Executive Director

OVERVIEW

Maureen Joy Charter School (MJCS), founded in 1997, is one of the first charter schools approved by the state of North Carolina and proudly stands among the longest-standing charters in the state. For over 25 years, MJCS has served children and families in East Durham, ensuring that every child — particularly those historically underserved — has access to an excellent education rooted in equity, community, and joy.

MJCS serves more than 600 students in grades K–8, the majority of whom are Black and Latin(e). Families choose Joy because of its deep community roots, its commitment to equity, and its tradition of cultivating both academic excellence and a strong sense of belonging. Many alumni return to Durham as leaders, educators, and parents, continuing the cycle of impact.

Today, MJCS is at an inflection point. The school is focused on systems, strengthening enrollment, and accelerating student achievement. At the same time, MJCS is reimagining the student experience through human-centered design. By engaging students and families in co-creating educational pathways, MJCS is leveraging the latest science of learning and insights from the future of work to build a more equitable and future-ready school environment.

The next Executive Director will be the architect of MJCS’s next chapter — turning this moment of transition into a moment of transformation. They will build on the foundation while positioning Joy as both a beacon of excellent education and a learning lab for future-ready learners and leaders, modeling innovation in public education.

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Accelerate Student Wholistic Growth

The heart of MJCS is in the classroom. Partnering closely with principals and assistant principals, the Executive Director will focus on improving teaching, learning, and student outcomes across grades K–8. This includes aligning curriculum, instruction, and assessment, using data to close opportunity gaps, and ensuring that all students — particularly Black and Latin(e) learners — thrive. By cultivating students who are critically conscious, agile, creative, and collaborative, the ED will position MJCS as a school where every child’s brilliance is nurtured and celebrated.

Leverage Operational and Strategic Excellence

Strong systems are the backbone of a thriving school. The next Executive Director will be responsible for ensuring that MJCS’s financial, operational, and governance practices are transparent, sustainable, and aligned to long-term strategic goals. This includes strengthening enrollment and retention strategies, supporting HR and compliance processes, and ensuring that resources flow where they matter most: into classrooms. The ED will also work hand-in-hand with the Board of Directors to set strategic priorities, clarify governance roles, and establish clear channels of accountability. By doing so, the ED will build trust, ensure

organizational health, and position MJCS for sustainable growth.

Inspire Leadership in Others

The next Executive Director will be a leader of leaders, fostering the conditions for staff and students alike to thrive. They will recruit, retain, and develop a diverse team of equity-driven educators and invest in leadership pipelines that ensure continuity and sustainability. For staff, the ED will model inclusive, transparent leadership and provide opportunities for professional growth and shared ownership. For students, the ED will foster a culture of agency and voice, ensuring that young people are active partners in shaping their learning experience and school community. By building leadership at every level, the ED will create a school that is both resilient and innovative.

Enrollment & Community Confidence

Families are the backbone of MJCS, and enrollment is critical for sustainability. The Executive Director will lead efforts to attract and retain families through strong academic programming, authentic partnerships, and clear, consistent communication. This means both building enrollment numbers and building confidence among families that MJCS is the best choice for their children. By engaging deeply with the East Durham community, the ED will strengthen Joy’s reputation as a trusted, community-centered school.

Lead Future-Facing Innovation

MJCS is focused on reimagining what education can be. The school is embracing human-centered design to co-create learning pathways with students and families, grounded in the latest science of learning and insights from the future of work. The Executive Director will be the architect of this vision, ensuring that MJCS thrives as both a beacon of excellent education and a learning lab for future-ready learners and leaders. By embedding innovation into the daily fabric of the school, the ED will prepare students for success in an ever-evolving world.

Qualifications - Successful candidates will demonstrate most of the following qualifications and attributes:

• Educational Leadership Experience – Significant leadership experience in schools, districts, or mission-driven nonprofits, ideally with evidence of leading through growth, or transformation.
• Strategic & Operational Acumen – Proven ability to manage financial, operational, and governance systems with transparency and accountability.
• Academic Partnership – Demonstrated success working alongside instructional leaders to improve teaching, learning, and student outcomes.
• Equity Orientation – A deep commitment to racial equity and educational justice, with experience advancing opportunities for Black, Latine, multilingual learners, and students with disabilities.
• Community Engagement – Track record of building authentic, trust-based partnerships with families and communities, particularly Black and Latine communities
• Board/Governance Partnership – Experience partnering with or reporting to a nonprofit board; skilled at providing data-driven reports, strategic counsel, and building board capacity.
• Fundraising & External Relations – Ability to serve as the external face of the school, cultivating funders and partners in support of MJCS’s mission.

Leadership Attributes- The next Executive Director will be:

• A Builder and Architect – Excited by the challenge of turning transition into transformation, and skilled at designing systems that outlast individuals.
• Future-Facing – Energized by innovation and the chance to position MJCS as a learning lab and a model for innovative, public education.
• Relational & Transparent – A leader who communicates clearly, listens deeply, and builds confidence through consistency and follow-through.
• Community-Rooted – A leader committed to building an enduring institutional legacy that serves families and uplifts the historic community of East Durham.
• Equity-Driven – Centers equity in all decisions, ensuring that policies, practices, and outcomes reflect MJCS’s mission.
• Adaptive & Resilient – Comfortable navigating complexity, ambiguity, and change while keeping the community focused on what matters most — students.
• Inspiring & Collaborative – A leader of leaders who empowers others, develops talent, and models shared ownership across staff, board, families, and students.

If you have any questions, please contact the hiring manager, Jacinta Williams, at jwilliams@joycharter.org

To apply, please complete all application questions and submit requested materials.

Maureen Joy offers a comprehensive benefits package. More details can be provided upon request. This is a full-time, exempt position.

Fluent in English, required

Conversational in Spanish, nice to have