Duties
Reports To: Assistant Regional Superintendent
Summary of Primary Job Functions:
A School Improvement Director (or Coordinator) leads district-wide academic strategies, data analysis, and turnaround initiatives to boost student achievement and ensure compliance with state and federal education standards.
Primary Purpose
School Improvement Planning:
Provide strategic leadership and direct support to schools—particularly those identified for targeted or comprehensive support—by facilitating the alignment of curriculum, analyzation of data-driven practices, and instructional frameworks and the development of comprehensive school improvement plans.
Data Analysis & Assessment: Facilitate the disaggregation and analysis of standardized and local assessment data to diagnose problems of practice and measure student growth.
Professional Development: Design and facilitate targeted professional learning sessions for school administrators, principals, and instructional staff in Developing Leadership Capacity, Researched-based School Turnaround best practices, curriculum design, implementation, and pedagogical practices
Core Responsibilities
Meet regularly with School Improvement Teams at each of the schools.
Instructional Leadership:
Facilitate the analysis and disaggregation of student performance data to identify trends, and instructional implications
Provide internal expertise and counsel on quality formative and summative local district assessments.
Facilitates leadership development and capacity-building opportunities for Principals, Assistant Principals, and other building administrators to enhance their knowledge, skills, ability to engage stakeholders, and improve outcomes for students.
Ensure alignment between school improvement plans and strategic priority areas and/or objectives.
Provides leadership in maintaining a current knowledge base in several areas: curriculum and instruction, best practices in education, strategies for school improvement, strategies for closing the achievement gaps, all applicable Federal and State regulations, and all local Board of Education policies and procedures.
Stakeholder Collaboration:
Act as a liaison between central office administration, building principals, regional service agencies, and community partners.
Other:
Perform other tasks and responsibilities assigned.
Qualifications
Qualifications & Requirements
Education:
Master’s Degree in Education, Educational Leadership, Curriculum and Instruction, or a related field.
Certification:
Valid State Professional Educator License with a General Administrative or Principal Endorsement (requirements vary by state, e.g., Illinois PEL or Texas certification).
Experience:
Typically 3 to 5+ years of successful teaching, principal, or district-level administrative experience, with a proven background in school turnaround or instructional leadership.
Skills:
Proven leadership skills to facilitate the work of teachers/administrators and work collaboratively with all stakeholder groups
Strong data literacy, change management, cross-functional leadership, and written and oral communication skills (including presentation skills)
Experience in analysis of assessment data and program evaluation
Experience with data visualization programs
Knowledge of and experience with School Improvement Planning
Knowledge of state and federal accountability systems (Targeted Improvement Plans, Comprehensive and Targeted Designations)
Familiarity with student information systems
Knowledge of state and local test administration practices
Knowledge of general education strategies such as integrated instruction, small group instruction, cooperative learning, etc.
Knowledge of assessments and college readiness expectations
Knowledge of Readiness and Supporting core content standards that drive teaching and learning
Knowledge of current research regarding the effective practices in teaching and leading school turn-around
Knowledge of formative and summative assessment practices and ways to use data to inform instruction and staff learning
Ability to maintain a commitment to objectivity and confidentiality
Ability to work with individuals of ranging abilities and skillsets in a one-on-one, small, or large group setting Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
Ability to maintain a positive, customer-friendly, and professional tone in all communication (i.e., email, written, and verbal) and to collaborate and work well with others
Ability to listen and respond clearly and appropriately to administrators, staff, community, and student concerns.
How to Apply
Please send cover letter, resume, and Madison County Application to Dr. Tricia Blackard at tcblackard@madisoncountyil.gov