Superintendent

Cherry Creek Schools; Denver, Northern (CO, KY); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Cherry Creek Schools in Denver, CO seeks a Superintendent to serve as the district's chief executive officer, guiding strategy, student achievement, and district performance in accordance with state law and board policy.

The Superintendent leads administration, collaborates with the Board of Education and AdCo/DLT, manages budgets, personnel, and community relations, and champions equity and inclusion across all programs to prepare every student for college and career success.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in educational administration or related field.
• Ten (10) years of public school district administrator experience at a school building or central district department.
• Advanced knowledge of Colorado public school policy, procedure, and management.

Responsibilities

• Undertake administrative responsibility and leadership for district goals; recruit, hire, support, retain high-performing staff; evaluate district administrators; drive student achievement.
• Direct day-to-day district operations within policy parameters; plan, operate, supervise, and evaluate programs, services, staff, students, and facilities.
• Communicate with the Board; provide timely information; coordinate with district leadership; evaluate district progress on priorities.

Education

Master's degree in educational administration or related field

Job description

Job Title: Superintendent

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Classification Group: Administrator

Supervising Position: Board of Education

Pay Plan: Superintendent Contract

Pay Range: Superintendent Contract

Last Updated: 08/04/2026

Pay Information

Benefits Information

Job Summary

Serve as the chief executive officer of the school district, pursuant to C.R.S. § 22-32-110(g). Responsible for achieving the district's goals as outlined in the strategic plan. Inspire employees to meet the needs of every student and “to inspire every student to think, to learn, to achieve, to care.” Work to enhance the growth and achievement of students and staff. Elevate confidence in public education. Promote diversity and inclusive excellence throughout all district programs. Challenge all staff to be innovative as they prepare all students to be college and career ready. Model excellence in all aspects of the position. Serve as a member of the Administration Council (AdCo) and District Leadership Team (DLT).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The subsequent duties outline the fundamental operations of the position and exemplify the nature of the tasks carried out. They do not encompass a comprehensive inventory of the obligations and responsibilities fulfilled in this role. The approximation of frequencies and time allocation percentages are flexible and subject to the requirements of the organization. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• 1. Undertake administrative responsibility, accountability, and leadership for achieving the District’s goals: facilitate the recruitment, hiring, supporting, and retaining of high-performing staff; ensure all employees are highly qualified and skilled for their positions; select, supervise, and evaluate district administrators; increase student achievement and teacher development through precise, individualized professional learning aligned with achievement goals; reduce the gap in academic performance of students while raising achievement for all; adopt (instructional) models and structures based on practices that are research-based and demonstrated to be effective; strengthen collaboration with parents/guardians to enhance learning for all children; expand and strengthen community involvement and partnerships to foster ownership and shared responsibility for our schools; increase dialog and cooperation with key local, state, and national groups and organizations; provide environments to optimize learning and teaching that are safe, secure, and well-maintained; support a high-performing learning culture based on trust, compassion, and mutual respect; anticipate and facilitate development of student achievement. Frequency: Daily, Percentage of Time: 20%
• 2. Manage the day-to-day operations of the district within the policy parameters as adopted by the Board, assuming responsibility and authority for the planning, operation, supervision, assignment, and evaluation of the programs, services, staff, students, and facilities of the district. Direct the decision-making process in a manner reflecting knowledge of board policy and ideals of the community. Frequency: Daily, Percentage of Time: 20%
• 3. Communicate and collaborate with all members of the Board, keeping the Board up-to-date on developments, initiatives, and issues in the district; provide leadership to enable the Board to function effectively. Promote the communication of information between the Board and district leadership. Provide the Board with accurate and timely information that enables the Board to appropriately perform its duties. Discuss emerging and ongoing educational and district issues with the Board on a regular basis. Assist the Board on an annual basis to evaluate the district progress on established priorities. Frequency: Daily, Percentage of Time: 15%
• 4. Act as liaison between the district and the community, assuming responsibility for effective public relations and for creating a cooperative working relationship between the schools and the community. Facilitate positive and collaborative relationships with the community. Create opportunities for community involvement in district affairs. Inform staff regarding the public perception of education and elevate communications about achievements of students and staff. Frequency: Daily, Percentage of Time: 10%
• 5. Anticipate, interpret, and respond effectively to new conditions, situations, problems, and opportunities. Resolve crises effectively. Frequency: Daily, Percentage of Time: 10%
• 6. Prepare recommendations for policies to be adopted by the Board. Undertake the implementation of adopted policies. Frequency: Daily, Percentage of Time: 5%
• 7. Serve as a model for staff by showing sustained effort and enthusiasm in the quality and quantity of work accomplished to further student achievement. Frequency: Daily, Percentage of Time: 5%
• 8. Define areas of responsibility, delegation of authority, and work relationships for district administrators to efficiently meet the district’s needs. Identify, through collaborative efforts, the present and future needs of the district. Frequency: Weekly, Percentage of Time: 5%
• 9. Effectively manage and plan for the long-term financial well-being of the district. Collaborate with the Chief Financial Officer in preparing and submitting to the Board a proposed annual budget reflecting district priorities as identified in the district's strategic plan and aligned with district indicators of success. Frequency: Weekly, Percentage of Time: 5%
• 10. Perform other duties as assigned or requested. Frequency: Daily, Percentage of Time: 5%
• TOTAL 100%

