Biggest Challenges Faced By A Chief Academic Officer At Scholarship Prep Schools
Taylor's biggest challenge as Chief Academic Officer at Scholarship Prep Schools is not a singular issue, but rather the constant emergence of new priorities; the post-pandemic period, for example, presented immediate challenges related to online learning, staffing, and amplified mental health support needs, requiring the ability to "identify what and prioritize what those biggest challenges are" and effectively collaborate for solutions.
Leadership, Problem-Solving, Collaboration, Adaptability, Prioritization
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Taylor Ellis
Chief Academic Officer
Scholarship Prep Schools
UC Santa Barbara 2009
CSU Long Beach MA in Curriculum and Instruction, Administrative Services Credential
Anthropology, Sociology
Education
Strategic Management and Executive
Honors Student, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. The role of Chief Academic Officer presents diverse and evolving challenges, requiring adaptability and prioritization skills.
2. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for effective online learning strategies and increased mental health support for students.
3. Collaboration and stakeholder engagement are crucial for addressing challenges and finding effective solutions.
Transcript
What is your biggest challenge in your current role?
I don't know that there's one biggest challenge in this role. Perhaps that is the challenge: you're not just working towards one big challenge every day. Something new pops up every year; there's a new challenge.
Coming out of the pandemic, there were huge challenges. These ranged from how to run the school online if it wasn't built for that, to staffing issues. Mental health supports are also much more necessary now.
They've always been important, but we're really seeing an increased need for them. The challenge in this role is being able to identify and prioritize what those biggest challenges are as they come up. You need to be able to address them effectively.
This involves collaborating with stakeholders and bringing in the right people. This ensures that the best minds are working together to find solutions.