Duties
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Instructional Vision and District Leadership
- Advise the Superintendent related to teaching, learning, curriculum, assessment, professional development, and academic improvement.
- Translate the District’s mission, strategic priorities, and Board goals into a clear, coherent instructional vision and actionable multiyear plans.
- Serve as an active member of the Superintendent’s Cabinet and contribute to Districtwide planning, decision-making, communication, and problem-solving.
- Build shared ownership of instructional priorities by engaging administrators, educators, staff, families, and community partners.
- Monitor educational research, emerging practices, legislation, and state and federal requirements; recommend responsible changes that support student learning.
- Serve as a member of the D181 Foundation, attend meetings and events.
Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
- Lead the design, review, adoption, implementation, and evaluation of a guaranteed and viable PreK–8 curriculum aligned with Illinois Learning Standards and District expectations.
- Ensure vertical and horizontal curriculum articulation across grade levels, schools, content areas, and student transitions.
- Establish clear expectations for high-quality, evidence-based instruction that promotes critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, and student agency.
- Oversee a balanced assessment system that includes classroom, common, diagnostic, interim, and state measures used appropriately to improve teaching and learning.
- Guide the review, selection, implementation, and evaluation of instructional materials, digital resources, programs, and educational technology in partnership with relevant departments.
- Coordinate academic programming for advanced learning, intervention, multilingual learners, and early childhood in collaboration with the administrators responsible for those areas.
- Ensure that curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional learning reflect high expectations and meaningful access for every student.
- Identify and address opportunity or achievement gaps through responsive programming, resource allocation, and progress monitoring.
- Collaborate with Student Services and building teams to support differentiated instruction, intervention systems, and compliance with student plans.
Data-Informed Continuous Improvement
- Establish systems and routines for analyzing multiple measures of student learning, opportunity, engagement, and program effectiveness.
- Support principals and instructional teams in identifying strengths, determining root causes, setting measurable goals, implementing strategies, and monitoring impact.
- Evaluate instructional initiatives and recommend whether programs should be sustained, revised, expanded, or discontinued.
- Prepare clear reports and presentations for the Superintendent, Board of Education, staff, and community regarding student learning and District improvement efforts.
Professional Learning and Leadership Development
- Develop and oversee a comprehensive professional learning system aligned with District goals, educator needs, student outcomes, and adult-learning principles.
- Provide coaching, guidance, and professional learning to principals, assistant principals, instructional coaches, teacher leaders, and other staff.
- Partner with Human Resources and building administrators to strengthen recruitment, onboarding, mentoring, evaluation, retention, and leadership-pipeline efforts connected to instructional excellence.
- Cultivate professional learning communities that use collaboration, inquiry, evidence, and reflection to improve practice.
- Promote innovation while ensuring that new practices are purposeful, well-supported, fiscally responsible, and evaluated for impact.
Organizational and Fiscal Management
- Develop, administer, and monitor Teaching and Learning budgets; align expenditures with strategic priorities and evaluate the return on instructional investments.
- Coordinate District committees, curriculum teams, adoption processes, calendars, and implementation timelines.
- Pursue grants, partnerships, and other resources that advance District priorities when appropriate.
- Maintain accurate records and ensure that assigned programs comply with Board policy, collective bargaining agreements, and applicable laws and regulations.
Communication and Community Engagement
- Communicate complex instructional topics in a clear, accurate, and accessible manner to varied audiences.
- Develop meaningful structures for gathering and responding to feedback from students, educators, families, administrators, and community members.
- Represent the District professionally at Board meetings, Academic Success Committee meetings, community events, regional meetings, and state or national professional activities.
Additional Responsibilities
- Demonstrate the highest standards of integrity, confidentiality, professional judgment, and ethical conduct.
- Participate in emergency response, crisis leadership, and District operations as assigned.
- Perform other duties consistent with the position and as assigned by the Superintendent.
Qualifications
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
- Deep knowledge of curriculum design, instructional practice, assessment literacy, adult learning, and continuous improvement.
- Knowledge of Illinois Learning Standards, assessment and accountability systems, effective PreK–8 instructional practices, and applicable state and federal requirements.
- Ability to develop a compelling vision, convert strategy into action, and sustain implementation across multiple schools.
- Exceptional interpersonal, facilitation, written communication, public speaking, and conflict-resolution skills.
- Ability to build trust, lead through influence, develop others, and work effectively with individuals holding varied perspectives.
- Strong analytical judgment and the ability to synthesize research, performance data, stakeholder input, operational constraints, and financial considerations.
- Ability to prioritize competing demands, manage complex projects, meet deadlines, and maintain attention to detail.
- Proficiency with contemporary instructional technology, productivity tools, data systems, and responsible uses of emerging technologies.
EDUCATION, CREDENTIALING and/or EXPERIENCE:
Education: Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, Curriculum and Instruction, and/or a closely related field from an accredited institution.
Credentials: Valid Illinois Professional Educator License with Principal or General Administrator endorsement
Experience:
- Five years of successful classroom experience
- Five years of experience as an administrator; building principal experience highly preferred
- Demonstrated record of improving instructional practice and student outcomes through collaborative leadership.
Salary/Benefits
Salary: $170,000 - $195,000; BOE paid TRS
Benefits: 94% BOE paid health insurance