PowerMyLearning is a 25-year-old nonprofit organization with a mission to empower each student, particularly those from historically marginalized communities, to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally by working hand-in-hand with educators to foster equitable learning environments.
With 35 full-time staff and an operating budget of $8 million, PowerMyLearning partners with schools and districts nationwide that collectively serve more than 700,000 K-12 students. Their programs are comprised of professional learning for teachers and school district leaders, as well as an award-winning math practice technology tool.
What sets PowerMyLearning apart from other organizations is three-fold: (1) Its proven results in the areas of both student academic achievement and social-emotional learning (SEL), (2) Its commitment to activating the exponential power that occurs when the trio of teachers, students, and families collaborate on the same learning goals, and (3) Its evidence that its products successfully support multi-lingual learners (MLLs).
PowerMyLearning is at an important inflection point: Over the next 3-4 years, the organization will focus on reversing the decline in math outcomes, especially among student groups that have been historically marginalized. PowerMyLearning has decided to focus on math to “meet the moment” and offer a direct response to the dramatic drop in math scores during the pandemic, as highlighted in the 2022 Nation’s Report Card.
PowerMyLearning seeks a Chief Executive Officer to lead the organization through this important moment, including articulating the organization’s vision and approach for improving math outcomes, building on the successes of its current model, and growing the organization’s reach across the country. The next CEO will have five direct reports and an administrative assistant.
Strong candidates will be deeply passionate about advancing educational equity for K-12 students in math. The next CEO will be a seasoned leader who has led significant growth with a focus on innovation, gathering evidence, and continuous improvement. They will be the external face of the organization, elevating PowerMyLearning’s unique value proposition. They will be an effective and skilled fundraiser, leveraging deep networks to cultivate new partnerships and donors. The next CEO will embody PowerMyLearning’s four values of strengthening relationships, embracing learning, advancing equity, and embodying humility.
YOUR OPPORTUNITY FOR IMPACT AND SUPPORT FOR YOUR SUCCESS
The CEO will chart the organization’s next chapter and solidify its next strategic plan. Below is a description of opportunities for impact as well as a description of the support the CEO will receive from PowerMyLearning’s board. The five direct reports to the CEO are mentioned below—they are (1) Chief Program and Strategy Officer, (2) Chief Growth Officer, (3) Chief Administrative Officer, (4) Executive Director – Greater Los Angeles, and (5) Executive Director – New York City.
Strategic Growth in Impact and Reach
The CEO will provide a compelling strategic vision around PowerMyLearning’s ability to reverse the decline in math outcomes (especially among student groups that have been historically marginalized) and thereby position the organization’s programs as essential for school districts (rather than as a “nice to have”). The CEO will leverage PowerMyLearning’s expertise and strong evidence base to lead growth in impact and reach. They will offer big-picture thinking around how PowerMyLearning can sequence and prioritize new programming to align with future K12 educational trends and funding. The CEO will partner with the Chief Program and Strategy Officer to innovate, including refining PowerMyLearning’s professional learning model to consistently deliver improvements in student academic and SEL outcomes and leveraging AI and tech toward the same end. The CEO will also work with the Director of Research and her supervisor, the Chief Program and Strategy Officer, to set the research agenda.
Revenue Model and External Relations
The CEO will be responsible for increasing PowerMyLearning’s revenue via a robust revenue model. Their primary responsibility will be working with the national development team to increase support from foundations and individual donors. They will also partner with the Chief Growth Officer to support fee-for-service efforts and support the Executive Directors for New York City and Greater Los Angeles in their respective efforts to secure philanthropy. In concert with these revenue activities, the CEO will focus on elevating PowerMyLearning’s visibility and brand. The CEO will be an active, visible, and trusted leader within the ecosystems in which PowerMyLearning operates and will leverage opportunities to serve as a thought partner for PowerMyLearning’s largest funders, promote PowerMyLearning’s programs, and be a vocal advocate for improving math outcomes for students.
Organizational Management
The CEO will lead a dedicated staff of 35 and an operating budget of $8 million. They will hold an enterprise-level view of the organization, using sound business and financial management practices to ensure the organization’s overall financial health and effectiveness. In partnership with the Chief Administrative Officer, the CEO will continue to optimize business operations around decision-making, DEI, risk management, performance management, and talent development systems. The CEO will be a seasoned people leader who knows how to leverage their external networks to provide intel and expertise when needed. The CEO will also have a strong background in ensuring all staff understand and are working collaboratively toward shared organizational goals.
