Director of Maintenance and Operations Academy

Director of Maintenance and Operations Academy

2026 Registration is Now Open!

The classes will be held at Orange Unified School District and via Zoom

Class Schedule for 2026

Friday 8 AM to 4 PM & Saturday 8 AM to Noon

• January 23rd & 24th
• February 6th & 7th
• March 6th & 7th
• April 3rd & 4th
• May 8th & 9th
• September 18th & 19th
• October 16th & 17th
• November 13th & 14th

COURSE DESCRIPTION

A complete curriculum called the Director of Maintenance and Operations Academy has been developed to give seasoned maintenance and operations directors new skills or improve their current ones. This 8-month academy, developed by experienced school district maintenance and operations supervisors, school administrators, and other school leaders, consists of a broad base of education and training in the classroom setting, online with both synchronous and asynchronous instruction, and by practical application. The academy will provide participants the chance to broaden their skill set in a tough yet supportive setting that emphasizes industry best practices. Specialized assignments and class projects are completed both alone and in small groups. Participants who finish the course satisfactorily will be awarded a TSS Director of Maintenance and Operations Certificate.

Topics Covered During Academy

• The Importance of School Maintenance
• Preventative and Deferred Maintenance
• Maintenance Standards, Quality Assurance
• Master Facility Planning
• Opening and Closing of Schools
• Transportation
• Photovoltaic Systems
• Integrated Pest Management
• Hazardous Materials and Toxins
• Construction Finance and Management
• Budget and Finance
• Personnel Administration and Human Resources
• Supervision
• Purchasing
• Community, District Relations, and Customer Service
• Public Speaking and Board Presentations
• Risk Management
• Leadership
• Operations
• Food Service
• Business Writing and Communications
• Technology and Information Systems

BASIC STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

The participants will be able to:

1. Acknowledge how and why maintaining a good school is one of the most crucial factors in ensuring student success.
2. Become knowledgeable and develop the skills necessary to be a successful maintenance and operations director.
3. Identify best practices for school districts in areas such as construction management, financial management, budgeting, and other crucial ones for a successful maintenance and operations director.
4. Demonstrate knowledge and skills needed to be an effective leader and supervisor for a school district.
5. Build a strong relationship with district stakeholders and be mindful of and adept at implementing techniques to foster positive relationships across districts and the community.
6. Enhance each director of maintenance’s skill set in areas where they are lacking, while enhancing their strengths.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1. Attendance and Participation –Participants are expected to attend and contribute to all sessions and must attend all classes in order to receive the certificate. If an emergency arises, one session may be made-up by writing an academic paper pre-approved by the program’s instructor or other agreed make-up assignments.
2. Group Projects – The students will take part in a variety of group projects in class. Students may be required to take on many tasks during these group projects, such as facilitator, scribe, group leader, etc.
3. Presentation – Participants are required to present a 45-minute PowerPoint presentation. One Topic will be chosen by the student and another by the instructor.  Student-chosen presentation topics must also be approved by the instructor.
4. Practicum/Project – Participants will select an appropriate practicum which will be due by the end of the course. The practicum can be a variety of activities, including taking on a needed District project or a specific interview with an experienced M&O director, architect, construction manager, etc.  The practicum topic/project must be agreed to by the instructor.
5. Other Assignments – Other assignments will be given on a variety of topics with the goal of honing the skills of the class participant.
6. Assessments – To gauge learning, evaluations will be conducted on a regular basis. A final test marks the end of the academy and passing it is a requirement for graduation.