Chief Learning Officer

Position: Chief Learning Officer

Department: Leadership Team

Location: Milton Academy Campus, Milton, MA

Hours: Full-time with the flexibility to work nights and weekends

FLSA: Exempt

Classification: Staff (12-month/Academic Year)

Salary Range: $180,000 to $210,000 annually, based on experience and qualifications

Milton Academy is an independent college preparatory K–12 school, boarding and day in grades 9–12, located just south of Boston.

Milton Academy cultivates in its students a passion for learning and a respect for others. Embracing diversity and the pursuit of excellence, we create a community in which individuals develop competence, confidence and character. Our active learning environment, in and out of the classroom, develops creative and critical thinkers, unafraid to express their ideas, prepared to seek meaningful lifetime success and to live by our motto, “Dare to be true.”

Summary of Position:

Milton Academy seeks its first-ever K-12 Chief Learning Officer (CLO). Reporting to the Head of School, the CLO will serve as a key academic leader and thought partner, overseeing the ongoing excellence of our K-12 academic program while inspiring and leading our community - faculty, staff, students, and families. The CLO will join Milton at a time of great excitement and institutional strength, adding capacity to our academic leadership and unlocking new possibilities for the school. With a strong reputation, a robust academic program, talented faculty, and a dynamic team of divisional leaders, Milton is at a moment of real energy as we embark on a bold vision for our next chapter.

Specifically, the CLO will work to address the following opportunities:

K-12 Academic Leadership

The CLO will serve as an educational thought leader on campus - empowering and supporting teachers with the best of what is known about teaching and learning. This work has three dimensions: bridging research and practice, building programmatic coherence K-12, and inspiring educators.

1. Bridging research and practice. The CLO will track the latest developments in the field of education. Notably, this includes oversight of Milton’s approach to artificial intelligence, guaranteeing that our students grow as users, developers, and critics of technology in age- and discipline-appropriate ways.
2. Building programmatic coherence K-12. Working alongside divisional academic leaders and faculty, the CLO will help develop shared language and common goals across grade levels and subject areas, so that a Milton education is intentional, cumulative, and carefully scaffolded through our Lower, Middle, and Upper School divisions.
3. Inspiring educators. Above all, the CLO will inspire and support faculty and administrators by championing their curiosity, empowering their growth, and celebrating the creativity that makes education at Milton distinctive.

Shaping Milton’s Next Chapter

The incoming CLO will also be a strong strategic partner to the Head of School, Leadership Team, and the Board of Trustees as we pursue our bold new strategic vision, Still Daring. The vision’s pillars are (1) to nurture Milton’s identity as a hub for bold ideas; (2) to cultivate a joyful, vibrant 24/7 community; and (3) to capitalize on our proximity to Boston and Cambridge. Within those pillars, the CLO will take the lead on three initiatives:

1. Interdisciplinary academic centers. Inspired by higher education, we plan to create three K-12 centers: The Center for Humans and Technology; The Center for Environment and Economy; and the Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement. These centers will bring together students, faculty, alumni, and Boston-based experts to tackle the biggest questions of the day in ways no classroom or subject area can alone.
2. In-house teacher education program. Concerned by the decline in people both seeking and remaining in careers in education, the CLO will lead efforts to explore our own teacher education program.
3. Summer program for students and educators. Building on these centers, and our position as an educational leader, we will develop a cutting-edge summer program offering year-round learning opportunities for Milton and non-Milton students and educators alike.

The CLO will oversee these efforts, ensuring that they are carried out in ways that support Milton’s long-standing commitments to academic excellence, inclusion, and creativity.

The successful candidate will possess deep classroom expertise, as well as at least 10 years of experience as a senior academic leader in a K-12 independent or public school.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Inspire and lead ongoing curricular and pedagogical renewal within and across all three divisions of the school.
• Serve as a member of the K-12 Leadership Team, collaborating with other senior leaders to lead and manage the school.
• Oversee the ongoing design, development, and implementation of Milton’s interdisciplinary academic centers, ensuring their presence and impact within all three divisions. Serve as the supervisor for the directors of the centers.
• Oversee the ongoing design, development, and implementation of Milton’s teacher development program, intended to provide support for K-12 beginning teachers, as well as mid-career and veteran teachers. Supervise the program’s director.
• Oversee the development of a mission-driven summer program, providing opportunities for Milton and non-Milton students to expand their learning and pursue academic opportunities aligned with the centers.
• Serve as the leader of the school’s efforts around artificial intelligence - overseeing all related policies and practices, and cultivating programming for students that develops their skills as users, developers, and critics.
• Assist the head of school and development office in fundraising efforts associated with the strategic plan.
• Support K-12 and divisional leadership with all aspects of the professional development program for both faculty and staff, making certain that Milton’s employees receive inspiration and support at all stages of their careers.
• Facilitate and lead collaboration among all those leading instructional programs, including athletics, academic support, clubs, community engagement, and the outdoor program.
• Collaborate with the Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer to ensure that our curriculum reflects the diverse identities and experiences of our community.
• Collect and coordinate multiple forms of data related to the achievement of our students.
• Demonstrate exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Communicate in a voice that is thoughtful, inspiring, and authentic.
• Listen empathetically.
• Communicate effectively and consistently with a wide variety of school constituencies, including students, faculty, families, staff, and administrators across multiple channels including in writing, conversation, public speaking, and various digital channels.
• Regularly speak in front of large audiences, managing dynamic conversations and adeptly responding to real-time questions.
• Work with the Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer and other senior leaders to drive measurable progress on access, equity, and belonging among all community members, supporting Milton’s aspirations to serve as a model for other institutions.
• As a member of the residential life community, support the Upper School in the oversight of the boarding program.
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervision to be received: Supervised by the head of school.

Supervision to be exercised: The CLO will build and directly supervise a team of directors helping to implement aspects of the strategic plan.

Education/Certification/Licensure

Required: A bachelor’s degree.

Preferred: A master’s or doctoral degree in education or a related field.

Experience Required:

• At least 10 years of progressive academic leadership experience.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in inspiring faculty and students.
• Deep experience leading professional development for faculty.
• Exceptional understanding of artificial intelligence and its applications in schools.
• Successful track record of change management, including the demonstrated ability to consider all sides of an issue, make decisions, and navigate implementation
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize among multiple initiatives and projects.
• Understanding of the developmental needs of K-12 students.

Competencies Required:

• Ability to lead, manage, motivate and inspire groups and individuals across the organization.
• Proven consensus-building skills.
• Ability to communicate difficult concepts and nuanced issues, both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated technological expertise.
• Ability to work collaboratively with internal and external constituencies.
• Understanding of confidentiality and related issues.
• Receptiveness to feedback, supervision and professional development.
• Desire to be a part of a dynamic educational community.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple projects and tasks in a fast-paced work environment
• Ability to work collaboratively with internal and external constituencies.
• Understanding of confidentiality and related issues.

Physical Abilities Required:

• Must be able to work at a computer for up to 8 hours each day in conjunction with OSHA requirements.
• Must be able to move around the Milton Academy campus without restriction.
• Must be able to lift up to 10 pounds.

All interested internal candidates must complete an application for promotion or transfer and inform their supervisor as soon as possible.

The essential functions and basic skills have been included in this job description; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. This position description is subject to change at any time.

Milton Academy is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of any category protected by federal, state, or local law, including but not limited to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, ancestry, citizenship or national or ethnic origin.