Board Member Innovative Education Management

Board Member — Innovative Education Management (IEM) Board of Directors

Location: California (candidates must reside in California)

Position type: Board member

Board seats available: Two, expanding the Board from three members to five

Application deadline: October 31, 2026

Innovative Education Management (IEM) is committed to innovative public education, individualized learning, educational choice, meaningful parent involvement, and student success. Since 1998, IEM has helped develop and support California charter schools designed to give families greater flexibility and choice in meeting the individual needs of their students.

Today, IEM operates and supports three WASC-accredited TK–12 independent study public charter schools serving approximately 9,500 students across California:

• South Sutter Charter School — est. 2005; ~3,000 students; serves Sutter, Butte, Colusa, Placer, Sacramento, Yolo & Yuba counties; authorized by Marcum-Illinois Union Elementary School District
• Ocean Grove Charter School — est. 2005; ~3,700 students; serves Santa Cruz, Monterey, Santa Clara, San Benito & San Mateo counties; authorized by San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District
• Sky Mountain Charter School — est. 2007; ~2,800 students; serves San Bernardino, Inyo, Kern, Orange, Riverside & Los Angeles counties; authorized by Lucerne Valley Unified School District

IEM schools provide families with flexible, individualized educational options. Students work with California-credentialed Education Specialists to develop individualized learning plans, with home-based, community-based, and live online instruction. The schools also provide comprehensive special education services and resources to support students with disabilities and their individualized educational needs.

Where Parents Choose and Students Succeed.

What the Board governs. The IEM Board of Directors is the governing board of Innovative Education Management. Board members provide governance and fiduciary oversight of IEM, including organizational strategy, financial stewardship, executive oversight, regulatory compliance, and IEMs support and oversight of its charter school programs.

IEM is seeking two new members of its Board of Directors, expanding the Board from three members to five. We are looking for individuals who understand and support IEMs mission and want to help guide its continued success and future direction.

The expansion is intended to strengthen governance capacity, broaden independent expertise, and support the organization through several significant initiatives.

We are looking for Board members who can help set organizational direction, ask thoughtful and sometimes difficult questions, evaluate results, support organizational leadership, and protect IEMs mission and long-term interests.

Board members are appointed by the Board of Directors in accordance with IEMs bylaws and are expected to make an ongoing commitment to Board service. Additional information regarding terms of service will be provided during the selection process.

• Charter renewal. Board members will serve during an important period of charter renewal activity for IEMs three charter schools. Supporting effective governance and organizational readiness throughout the renewal process will be a significant area of Board focus.
• Growth. Combined enrollment has grown roughly 20% over the past two years, to approximately 9,500 students. Sustaining that growth while maintaining program quality and compliance is a central Board concern.
• Accreditation. All three schools move to a common WASC renewal schedule beginning in 2028-29.
• Funding and compliance. Funding determination and compliance requirements applicable to nonclassroom-based charter schools.
• Governance capacity. Building the Boards committee structure, independence, and oversight practices to match the scale of a three-school organization.
• Annual audit, internal control, and regulatory compliance oversight.

Candidates are not expected to have experience in every area below. IEM is most interested in individuals whose experience, perspective, and independent judgment complement the current Boards strengths.

Relevant areas of experience may include:

• Finance, accounting, audit, or governmental fund accounting
• Marketing, communications, or organizational positioning
• Strategic planning or organizational growth
• Law, governance, or regulatory compliance
• Education, independent study, or public charter schools
• Business or organization