Chief Learning & Innovation Officer (CLIO)

Pendergast Elementary School District•Phoenix, AZ

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Chief Learning & Innovation Officer (CLIO) serves as the district’s senior executive responsible for academic strategy, instructional quality, and the continuous evolution of the student learning experience. Working collaboratively with the Superintendent and district leadership, the CLIO ensures learning systems are coherent, equitable, and aligned to district goals, future-ready outcomes, and community expectations. The CLIO leads the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of curriculum, instruction, assessment, professional learning content, and instructional innovation across the district. In alignment with the district’s strategic plan and social enterprise operating model, the CLIO develops scalable instructional models and innovation strategies that strengthen system coherence, support school leaders, and position the district as a regional leader in learning design and delivery. Through disciplined instructional leadership and a commitment to continuous improvement, the CLIO partners closely with the COO, CTO, and CCIO to ensure teaching and learning priorities are supported by operational systems, talent strategies, and community partnerships. The successful CLIO balances innovation with rigor—ensuring new approaches improve outcomes, can be sustained at scale, and meaningfully enhance the student experience.

Requirements

Master’s degree in education, curriculum and instruction, educational leadership, or a related field.
Progressive senior-level leadership experience overseeing curriculum, instruction, assessment, and school improvement in a K–12 public education setting.
Demonstrated experience supervising and developing school leaders, including principals and district instructional leaders.
Deep knowledge of teaching and learning, including curriculum design, instructional frameworks, assessment systems, and evidence-based instructional practices.
Demonstrated ability to lead districtwide improvement efforts, including the use of data, inquiry cycles, and continuous improvement via improvement science approaches.
Proven experience designing and scaling instructional initiatives, ensuring coherence, sustainability, and impact across multiple schools.
Strong collaborative leadership skills, with the ability to partner effectively with executive leaders, school leaders, and cross-functional teams.
Demonstrated ability to communicate instructional priorities and performance clearly to diverse audiences, including educators, families, and governing boards.
Experience operating within accountability and compliance requirements related to curriculum, instruction, assessment, and school performance.
Arizona Superintendent or Administrative Certification (or demonstrated eligibility).

Nice To Haves

Doctorate (Ed.D. or Ph.D.) in education, leadership, or a related field.
Experience serving as a district-level chief academic, learning, or instructional officer, or in a comparable systemwide leadership role.
Experience leading improvement science at scale, including coaching leaders in disciplined inquiry, implementation cycles, and performance improvement.
Demonstrated success balancing instructional rigor with innovation, including piloting and scaling new learning models.
Experience aligning professional learning systems to instructional priorities in partnership with human resources or talent leaders.
Experience partnering with operations and community leaders to ensure learning priorities are supported by systems, resources, and engagement strategies.
Experience working within an enterprise or systems-based organizational model.
Such alternatives to the above required & preferred qualifications as the Superintendent/Designee may find appropriate and acceptable.

Responsibilities

Lead the development and execution of a districtwide academic strategy aligned to district goals and the PESD Portrait of a Graduate.
Design and maintain coherent learning systems that align curriculum, instruction, assessment, intervention, and professional learning across schools.
Ensure instructional priorities are clearly articulated, consistently implemented, and supported at scale.
Oversee the design, selection, implementation, and continuous improvement of district curriculum and instructional frameworks.
Ensure curriculum and instructional practices are standards-aligned, research-informed, and focused on high expectations and meaningful learning.
Lead the development and use of assessment systems to monitor learning, inform instruction, and guide improvement.
Design, pilot, and scale high-impact instructional models and learning innovations that improve student outcomes.
Balance innovation with rigor by ensuring new approaches are sustainable, scalable, and effective.
Supervise, support, and evaluate Educational Services staff and all site leaders.
Build instructional leadership capacity of principals through coaching, aligned professional learning, and clear expectations.
Establish accountability systems that support principal effectiveness and school improvement.
Provide districtwide leadership for the implementation of improvement science systems across all schools.
Build capacity of school and district leaders to use data, inquiry cycles, and disciplined problem-solving to improve practice.
Monitor implementation and impact of improvement efforts and adjust strategies as needed.
Ensure professional learning content aligns to instructional priorities and supports high-quality implementation.
Partner with the Chief Talent Officer to align adult learning, leadership development, and performance support to instructional goals.
Design learning environments that support student engagement, belonging, and academic growth.
Use qualitative and quantitative data to inform instructional decisions and prioritize improvement efforts.
Partner with the Chief Operations Officer to ensure operational systems support instructional priorities and school needs.
Collaborate with the Chief Community Impact Officer to ensure family engagement and community partnerships reinforce learning priorities.
Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Superintendent and executive leadership team.
Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements related to curriculum, instruction, assessment, and accountability.
Communicate instructional performance, progress, risks, and improvement strategies clearly to the Superintendent and Governing Board.
Provide principled, respectful counsel and candid feedback at all levels of the organization, including upward; ensuring alignment with district values, brand integrity, and public transparency.
Serve as a member of the District Leadership Team and Superintendent’s Cabinet, contributing to enterprise-wide leadership and decision-making.
Model relationship-centered, servant leadership that builds trust, shared ownership, and accountability.
Adheres to District policies, procedures/processes that are statutorily mandated.
Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Superintendent or designee.