Career Path Of A Chief Academic Officer At Scholarship Prep Schools
Taylor's career path, beginning with a sociology major and "regular restaurant jobs," unexpectedly led to Teach for America, a pivotal experience that ignited a passion for curriculum and assessment. Subsequent roles in charter schools and districts, coupled with a master's degree, culminated in Taylor's current position as Chief Academic Officer at Scholarship Prep, a journey marked by deliberate choices and a clear focus on "where my passion really lies."
Education, Career Transition, Leadership, Curriculum Development, Charter Schools
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. Taylor's career path highlights a non-traditional route into education leadership, starting with Teach for America after a sociology degree and progressing through roles in charter schools and districts. This showcases the value of gaining practical experience and pursuing further education (Master's in Curriculum and Instruction and administrative credentials) to advance.
2. Her passion for curriculum and assessment emerged through experience and shaped her career trajectory, demonstrating how identifying and focusing on one's strengths can lead to fulfilling and impactful roles.
3. Taylor's diverse experiences in various school settings (charter schools, districts, different school levels) underscore the value of broad exposure and adaptability in educational leadership. This path highlights that there's no single prescribed route to a career like hers, showcasing different options and opportunities for growth and advancement within the education sector.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Any internships or jobs you had before your current role?
In college, I majored in sociology. It was a bit of an accident, but I found a real passion in education and learning about the inequities that stemmed from the system.
I worked regular restaurant jobs all through school and didn't do any internships. As I got closer to my senior year, I met with recruiters from Teach for America and entered the education field that way.
I took a year off between graduating and starting with Teach for America. I knew it would be a big commitment and wanted to be sure I was doing it because I truly wanted to, not just because finding a job after college was scary. I worked as a coffee shop manager during that year.
I started my teaching career in Dallas, Texas, at a charter school. I was a founding teacher there, and it was an amazing opportunity. The core in Dallas was very new when I joined, so we were small and received a lot of professional development.
I worked at Uplift Education, a charter network, and gained extensive professional development. This allowed me to dive into curriculum and assessment, which I discovered was my true passion within education.
After my two-year commitment with Teach for America, I stayed in education but returned to California. I worked in East LA for a couple of years at a charter school.
Then, I tried working in a district in Bellflower for a few years. I also earned a master's degree in curriculum and instruction, along with an administrative services credential.
This led to an opportunity to return to the charter school world with Green Dot Public Schools. I was a site administrator there for three years. It was a great chance to start as an administrator in residence.
Although I already had a credential, this role allowed me to learn from different site leaders, visit middle and high schools, and observe various leadership styles. If you're interested in site leadership, I highly recommend finding a similar program.
After a couple of years in site leadership, I wanted to return to a more focused role on curriculum and instruction, where my passion truly lies. I then had the opportunity to join Scholarship Prep as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction.
After a year in that role, I was promoted to Chief Academic Officer, which is my current position.