Reporting Relationships

This job has supervisor responsibilities including, but not limited to, interviewing, hiring, directing work, assigning work, supervising work, training, evaluating, disciplining, and terminating. Direct reports:

• Assistant Superintendent of Educational Operations
• Assistant Superintendent of Equity, Culture, and Community Engagement
• Assistant Superintendent of Performance Improvement
• Chief Communications Officer
• Chief Financial Officer
• Chief Operating Officer
• Chief of Exceptional Students and Health Services
• Chief Human Resources Officer/Executive Director of Human Resources
• Chief Information Officer
• Deputy Superintendent
• Executive Assistant to the Superintendent and Board of Education
• General Counsel

Minimum Qualifications

The minimum prerequisites of formal education, professional work experience, certifications, licenses, endorsements, designations, trainings, and other criteria that a candidate must fulfill to be considered for a position. It is essential that certifications, licenses, endorsements, designations, and trainings are fulfilled, valid, and not expired.

• Criminal background check and fingerprinting required
• Master's degree in educational administration or related field
• Ten (10) years of public school district administrator experience at a school building or at a central district department, as well as additional experience teaching students
• Experience unifying, motivating, developing, supporting, empowering, and trusting a high performing team of administrators, teachers, principals, and support staff
• Demonstrated commitment to the education of all students and willingness to be a relentless and passionate advocate for all children
• Advanced knowledge of current trends in education
• Advanced knowledge of public school policy, procedure, and management
• Advanced knowledge of financial challenges that school districts face in Colorado
• Advanced knowledge of Federal, State, and local educational goals and standards and operations of K-12 public education in Colorado
• Advanced strategic and tactical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Advanced verbal and written communication skills, including listening and public speaking
• Advanced interpersonal, public relations, leadership, facilitation, management, decision-making, and collaboration skills
• Ability to embody high-energy and inspirational leadership, displaying vision, self-confidence, integrity, and calculated, appropriate risk-taking
• Ability to appropriately respond to crisis situations

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Work location is subject to change to meet the requirements of the organization
• Sedentary work strength level (lifting or carrying up to ten pounds)
• Works both indoors and outdoors with exposure to outdoor weather conditions
• Typically a moderate noise level
• Speaking and hearing
• Frequent standing, walking, and sitting
• Occasional bending and reaching
• Occasional lifting, pulling, and pushing
• Close, distance, color, and peripheral vision
• Visual concentration, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus
• Eye/hand coordination
• Manual dexterity to operate a computer keyboard
• Crisis situations
• Normal office environment
• Normal school district environment

Desired Qualifications

• Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Colorado Department of Education (CDE) Administrator/Principal license
• Racially conscious and culturally competent with the skill, will, capacity, and knowledge to commit to a culture of continuous improvement