Organizational Culture
The CEO will be skilled at casting vision, engaging staff, and making PowerMyLearning a top “employer of choice.” PowerMyLearning’s culture is guided by its four core values: strengthen relationships, embrace learning, advance equity, and embody humility. Building on these organizational values, the CEO will also model a culture of continuous improvement and innovation, seeking the right balance between change and stability to attract and retain talent. The CEO will work with the Director of DEI, Culture & Org Learning, and his supervisor (the Chief Administrative Officer) to celebrate wins, enhance staff’s feeling of connection and belonging in a remote environment, and deepen PowerMyLearning’s commitment to DEI.
Support from PowerMyLearning’s Board
PowerMyLearning’s board is committed to helping the new CEO succeed in the role. The board chair has extensive board experience and will be an excellent strategic partner. The board itself is comprised of 16 voting members from various sectors who bring financial support and expertise to the organization. The board currently meets four times per year (including one full-day retreat) and has committees that meet in between board meetings. PowerMyLearning enjoys very high attendance at board meetings, and board members work well together. The outgoing CEO currently serves on the board as a non-voting member but will step off the board once the new CEO has joined the organization. The new CEO will have an opportunity to join the board as a non-voting member and nominate future board members.
While no one candidate will embody all the qualifications enumerated below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:
Organizational & Operational Leadership
- Demonstrated success at casting a compelling strategic vision and elevating an organization’s visibility in the K-12 education ecosystem.
- Proven experience securing significant revenue from institutional donors and individuals. Experience securing funding from government sources is a plus.
- Strategic and innovative thinker; experience helping an organization prioritize new programming to align with future K12 educational trends and funding.
- Excitement and interest in K12 professional learning and K12 EdTech.
- Demonstrated organizational, financial, and management expertise of a similar-sized organization or a unit of the same size within a larger organization.
- Demonstrated success scaling organizational impact and reach; success expanding reach via securing partnerships a plus.
Connection to the Mission
- Passion for PowerMyLearning’s mission to empower each student, particularly those from historically marginalized communities, to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally by working hand-in-hand with educators to foster equitable learning environments.
- Demonstrated commitment to advancing DEI and leading candid conversations about DEI; self-reflective about one’s own growth, relative privilege, and positional power.
- Familiarity with the issues faced by students of color and students experiencing poverty through personal or professional experience.
Values & Management Style
- Powerful communicator with the ability to inspire internal and external audiences; ability to form a connection with staff, students, families, educators, funders, and other partners in both individual and group settings.
- Demonstrated ability to model and advance PowerMyLearning’s four organizational values: strengthen relationships, embrace learning, advance equity, and embody humility.
- Relentless driver of high quality while providing the necessary systems and supports so team members can meet that high bar with pride.
- Collaborative leadership style and commitment to building internal leadership; internal management style that fosters esprit de corps, mentorship, accountability, respect, mutual learning, and cross-team collaboration.
- Transparent and data-driven decision-maker who can strike the right balance between inclusivity and making timely decisions.
- Previous experience effectively engaging a high-profile board of directors, coalition, or steering committee.
The Basics
- 5+ years of leadership experience in a nonprofit with 10+ years of leadership experience total across nonprofit, community-based organizations, related for-profit organizations, EdTech, or educational institutions/systems.
- An understanding of the structures and functions of K-12 education systems, including barriers to educational equity; experience working in or partnering with the education system as a teacher, administrator, policymaker, or educational partner preferred.
- A proven fundraiser who is creative and compelling and understands how to move relationships to commitment.
- Has diligently cultivated a professional network of colleagues with varied expertise that can be tapped for advice.
- Ability to travel each year to 5+ conferences, 4 board meetings, 1 all-staff retreat, 5+ in-person funder meetings, and 3+ trips to see PowerMyLearning’s work in action.
This position offers a competitive salary range of $230,000 – $250,000 and a robust benefits package, including PTO, health/dental/vision insurance, disability/life insurance, flexible spending and retirement options, employee assistance, and remote work reimbursements. The CEO is a remote (work-from-anywhere) position.
More information about PowerMyLearning can be found at www.powermylearning.org.
This search is being conducted by Julian Jackson and Alejandra Villa of the national search firm NPAG. Candidates may submit their cover letter outlining their interest and qualifications, along with their resume, via NPAG’s website (https://npag.com/powermylearning-ceo).
PowerMyLearning is committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization in which they give voice to and meet the needs of the teachers, families, and students they serve. PowerMyLearning encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds, especially people of color and members of other historically marginalized groups. PowerMyLearning is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and does not discriminate on any basis prohibited by applicable law.