Director of Development and Public Affairs

Element Education is seeking a visionary Director of Development and Public Affairs (DDPA) to lead its fundraising efforts and manage a portfolio of donors and prospects to support its investments in K-12 education and advocacy. Reporting to the Executive Director, the DDPA will create and oversee fundraising projects dedicated to delivering extraordinary results and play a crucial role in advancing Element Education’s mission of promoting and supporting self-determined learning. This role involves establishing and expanding a network of transformational donors and establishing a high-performing, scalable development program aligned with Element Education’s priorities. Additionally, the DDPA will engage in strategic planning with the intent of driving innovation and growth and securing charter renewal. As a public charter school network in San Diego County, Element Education creates an environment where children stretch and grow, are challenged and excel, discover natural talents, and develop resilience, all while building meaningful relationships with a personal learning network. Element Education fosters a love of learning while creating opportunities for children to become critical and creative thinkers, build life skills and confidence, pursue passions, and lay groundwork for a self-actualized life. Element Education believes in school choice to give children access to an education which fits their learning preferences. In the Element model, students are provided opportunity to achieve mastery through autonomy and a sense of purpose with high-quality educators and supportive caretakers who hold them to high expectations. Element Education is committed to constant reflection and improvement, nurturing children's natural curiosity to help them become excited about learning. Credentialed teachers serve as facilitators, thus limiting direct instruction, but instead preparing the environment and fostering students' independent thinking and problem solving.