Liberty STEAM Charter School - Deputy Superintendent

Deputy Superintendent Job Description

About the Organization:

Imagine a school where a child’s zip code doesn’t define their potential, where belief, access, and opportunity work together to rewrite what’s possible. A place where educators are empowered, families are partners, and students are proving that excellence is not exclusive, it’s expected. Imagine a school where…60% of scholars are proficient in reading & math compared to 30% grade level proficiency five years ago, a waitlist of 1,589 scholars, 96% persistence rate, 96% family engagement satisfaction, and achieved the second highest report card rating in its first accountability year!

Liberty STEAM Charter (LSC) was established in 2020 as Sumter, South Carolina's first public charter school, with the specific purpose of addressing longstanding economic, educational, and social inequities in the region. LSC has been recognized regionally & nationally for its innovative educational approach and community impact, receiving the 2024 Yass Prize & 2025 Building Hope Career Education Champion Award. LSC is a member of Charter School Growth Fund and SC Children’s Fund, who identify the country’s best public charter schools and help to fund their expansion and increase their impact.  The school was created through the efforts of local leaders who recognized that declining workforce readiness, rising crime, and limited educational opportunity were symptoms of deeper systemic challenges. LSC emerged as a response, designed to create a sustainable, community-rooted pipeline from cradle to college and career readiness and for the last 6 years, consistently committed to transforming Sumter one scholar at a time. 

Opening with 144 scholars in its inaugural year, LSC has since experienced significant and steady growth and currently has a waitlist for the upcoming school year of 1,589 scholars. In 2023, LSC launched its Elementary Academy, expanding its K–4 model, and most recently, it opened a Junior Academy serving grade 5 with plans to add grades 7 and 8. A proud Title I school, LSC has grown to now serve 914 scholars across three campuses spanning six counties and 17 zip codes and will serve nearly 1,100 scholars next school year as it expands to 6th grade. By 2029, LSC is projected to educate over 2,000 scholars across four campuses with full build out to K-12 in 2032-2033 school year with a technical high school. 

About Sumter, SC:

LSC is situated in historic Sumter, a small, rural city in South Carolina with a complex history and a population marked by rich cultural and economic diversity. The school draws scholars from 17 different ZIP codes and six counties, creating a community that is geographically and socially diverse. Approximately 72% of scholars qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, 67% identify as members of racial or ethnic minority groups, 15% receive special education services, and 10% are military dependents. Although English is the dominant language, a growing number of families speak Spanish at home. 

This linguistic and cultural mix has shaped LSC's commitment to equity, inclusivity, and culturally responsive practices. Sumter's economic struggles and generational poverty also underscore the importance of LSC's mission to empower scholars and families through education.

About the Deputy Superintendent Role:

Reporting directly to the Executive Director (ED), the Deputy Superintendent serves as the second highest administrator at Liberty STEAM Charter School. The Executive Director and Deputy Superintendent are ultimately responsible for the execution of all programs and procedures in alignment with the school’s mission and vision, with input from a broad range of constituents. This is a full-time in office position located in Sumter, South Carolina.

Key Responsibilities:

Instructional Leadership & Academic Excellence (40%) 

• Responsible for overall academic outcomes by ensuring rigorous, standards-aligned curriculum, high-quality teaching across campuses, and progress toward key student outcomes

• Coordinates the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of instructional programs including leading a monthly Instructional Round and regular instructional walks 
• Support the creation and implementation of a clear and consistent behavior management system while developing students’ character and sense of community

Operational & Administrative Responsibilities (30%)

• Ensuring accountability to the school’s authorizer and other important stakeholder relationships
• Stewarding finance, operations and human resources functions to ensure operational excellence to support all functions of the school
• Participate in weekly manager check-ins, grade-level meetings, before and after-school duties, and school-wide meetings and functions.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Executive Director.

