About the job
ABOUT CHALLENGEU
ChallengeU is a pioneering Canadian B-Corp that operates virtual schools dedicated to dropout recovery students. Our mission is to empower every student to achieve a promising future, regardless of their circumstances. By integrating personalized coaching with cutting-edge technology, we effectively re-engage students who have become disconnected from traditional educational pathways.
In Quebec, we successfully serve over 10,000 students each year through strategic partnerships with school districts, solidifying our position as a leader in dropout recovery education. Our Ohio Community School, which launched in 2023, has rapidly expanded from 250 to over 1,200 students, consistently achieving or surpassing state graduation standards.
Ohio serves as our template for expansion throughout the United States. Unlike Quebec, where we collaborate with districts, in Ohio we have full operational control over our school. This unique setup presents an exceptional opportunity to innovate, rapidly iterate, and develop scalable systems that will revolutionize dropout recovery education across the nation.
For more information about ChallengeU, please visit www.challengeu.com.
THE OPPORTUNITY
We are on the lookout for a Chief Schools Officer to guide ChallengeU Ohio through its ambitious next phase of growth: scaling from 1,200 to over 7,500 students while ensuring high-quality outcomes and creating processes that can be replicated across multiple states.
This role transcends a conventional superintendent position. You will be instrumental in constructing the operational framework, leadership team, and processes necessary to support vulnerable students at an unprecedented scale. You will spearhead the development of AI-enhanced coaching tools, establish benchmarks for national expansion, and potentially impact over 100,000 students within the next decade.
The ideal candidate will inherit a validated model, a dedicated team, and the support of an organization that has successfully scaled similar operations in Canada. We seek a leader who can systematize effective practices, enhance organizational capacity, and maintain an unwavering focus on student outcomes as we grow.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Leadership
- Drive the execution of Ohio's growth strategy: 2,000 students in Year 1, 4,000+ in Year 2, and 7,500+ in Year 3;
- Formulate and oversee annual operating budgets with accountability for financial performance;
- Create the organizational framework for multi-state expansion and spearhead efforts to secure licensure in additional states;
- Collaborate with Quebec leadership on shared services including HR, Finance, Technology, and Marketing.
Operational Excellence
- Ensure full compliance with Ohio Department of Education regulations;
- Oversee all aspects of school operations: enrollment, student services, academics, testing, and records management;
- Implement data-driven decision-making across all operational areas to ensure continuous improvement.