LACFEPS Resources

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LA COALITION FOR EXCELLENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ABOUT LA COALITION FOR EXCELLENT PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The L.A. Coalition for Excellent Public Schools (LACFEPS) is an alliance of successful L.A.-based nonprofit charter public school networks representing more than 51,500 students in over 112 schools in South Los Angeles, East Los Angeles, Downtown L.A., Southeast cities, the San Fernando Valley and Santa Ana (Orange County). These schools have a proven track record in academics, as well as graduation and college readiness, serving a diverse population of students with varying abilities and individualized needs. The Coalition works to spotlight the great work of charter public schools and develop enthusiastic allies, who embrace and understand the positive contributions of the charter school community and advocate on their behalf.

ROLE SUMMARY

The Executive Director will work with a coalition of 10 Los Angeles-based charter school organizations to develop and execute on a collective communications, marketing, and advocacy strategy. Los Angeles’ charter community is at an inflection point with a new superintendent and is looking for the right person to help seize that opportunity to shift the narrative about charter schools in Los Angeles, build charter leadership staff capacity in the political arena and engage and organize parents. The ideal candidate is knowledgeable about nonprofit operations , politically savvy, and can interface and develop relationships with key education and community leaders, charter school advocates, philanthropic partners, parents and elected officials.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Communications

• Monitor local, state, and national media to inform a proactive and responsive local communications strategy that includes earned media, a digital strategy, and press events
• Work with media partner to develop local positive narrative for charters that coordinates across the CMO and charter communities, highlighting parent, student, alumni and teacher voices; build relationships with local reporters to ensure hyper-local focus
• Develop a branded digital strategy, especially around campaigns (e.g. charter renewals)
• Manage local media campaigns, especially closer to renewals and for positive content and generate content
• Develop strategic marketing campaign to promote charter messaging in our community
• Maintain website with timely content
• Coordinate with CCSA and other local organizations to ensure consistency of messaging and appropriate channels. Develop press/rally events in conjunction with CCSA Advocates

External relations, coalition building and advocacy

• Engage with community based partners outside of the charter sector on issues of mutual interest ie: health care, broadband access, civic engagement and voter registration. Continue to develop partnerships with external leaders so that charter perspective is represented and understood
• Maintain key relationships with philanthropic partners including timely submission of reports, regular communications
• Represent organization externally at conferences, panel discussions, roundtables, and events
• Set cultivation strategy of top influencers and rising political stars 2-3 years out with multiple touch points across Board members and CMO leadership. Strategize on appropriate outreach method knowing that it takes 10 touch points to build influence.
• Develop a plan to help board members engage outside of 501c3 by following news/trends, attending advocacy events, donating to candidates and causes.

Family engagement and organizing

• Work with CMOs to align family engagement strategies and resources including sharing of curriculum, best practices of engaged parents for broad communication and outreach.
• Establish a civic engagement framework for parent to parent voter education, registration and GOTV. Amplify CMO presence and influence across the city with elected officials and community leaders interaction with families.
• Arrange speaking opportunities for alumni, parents and teachers to share their experiences.
• Coordinate one joint event per year for coalition families on a topic generated by families.

Staff convening for best practice sharing, specifically in DEIA, Academics, Student Recruitment

• Schedule and program bimonthly convenings of charter school network leaders and staff, for sharing of best practices, resources, content, and to facilitate collaboration opportunities.
• Convene an annual virtual education town hall to lift up best and promising practices of charter schools and share with other charter leaders, education leaders, and philanthropic leaders.
• Identify needs of charter schools in order to facilitate sharing of resources, data and communications online with each other

THE STRONGEST CANDIDATES WILL HAVE/BE

• Belief in, alignment and experience with charter schools, education reform, and school choice
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Entrepreneurial spirit and ability to thrive in a fast-paced and achievement-oriented environment
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build and cultivate relationships with reporters, civic
  leaders, community leaders, and other political figures
• Willingness to go above and beyond to contribute to the success of a dynamic team committed to a new future for urban education
• Understanding of the nuances of urban school environments and school culture

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited, competitive college/university is required
• At least 10 years of full-time experience in communications and politics, education/charter experience preferred
• Strong knowledge of nonprofit operations including filing details, Quickbooks bookkeeping, etc
• Campaign experience preferred
• Proven track record of successful communications and political campaigns, and ability to navigate complex and sensitive issues and drive strong performance results is required
• Working knowledge of K-12 education is preferred
• Fluency with Excel, Word, PowerPoint and other business software required
• Spanish fluency preferred

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Salary and benefits will be competitive and commensurate with experience.

APPLY

Please send cover letter and resume to info@lacfeps.org