education for all students in the schools and communities we serve, we ignite systems change at multiple levels through our Policy Fellowship and Instructional Leadership programs designed to inspire and equip teachers. We are committed to leading change in our Equity Focus Areas.

At Teach Plus, all Executive Directors operate from a shared Executive Director profile that outlines the core responsibilities and orientations required to be successful in the role. The following job description contextualizes this profile for the current needs of our Colorado Region; please review both the Profile and specific Job Description, as they will both be referenced in the interview process.

What You’ll Do

As the Colorado Executive Director, you will operate as a trusted coalition leader and a subject matter expert across the state, leveraging teacher voice and leadership to advance student outcomes. Reporting to the Chief Regional Impact Officer, you will set vision and strategy, oversee and co-manage high-impact programs, and serve as Colorado's primary driver of fundraising and external partnership efforts. The core responsibilities include:

1. Setting a Vision for Local Impact, Grounded in Strategic Clarity:

• Create an evidence-based, inquiry-driven theory of change that articulates Teach Plus Colorado’s unique role in advancing student outcomes
• Co-create a multi-year policy and practice agenda focussed on the Student Opportunity Mandate, balancing immediate state, regional, and local priorities with the long-term change required to increase student achievement
• Thoughtfully assess and adjust strategy given ongoing inquiry, engagement with subject matter experts, and teacher leader perspective

1. Advancing Teacher Leadership, Voice, and Advocacy towards our Student Opportunity Mandate:

• Leverage insights from strategic clarity and evidence-based strategies to run and participate in sophisticated local and state advocacy campaigns and coalitions
• Strategically connect teachers with policy leaders, education organizations, and media, fostering a network of active teacher leaders to drive policy changes
• Co-create and revise contextualized local Fellowship curricula and learning experiences to prepare teachers to engage directly with influential lawmakers, stakeholders, and government employees in alignment with Teach Plus Colorado’s policy agenda and long-term strategic plan
• Partner with internal Teach Plus staff to engage in recruitment, selection, curricular design, facilitation, and event planning for current (Charter Advocacy Fellowship and Teacher Policy Fellowship) programs
• Set strategy and lead execution for alumni engagement and statewide mobilization of a teacher leader network

1. Creating and Stewarding a Network of Champions:

• Achieve an annual fundraising goal of ~$400,000 through building strategic partnerships, sharing compelling narratives, and growing a network of supporters and funders
• Attract, retain, and steward a diverse portfolio of donors to both meet/exceed annual fundraising goals and continuously elevate Teach Plus’ role in the Colorado ecosystem
• Strategically build and join coalitions within the Colorado education landscape that maximize local efforts to improve student outcomes

1. Creating and Sustaining Enabling Conditions for Impact:

• Serve as an exemplary people manager to current staff (Charter Teacher Advocacy Fellowship Manager) and, as required, strategically grow and steward the team
• Use sophisticated data, measurement, and evaluation structures to continuously assess and improve teacher engagement models, including accountability models for managing staff to execute programs effectively
• Set and manage towards the the annual regional budget, adjusting and tracking expenses based on organizational policies and revenue strategy

What You’ll Need to Be Successful

• Experience working within education systems and subject matter expertise in education policy (ideally in the Colorado context)
• Demonstrated success in effectively setting and achieving complex, multi-year strategies and goals
• Effective communication, both written and verbal- with internal and external stakeholders
• Proven ability to attract, retain, and steward key partners such as funders, coalition, and network members
• A track record of effective team management towards goals
• Financial acumen, including budget management and reporting
• An orientation to a focus on equitable student outcomes and the systemic factors that contribute to inequity

Our Commitment to Diversity

To better serve the teachers and students at the core of our mission, Teach Plus is committed to maximizing the diversity of our organization. We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage individuals of all ethnic and racial backgrounds and gender identities to apply to our positions.

Location, Travel, and Commitment

Candidates must reside within an hour of Denver and be willing to travel to Denver regularly and periodically to other parts of the state. This role requires some nights and weekends to support policy sessions and meet with teachers and policymakers. The anticipated start date is January 2025.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is between $126,000-150,000. The salary offered will be determined based on the selected candidate's specific qualifications, years of relevant experience, specialized knowledge, and internal equity. Teach Plus provides a comprehensive benefits package and time-off, including 15 vacation days, 3 personal days, 5 sick days, 13 holidays, July break, Winter break, paid parental leave, and a 4-week paid sabbatical for every five years of service.

How to Apply

Candidates will complete an online application here, which includes two short essay questions. The deadline for applications is November 4, 2024.

Application Link: https://teachplus.tfaforms.net/328356

Candidates are encouraged to review the full Executive Director profile