Description
School Summary
Georgia Connections Academy is a tuition-free, full-time virtual school for students in grades K-12 throughout Georgia. The school is authorized by the Georgia Charter Schools Commission and governed by an independent Board of Directors, with a mission to maximize academic achievement for students who are seeking other academic options. The school is operated by Georgia Connections Academy, a nonprofit corporation, through a contract with Connections Academy of Georgia, LLC, to provide its educational program and other services. Connections Academy, a division of Connections Education, is accredited by AdvancED, and GACA is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement.
Georgia Connections Academy strives to create an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the diversity of the people we serve. We foster fairness, equity, and inclusion to create a workplace environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity.
Position Summary
Working from our office in Duluth, Georgia, or from your home in Georgia, the Director of Federal Programs and Community Engagement provides strategic leadership, oversight, and compliance management for all federally funded programs while driving meaningful family and community engagement initiatives. This role ensures alignment between federal program requirements, school improvement priorities, and engagement strategies that support student achievement and school culture.
The Director leads cross-functional efforts to strengthen communication, partnerships, and student/family experiences while maintaining full compliance with federal, state, and organizational expectations.
All GACA staff must be able to participate in monthly in-person activities, including but not limited to:
School and department meetings,
Student engagement opportunities,
Required training/development,
School-level events, such as state testing and graduation.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Management
Supervise and evaluate Parent Engagement Specialists and the Federal Programs
& Community Engagement Administrative Assistant
Facilitate regular 1:1 meetings, team meetings, and performance development conversations
Develop and manage team workflows, project management systems, calendars, and coverage plans
Monitor comp time tracking and ensure adherence to organizational expectations
Foster a collaborative, solutions-oriented, and high-performance team culture
Federal Programs & Compliance
Oversee the development, submission, and monitoring of:
? Comprehensive Needs Assessment (CNA)
? School Improvement Plan (SIP)
? Consolidated Local Improvement Plan (CLIP)
? Ongoing Progress Monitoring
Provide final review and strategic approval of all federal grant proposals and submissions
Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and Connections Academy requirements
Review and approve Time & Effort documentation
Monitor teacher certification and professional development compliance
Ensure implementation of instructional accommodations and ELPP documentation
Budget & Program Management
Manage federal program budgets across the July 1-June 30 fiscal year
Collaborate with school leaders to align spending with strategic priorities
Ensure timely procurement, requisitions, and accurate documentation
Monitor program expenditures for compliance and effectiveness
Family & Community Engagement
Oversee ParentSquare utilization to ensure clear, consistent, and compliant communication
Supervise planning and execution of:
? District and School-level Student Engagement Opportunities (SEOs)
? GACA University sessions
? Parent Summer Orientation
? Major school and district events
Develop and implement Caretaker and Learning Coach Onboarding curriculum
Ensure consistent collection of family feedback, success stories, and engagement data
Lead initiatives to increase student and family participation in school programs
Lead Summer Caretaker/Learning Coach Orientation
Strategic Communication & Branding
Collaborate with internal teams to support branding, messaging, and content development
Contribute to school-wide communication strategies across social media and publications
Lead or present Federal Programs and Community Engagement updates at faculty meetings and strategic events
Partnerships & External Relations
Cultivate and maintain business and community partnerships through outreach and networking (e.g., Chamber events)
Represent the school in statewide leadership initiatives and innovation forums Collaborate with external partners to support programs such as:
? Graduation
? Field trips
? Career and technical education (CTAE, DECA, STEAM)
Innovation & Special Projects
Lead and implement innovative initiatives, including:
? PBIS/Reward Store systems
? Staff incentive programs tied to student engagement
? Grant-funded engagement initiatives
Ensure distribution and tracking of engagement materials (pins, lanyards, recognition items)
Drive continuous improvement through data-informed decision-making
Essential Skills & Competencies
Key Competencies
Strategic Leadership & Vision
Compliance & Accountability
Data-Driven Decision Making
Communication & Stakeholder Engagement
Innovation & Continuous Improvement
Team Development & Coaching
QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred (Education, Leadership, or related field)
Tier I or Tier II Leadership Certification required
CERTIFICATION/LICENSE
Georgia Clearance Certificate
Georgia Service Certificate in School Counseling and/or Georgia Teaching Certificate
Requirements
Experience in Federal Programs (Title I, II, III, IV) and compliance management
Strong knowledge of school improvement planning and data analysis
Demonstrated experience in team leadership and project management
Experience with family engagement and community partnership development
Exceptional communication, organizational, and strategic planning skills
Physical Requirements
This position requires frequent travel throughout the state of Georgia to conduct official school business. Candidates must possess a valid driver's license, maintain a clean driving record, and be comfortable with regular day trips and occasional overnight travel as needed. A reliable personal vehicle is required.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit for extended periods of time. Employee is also required to talk, hear, stand, and walk. The employee may be required to use their hands to touch, handle, feel, and/or reach. Employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