• Minimum of 45-50 hours spent in schools per week
• Must be willing to assist with evening & weekend programmatic offerings, at times. 
• Is required to attend monthly board meetings

Talent Management & Coaching (20%) 

• Directly manages the Campus Academy Directors, Campus Director of Family & Community Engagement, Special Populations Coordinator, & Talent Development Coordinator to achieve measurable and ambitious results.
• Expands the Leadership Development Program to build a leadership pipeline
• Lead Academy Directors to improve their teaching quickly and measurably through daily observations, on-the-spot coaching, data conversations, and effective evaluations.
• Oversees the Talent Management function by facilitating each Academy's Talent Review and the LEEA Performance Evaluation Cycle 
• Create a positive culture based on the cores values of LSC

Leadership & Strategic Oversight  (10%) 

• Demonstrates an unwavering commitment to LSC’s core purpose of preparing every student for college acceptance and success.
• Provides vision and leadership to ensure the organization’s commitment to excellence by achieving its mission, goals, priorities and measurable outcomes as well as cultivating and guiding the school’s professional culture
• Ensures compliance with all policies and regulations including maintaining South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) accreditation and sustaining Tier I Federal Programs status with South Carolina Public Charter School District (SCPCSD)
• Sets and upholds ambitious standards creating the culture of continuous improvement, consistently striving to meet and exceed established goals.
• Synthesize, analyze, and prioritize data and opportunities to develop strategies that achieve quantifiable goals.
• Proactively identify opportunities to improve and consistently reflect on past actions to guide future decisions.

Ideal Candidate Qualifications:

The Deputy Superintendent thrives behind the scenes, finding satisfaction in staying out of the limelight while ensuring the organization runs smoothly at every level. This leader sweats the small stuff, staying deeply engaged in the day-to-day operations and minutiae that drive successful outcomes. The role requires a hands-on executor—someone with boots on the ground—who can translate big-picture priorities into practical action. This leader demonstrates clear communication and builds authentic, lasting relationships, skillfully navigating and resolving conflict in ways that strengthen both relationships and outcomes. The Deputy Superintendent provides significant coaching and development for the leadership team, and helps set, manage, and deliver measurable outcomes across the organization. This organizational leader would be mentored by the Executive Director and intentionally developed across all facets of the organization’s work, building the capacity and experience necessary to be well prepared for future growth opportunities within the organization.

This leader is both a steadfast believer and a determined advocate, committed to equipping every child—regardless of socioeconomic background, ethnicity, or neighborhood—with the tools necessary to reach their fullest potential. The Deputy Superintendent approaches each day with urgency and purpose, ensuring that every student learns in an environment that cultivates strong character, demands academic excellence, and prepares them to succeed on the path to and through college. 

Minimum Qualifications and Experiences:

• Education: Master's degree required/Doctorate preferred
• Experience:
  • Minimum 3 years of successful full-time teaching experience
  • 5+ years of successful full-time instructional leadership experience (school administrator, dean, etc.) including 3 years of Head Principal experience is strongly desired 
• Licensure:
  • Valid SC Educator License Required with Principal endorsement (Tier II required) 
  • Valid SC Superintendent’s License is Preferred
• Additional Knowledge and Skills: 
  • Knowledge of Federal and State Programs, ex.Tier 1
  • Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills 
  • Proven track record of personally achieving success and of leading others to improved results 
  • Demonstrated ability to effectively manage student behavior  
  • Demonstrated ability to manage and coach others
  • Ability to adjust and adapt to a multitude of situations within school environment  

Compensation and Benefits:

The salary for this position is very competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range is $135,000 - 155,000, based upon experience relevant to the position.

This role is also eligible for a performance bonus. LSC also offers a relocation stipend to defray the cost for individuals hired (if applicable). Additionally, Liberty STEAM Charter offers a comprehensive benefits package to include health, dental, vision, life insurance, and 401k options. Learn more about employee benefits by clicking here.