Director of Enrollment and Community Engagement
Reports To: Chief Executive Officer Contract: 230 Days FLSA Status: Exempt
Position Summary
The Director of Enrollment and Community Engagement serves as the district leader responsible for student enrollment, recruitment, registration, family engagement, and community outreach. This position develops and implements a comprehensive enrollment strategy that attracts, enrolls, and retains students while promoting Arkansas Arts Academy''s mission of arts
integration and academic excellence throughout Northwest Arkansas.
As the first point of contact for prospective families, the Director serves as an ambassador for the Academy by building meaningful relationships with families, community organizations, businesses, early childhood providers, homeschool networks, and civic groups. The Director oversees all enrollment processes, school tours, recruitment events, community outreach initiatives, and new family onboarding while utilizing data-driven strategies to achieve district
enrollment goals.
This position collaborates with district leadership to ensure all recruitment, enrollment, and community engagement efforts align with Arkansas Arts Academy''s mission, strategic plan, and
commitment to providing an exceptional educational experience.
Essential Responsibilities
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Utilize the Enrollment Projection Tool to forecast enrollment trends, grade-level capacity, and staffing needs. Monitor the Daily Enrollment and Attendance Tracker to identify enrollment opportunities and retention concerns. Lead the District Enrollment and Outreach Team through regular meetings focused on continuous improvement and enrollment growth. Maintain a strategic enrollment dashboard and recommend improvements based on data trends.
Enrollment & Registration Coordinate all aspects of student enrollment from inquiry through successful registration. Manage applications, lotteries, waitlists, and student records in compliance with Arkansas Department of Education requirements. Verify residency, immunizations, transcripts, and all required enrollment documentation. Process withdrawals, records requests, and transfers. Maintain accurate student records and enrollment reporting. Coordinate annual registration and returning student enrollment. Manage the yearly lottery enrollment and all processes associated with it.
Recruitment & Marketing Develop and implement a year-round recruitment strategy designed to increase enrollment and strengthen awareness of Arkansas Arts Academy. Responsibilities include: Organize and lead enrollment events, open houses, information nights, registration events, and Kindergarten Round-Up. Coordinate district participation in community festivals, fairs, chamber events, and educational expos. Assist with social media campaigns and promotional initiatives supporting enrollment. Maintain communication with prospective families from initial inquiry through enrollment. Collaborate with district leadership to ensure all marketing materials accurately reflect the Academy''s mission and educational opportunities.
School Tours & Family Engagement Coordinate and conduct personalized school tours for prospective families.
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Develop presentations highlighting the Academy''s mission, arts integration model, transportation, academics, and extracurricular opportunities. Plan and coordinate Shadow Day experiences for prospective students. Ensure timely follow-up after every tour and Shadow Day. Coordinate post-lottery communications, acceptance notifications, waitlist updates, and enrollment timelines. Develop and oversee comprehensive New Family Onboarding. Produce New Family Newsletters to support successful student transitions.
Community Engagement Serve as the district ambassador by strengthening relationships throughout Northwest Arkansas. Responsibilities include: Develop partnerships with businesses, arts organizations, civic groups, early childhood providers, homeschool organizations, and community agencies. Coordinate community presentations promoting Arkansas Arts Academy. Represent the district at recruitment and networking events. Develop family referral and ambassador programs. Support district promotional campaigns and community awareness initiatives. Promote district performances, exhibitions, and public events as recruitment opportunities.
Student Retention Develop systems that improve student persistence and family satisfaction. Responsibilities include: Develop strategies to improve student retention. Monitor withdrawal trends and conduct exit interviews when appropriate. Analyze enrollment, withdrawal, and demographic data to identify opportunities for improvement. Recommend strategies to improve student and family engagement. Collaborate with district administrators to support successful student transitions and retention initiatives.
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Leadership & Accountability The Director serves as the district leader for enrollment growth and community engagement by: Developing and Leading the Enrollment and Outreach Team. Coordinating district enrollment campaigns. Monitoring recruitment effectiveness using measurable data. Collaborating with district leadership on strategic enrollment initiatives. Maintaining confidentiality of all student information. Performing additional duties assigned by the Chief Executive Officer.
Board Relations The Director of Enrollment and Community Engagement will present quarterly (four times annually) to the Arkansas Arts Academy Board of Directors regarding: Enrollment trends and projections Recruitment strategies and outcomes Community outreach initiatives Social media and marketing campaign effectiveness Enrollment event participation Student retention data Withdrawal trends and recommendations Mission-aligned recruitment strategies Annual enrollment goals and progress toward district targets
Qualifications Required Three years of experience in education, admissions, enrollment, marketing, communications, customer service, or related field. Strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills. Ability to analyze data and prepare reports. Experience using Microsoft Office and Google Workspace. Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed. Experience in public education. Student Information System experience. Marketing or communications experience. Event planning and public speaking experience. Knowledge of Arkansas enrollment requirements.
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Knowledge, Skills & Abilities The successful candidate will demonstrate: Outstanding customer service Leadership and team development Public speaking and presentation skills Relationship building Strategic planning Event coordination Data analysis Problem solving Organization and project management Professional written and verbal communication Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders
Performance Expectations Performance will be evaluated through measurable outcomes, including: Achievement of district enrollment goals. Student retention and persistence rates. Inquiry-to-enrollment conversion rates. School tour and Shadow Day participation. New family onboarding effectiveness. Community partnerships established. Recruitment event participation and outcomes. Accuracy of enrollment forecasting and reporting. Development of family referral initiatives. Board reporting and strategic planning. Compliance with Arkansas Department of Education enrollment requirements. Contribution to advancing Arkansas Arts Academy''s mission through strategic enrollment and community engagement.
Physical Requirements Frequent standing, walking, and public speaking. Ability to lift up to 25 pounds. Occasional evening and weekend responsibilities. Local travel throughout Northwest Arkansas for recruitment and community engagement activities.