School Operations Specialist

About AppleTree

AppleTree's mission is to close the achievement gap before students get to kindergarten. To accomplish this mission, we focus exclusively on preschool and pre-K education. We provide free, full-day public charter school programming for three- and four-year-olds in 12 locations across Washington, DC, employing our innovative and award winning instructional model, Every Child Ready (ECR). This instructional model provides educators with tools and resources for "What to Teach," "How to Teach," and "How to Measure Success." Our instructional model is also used by partners across the nation. We continuously test and improve this model through feedback from AppleTree educators, partners, and other stakeholders to ensure that children are learning and exploring through play and appropriate instruction.

Position Summary

The School Operations Specialist is responsible for playing an integral and centralized role in supporting the daily operational and administrative tasks of the AppleTree schools. They are often the first voice or face encountered when someone calls or enters the school. Operations Specialists are supervised by the School's Principal in conjunction with AppleTree's Director of School Operations and Compliance. The ideal candidate is a self-starter, highly organized, detail-oriented, personable, upbeat, has excellent communication skills and is able to work independently.

This is an on-site position based in Washington, DC.

What you'll do . . .

Operations and Finance Management

● Maintain efficient and effective day to day operations of assigned school campus

● Manage the logistics, staffing, and daily management of arrival, lunch, recess, dismissal

and physical spaces at designated campus

● Manage office administration protocols to include greeting and monitoring site visitors,

following all established policies and procedures to ensure the safety and security of the school,

managing campus vendor relationships, maintaining office related equipment such as copiers

and printer, sorting and distributing mail, answer telephones and create a welcoming office

environment for students and visitors

● Prepare and distribute school meals in accordance with NSLP guidelines

● Manage procurement and purchasing for school site including order and maintaining

inventory of school supplies including curricular resources and partnering with staff to

assess procurement needs

● Ensure campus is financially responsible by providing support to Principal on budgets, cash

collection and invoice approval; Assist with expense management (inc Expensify

submissions)

● Manage school messaging to parents (Class Dojo, School Messenger )

● Host and/or participate in weekly and monthly meetings with a variety of stakeholders

● Demonstrate ability to represent the AppleTree brand, the school, and its interests

● Support the school principal in achieving his or her goals

● Support special projects as assigned by the Director of Operations and Compliance

Enrollment Management

● Partner with Enrollment Operations Manager to manage enrollment cycle to ensure campus meets

its enrollment target including assisting with strategy development and implementation

● Commit to working a minimum of five Saturdays out of the year and some late evenings during

enrollment season to accommodate families during enrollment season.

● Engage with families and participate in student recruitment activities (approximately 15-20 hours per

month dedicated to student recruitment and parent engagement)

● Manage enrollment databases (MySchool DC and Salesforce)

● Collect and ensure accuracy of school registration documents

● Manage enrollment by tracking and responding to enrollment inquiries

● Create and maintain student enrollment files, ensuring 100% accuracy of residency files and

student information to support a successful annual child count/audit outcomes

● Coordinate campus Open House events and partner with Family Engagement team on other

outreach activities

Compliance Oversight and Administration

● Monitor student daily attendance and supplies data to necessary parties

● Ensure proper documentation is provided for all student medications

● Manage food service operations, including but not limited to serving as the main contact with meal

vendor, ensuring compliance, conducting internal audits, and ensuring meal program financial health

● Own free/reduced-price lunch application process, including validating forms and running income

verification process, for campuses that require it.

● Maintains student health records and keeps parents informed about requirements or expiring

paperwork for the Department of Health and Immunizations (n/a in schools where a nurse is

present).

● Manage immunization compliance process in the absence of a school nurse.

● Serve as Medication Administrator

● Manage student medication in the absence of a school nurse

● Coordinate with social workers and the schools attendance committee to ensure that families

are notified in the event of excessive absences

Facilities and IT Coordination

● Ensure building safety through managing the school emergency plan

● Manage the physical space of the building and all facilities-related needs, including

scheduling/meeting vendors and handling after-hours facilities emergencies

● Serve as liaison to network IT and provide on-site support, including inventorying IT assets and

assisting staff with IT issues as able

● Conduct weekly facilities walkthroughs to ensure building compliance

● Ensure building and site cleanliness and upkeep

Data Management

● Update student information system PowerSchool

● Work with data specialist to correct and data conflicts in SLED

● Manage school calendar

● Maintain student files ensuring compliance and sufficient upkeep

Note

The preceding description is not designed to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities required of the School Operations Specialist. All employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

What we're looking for . . .

• Bachelor's degree in a related field from an accredited four-year college or university, along with a minimum of two years of related experience or High School Diploma with a minimum of five years of related experience

• Demonstrated flexibility, great attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities.

• High proficiency in modern technologies including Excel, G Suite (now Google Workspace), MS Office software, databases and Zoom with a preference for experience in SLED, PowerSchool and MySchool DC

• Experience in a similar role in a traditional district or charter school is strongly preferred

• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills

• Demonstrated ability to thrive in ambiguity through the use of innovation, problem-solving and good judgment

• Exceptional reliability, integrity, and ability to responsibly handle confidential information with discretion

• Ability to make recommendations to effectively resolve problems by using sound, professional judgment that consistent with policies, procedures, regulations or federal and state laws

• Ability to listen, influence, and execute through others while coordinating across a broad and diverse group of stakeholders

• Belief in and commitment to the mission and core values of AppleTree Early Learning Public Charter School

• IMPORTANT: Per Mayor's Order 2021-109, on-site staff are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Requests for qualifying medical and/or religious exemptions will be considered.

What's in it for you . . .

• Competitive salary

• Employee Health Benefits in the 95th percentile of other schools in the DC Metro Area

• Fully covered Dental

• Benefits for you and all eligible dependents

• Fully covered Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, and Life Insurance with buy-up options

• Free Online Wellness Platform for you and up to four eligible dependents

• Competitive Paid Time Off, including early-close Mental Health Days

• 5% Employer Contribution to your Retirement Account (whether you contribute or not)

• AppleTree Scholarship to pay for continued education

• Network Professional Development Opportunities

Commitment to Diversity

At AppleTree, we endeavor to foster an environment where each person's true self and experience is welcome. We believe that only with a diverse and inclusive environment can you truly celebrate and support all students, families, and staff. Our commitment to diversity is founded on the belief that our community is strengthened by the vibrant exchange that occurs when individuals with different backgrounds, abilities, and heritages share their various perspectives with one another.

To Apply

Please visit our website: https://www.appletreeinstitute.org/join-our-team or email talent@appletreeinstitute.org with your resume and cover letter.