ED, Humanities

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 320,000 students in 500+ schools and employing over 44,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity. Six core values are embedded within these commitments – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.

Located within the Office of Teaching & Learning (T&L), the Department of Humanities works to ensure that every Chicago Public Schools student receives a high-quality education in language arts (including English language arts and Spanish language arts) and social science. This includes creating a vision and strategy for this work, partnering on curriculum development and professional learning, and providing coaching support for implementation.

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Deputy Chief of Teaching & Learning, Curriculum & Assessment, The Executive Director of Humanities will collaborate with multiple stakeholders and offices in executing the vision of the Department of Humanities and will lead a team of direct reporting leaders responsible for the Departments of Literacy and Social Science. This is a full-time, exempt position that will be paid for time worked on a salary basis.

The Executive Director of Humanities will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

Set the vision, strategic priorities, and objectives for the Department of Humanities that drive coherence and convergence across content areas and align with the district’s vision including strategic planning, progress monitoring, budgeting, reporting, contract management, communications, and marketing

Supervise, develop, and manage the performance of a high-functioning, collaborative team in meeting deadlines, individual and programmatic goals; provide leadership, professional development, and effective coaching

Ensure alignment between the Department of Humanities and District-wide initiatives by working collaboratively with Central Office departments, Networks and Schools to identify strategic academic and operational priorities and create/execute long and short-term project plans to meet related objectives.

Participate in cross-departmental collaboration regarding the development and implementation of curriculum materials, professional learning, and instructional tools to strengthen a multi-tiered system of supports and improve grade-level instruction, effective interventions and supports to promote student success

Analyze and report on departmental key performance indicators, practice data and student academic data; utilize this data to inform strategic decisions, driving improvement and student success

Facilitate current external partnerships and establish new partnerships for collaboration on the development and implementation of standards-aligned Humanities education and programming

Develop and manage the Department of Humanities budget for Central Office and school-based staff; ensure that budgetary and resource considerations inherent in Department priorities are aligned, effective, efficient, and grounded in equity

Oversee and direct the department’s procurement and payroll processes, as well as grant administration (ex: grant budgets, deliverables, data collection and reporting)

Serve as an active member of the Teaching & Learning leadership team, engaging in efforts such as strategy setting, performance management, and team building; Act as the district’s representative and subject matter expert for Humanities including coordination of media requests and information

Other duties and workstreams as assigned

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Executive Director of Humanities must possess the following qualifications:

Education Required:

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study from an accredited college or university, required

Master’s or other advanced degree, preferred

Valid teaching certificate issued by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) with appropriate content and grade level endorsement(s) required

Principal/administrator endorsement, preferred

Experience Required:

Minimum of eight (8) years of relevant professional leadership experience in the education field, including the following, is required:

Minimum of five (5) years of experience in a supervisory role leading a team of direct reports

Minimum of five (5) years working with adult learners, including creating, organizing, and facilitating professional learning experiences to meet the needs of participants

Minimum of three (3) years of classroom teaching experience

Experience as an instructional leader or equivalent educational leadership role involving the successful implementation of strategies to improve student outcomes

Experience with strategic planning and adult learning to shape cross-content, school-wide and/or district-wide professional learning strategies

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Expertise in planning, designing, facilitating, and evaluating professional learning

Deep knowledge/understanding of the CPS Instructional Core Vision and commitment to ensuring that all students have access to grade-level, standards-aligned learning opportunities

Strong leadership and team building skills, e.g. ability to develop high-performing teams united around a clear vision for serving schools and achieving student success

Effective strategic planning capabilities, including the ability to establish and articulate a vision and goals, set high standards, and effectively guide individuals and teams in the realization of expectations

Excellent leadership development and instructional leadership skills; capable of coaching directors and managers toward excellence, building the capacity of other teams and developing meaningful and high-impact professional communities for teachers and school leaders

High levels of integrity, honesty, credibility, and the ability to make difficult yet necessary decisions

Exceptional organizational skills; ability to effectively manage several work streams simultaneously

Capable of building and sustaining positive, productive relationships with colleagues and stakeholders

Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; comfortable collaborating and communicating across a diverse range of audiences, including network teams, principals, teachers, and support staff

Ability to build consensus and leverage expertise with educators across the district

Capable of building and maintaining expertise in current research, practices, and innovation in the field related to the departments in Humanities

Strong knowledge of operations budget/finance, management and organizational development

Excellent technology skills (Google Suite)

Benefits:

Health & Wellness: Your Care, Your Choice

CPS is committed to providing comprehensive health coverage to our employees and their eligible dependents. You'll have access to a variety of choices to best fit your needs:

Medical Plan Options

Pharmacy

Dental

Vision

Behavioral Health & EAP

Employee Wellness Program

Financial Security: Planning for Today and Tomorrow

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