Chief Operating Officer, Village Tech Schools at Peña Search in Duncanville, Texas

Posted in Other about 14 hours ago.

Type: full-time





Job Description:

The Organization

Village Tech Schools (VTS), a public charter school district based in Duncanville, Texas, approximately 20 miles southwest of downtown Dallas, was founded in 2013 by a passionate group of educators seeking a more impactful approach to education. VTS fosters a supportive, growth-oriented environment where students are encouraged to discover their unique voice and build leadership skills. Through meaningful design challenges that integrate academic and technical learning, students are known and supported by their teachers and peers while actively serving and leading within their local community.

Village Tech Schools began with 640 students on a single campus in Duncanville. In the 2024-2025 academic year, VTS broadened its reach in North Texas by acquiring three additional campuses, previously part of Advantage Academy, in Dallas, Grand Prairie, and Waxahachie. Today, the district serves over 2,300 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade across its four campuses. Additionally, a fifth campus, Village Tech Alchemy, is scheduled to open in the Houston area for the 2025-2026 school year.

With a 25:1 student-to-teacher ratio, VTS creates an environment where students, staff, and peers form strong connections, allowing each student to feel seen, heard, and valued as part of a trusting, supportive community. This fosters a genuine sense of belonging for VTS students, which is a key foundation for their social-emotional development and overall mental well-being.

The Curriculum

Village Tech Schools focuses on developing students into character-driven, challenge-ready, and community-focused adults. Its highly effective model emphasizes leadership skills through programs like the Leader in Me curriculum and the use of "design thinking," a problem-solving method for addressing real-world challenges.

Village Tech teachers design interdisciplinary projects where students collaborate in teams to apply their learning and devise creative solutions to pressing issues such as homelessness, learning differences, and climate change. This approach encourages students to engage with current events, build teamwork and consensus, and deepen their learning.

Additionally, VTS provides Special Program Services to ensure that students with disabilities receive tailored educational opportunities. By individualizing services to meet each student's specific needs, the school equips them to pursue lifelong learning, build character, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Governance & Finance

Village Tech Schools operates under the jurisdiction of the Texas Education Agency. With a six-member Board of Directors, an annual operating budget of $14.4 million, and a staff of over 150 faculty and employees, the district maintains a strong financial foundation essential to sustaining its operations and achieving its mission.

Although Village Tech Schools receives approximately 91% of its funding from the State of Texas, as a public charter school system, it typically receives less funding per student compared to nearby public school districts. To offset this gap, Village Tech Schools relies on public support, grants, and bond sales to ensure continued success.

The Opportunity

Under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Superintendent David Williams, Village Tech Schools looks into the future with excitement and momentum and is seeking an experienced, innovative, and strategic Chief Operations Officer (COO) to shepherd its growth. The ideal candidate will have experience managing multiple sites, paired with strong interpersonal skills to engage effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders.

Reporting to the CEO/Superintendent and as a key member of the leadership team, the COO oversees the planning, coordination, and management of the school's business operations. The COO is also tasked with identifying operational inefficiencies and developing strategic action plans to enhance overall school performance. Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Major Responsibilities and Duties
  • Supervise and lead the school's transportation program, including scheduled and unscheduled fleet maintenance, vehicle replacement, and operator training.
  • Supervise and lead the district's Risk Management and Safety program that includes protection of district assets, emergency and disaster preparedness, safety in the workplace, hazardous material handling, accident prevention, indoor air quality, and personal protective training against health risks.
  • Drive the school's vision for facilities use and enhancements to support the academic program.
  • Manage and negotiate contracts involving the use of facilities and business services including, but not limited to, architectural services, employee outsourcing contracts, and utility contracts.
  • Manage the school's facilities overseeing all vendors and contracts to ensure facilities meet the needs of the academic program, cleanliness, and compliance with all local, state, and federal requirements.
  • Manage contractors responsible for legal and other support services.
  • Ensure the ongoing maintenance and updating of information systems and infrastructure, including hardware, software and applications.
  • Manage staff in the custodial, maintenance, grounds, technology and food service departments.
  • Oversee IT staff and external IT vendors.
  • Consult with the CEO/Superintendent, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Assistant Superintendent, and other personnel as necessary, on questions relating to the district's business operations.
  • Attend all regular and special meetings of the Board of Directors (Board), and executive or work sessions when requested by the CEO/Superintendent. Prepare reports for the Board as needed.
  • Assist in the preparation of the annual budget and appropriations as it pertains to technology, general maintenance and grounds keeping, custodial and food services.
  • Advise the CEO/Superintendent, CFO, and the Board of all technical elements of alterations to existing facilities.
  • Assist the CEO/Superintendent with communicating information uniformly throughout the district.
  • Make recommendations to the CEO/Superintendent regarding policy changes.
  • Oversee preparation of bidding specifications for building projects and supervise facility construction, renovation and maintenance.
  • Keep the CEO/Superintendent informed regarding all state and federal mandates, requirements, etc.
  • Monitor legislation and communicate its impact regarding education and/or Village Tech Schools.
  • Conduct staff meetings, as needed, to interpret changes in Board policy or administrative procedures, to discuss developments, and to evaluate trends in education as they pertain to the areas of assigned responsibility.
  • Serve as Acting Superintendent in the Superintendent's absence.
  • Other duties as assigned by the CEO/Superintendent or his/her designee.

Communication
  • Maintain a professional relationship with colleagues, students, parents, and community members.
  • Use effective communication skills to present information accurately and clearly both in written and verbal forms.

Professional Growth and Development
  • Participate in staff development activities to improve job-related skills.
  • Keep informed of and comply with state, district, and school regulations and policies.
  • Attend and participate in faculty meetings.

More jobs in Duncanville, Texas

General Business
1 day ago

KinderCare Education LLC
General Business
1 day ago

Kroger
More jobs in Other

Other
4 minutes ago

Shaner Hotel
Other
4 minutes ago

Shaner Hotel
Other
4 minutes ago

Shaner Hotel