Chief Executive Officer

Independence Charter School (ICS) is seeking a globally minded, dynamic, and strategic leader to become its next Chief Executive Officer. 

With a deep committement to global citizenship, curiousity, and empathy, Independence Charter School was founded in 2001 by a group of parents who wanted to provide quality public education for children in Philadelphia. Today, ICS has grown to serve approximately 800 students across grades K-8. With a specific focus on cultivating global citizens, ICS attracts students from across the city and takes pride in offering an intellectually stimulating curriculum designed to develop independent, thoughtful, global citizens. The school emphasizes Spanish language immersion and acquisition, and integrates arts, ideas, and histories from around the world.

Second language acquisition is one of the pillars of the ICS education model. ICS’s founders envisioned this component as a primary means of encouraging global awareness and creating a diverse community of learners. Since its inception, ICS has instilled Spanish language instruction in every aspect of the curriculum. The journey toward becoming a global learner begins with developing an understanding of a language other than one’s own. It is in this spirit that ICS continues to enrich its students’ Spanish language learning opportunities as well as provide real world situations for them to use their knowledge.

Four core beliefs drive the school’s vision and everyday actions and decisions:

Community - ICS honors and celebrates the fullness of individual and collective humanity.

Courage - ICS accepts the challenge and joy of standing for who its students and community are and for everyone's right to be themselves.

Growth - ICS takes risks and does difficult things every day because learning strengthens relationships between individuals and the world. Learning is worth the effort.

Equity - ICS creates a just learning environment that provides all learners with what they need to feel and be healthy, safe, and affirmed. All learners deserve academic opportunities that meet their needs.

Building on a tradition of and commitment to truly global education, Independence Charter School seeks a passionate, mission-driven, and culturally responsive CEO to drive the current strategic priorities of the organization and continue to develop its vision and direction for the future. The CEO will lead efforts to build greater awareness of the school’s unique commitment to global education and citizenship while supporting the community in examining and communicating what it means to be a global citizen today. Reporting to the Board of Trustees and partnering closely with the school Principal and other key ICS leaders, the CEO will help ensure success for ICS students through establishing best-in-class instructional and operational programs (e.g., finance, facilities). The CEO will lead a vibrant and engaging team who is deeply committed to the mission and vision of ICS. The CEO will also serve as a true brand ambassador, deepening existing external relationships and expanding the ICS network (e.g., district partners, donors, education leaders). This is an ideal role for an exceptional manager, motivational leader, and strong external spokesperson who has demonstrated breakthrough outcomes in a similarly mission-aligned educational organization, non-profit, or school.