Manager, Instructional Supports - Elementary Schools

---

Job description

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is the third-largest school district in the United States, serving over 340,000 students in more than 600 schools and employing nearly 40,000 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. To fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity. The district's six core principles are within these commitments - student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.

Chicago Public Schools' Office of Early College and Career Education (ECCE) is CPS's hub for career-connected education. It comprises Career and Technical Education (CTE), dual credit and dual enrollment, Early College STEM Schools (ECSS), and, as of January 2021, Computer Science. ECCE prepares students for success in postsecondary education and careers by providing them with equitable opportunities to develop specific academic, technical, and social-emotional skills. ECCE programs promote innovation, leadership, and lifelong learning by helping students identify their interests, hone critical skills, engage in authentic workplace experiences, and incorporate all of these into personalized post-secondary plans aligned to careers of interest.

Position Summary

Develop, innovate, and oversee the implementation and management of K-8 Computer Science elementary programs and courses. This position includes working with the ECCE Curriculum, Instruction & Work-based Learning Director to assess labor market and student demand to determine industry priorities, selection, and development of new CS programs, evaluation of current programs. This position is tasked with leading a team of Instructional Support Specialists to ensure that CS students, teachers, administrators are supported with computer science curriculum, pedagogical best practices, and meaningful and relevant computer science opportunities. Finally, the Manager, Instructional Supports of CS will create, monitor, evaluate and strategically improve the collaboration of the aforementioned support provided.

Key Responsibilities

* Develop short-term and long-term strategic vision and annual implementation plans to build strong CS programs in elementary schools
* Manage curriculum creation and revision, teacher support, and ES CS professional development
* Contribute to annual CS program portfolio development decisions with CS Leadership and CPS Facilities, including program expansion and closure recommendations based on a broad range of decision criteria
* Conduct regular program evaluation to drive program and student improvement
* Support the design and implementation of industry- and post-secondary-validated curriculum and assessments for CS, incorporating components such as project-based learning, work experience, citywide competitions, and integration with core academics and 21st-century employability skills
* Coordinate and lead the CS team to oversee a broad range of professional development for CPS elementary school teachers in computer science, offering professional development throughout the school year, ensuring that CS school staff are up-to-date on industry and instructional best practices
* Partner with CPS Business Operations and EFE Systems teams to ensure equipment and materials are current and in working order as well as purchase requisitions are approved based on dictates of curriculum. Support new CS program set up at schools by working in conjunction with Business Operations, Strategy & Performance, EFE Systems teams, and CPS Facilities
* Collaborate with Network Liaisons and other stakeholders to ensure effective outreach/student recruitment for CS program
* Collaborate with other programs and student support services to integrate CS and effectively serve the needs of the whole student (e.g., Counseling, College & Career Coaching, Credit Recovery, etc.); Collaborate with principals and network officers to drive program/student success
* Maintain ongoing partnership with ISBE CS departments to advocate for resources needed and ensure ongoing alignment with state-level efforts
* Project and programmatic planning including coordinating appropriate student transportation, overseeing the travel approval process for both students, CS teachers, and CS team members in coordination with CS Business Operations, EFE Systems, and CTE Curriculum Instruction & Work-based Learning Coordinator, as well as adhering to grant/CPS policies and guidelines
* Supervise and develop CTE team oversight and ongoing coaching to ensure achievement of performance and development goals

Qualifications & Skills:

* Project planning capabilities, including the ability to establish long-term vision and goals, and the ability to align and manage activities toward execution of identified goals
* Strong team-building skills, i.e., ability to develop high-performing teams united around a clear vision for serving schools and achieving student success
* Self-starter with the ability to conduct multiple projects concurrently, both independently and as a member of a collaborative team
* Ability to build trusting relationships and function effectively at the school level, central office level, and with external partners in business, postsecondary, and government
* Ability to define problems, analyze data, and outline valid conclusions and action steps
* Willingness to learn and adapt in the midst of new and shifting priorities with a 'can-do,' solutions-oriented approach to problem-solving
* Strong written, verbal, organizational, and technology skills
* Possess a track record of success as demonstrated by superior academic and professional achievement
* Knowledge of CTE including employment trends and/or educational best practices preferred
* Strong familiarity of computer science, teaching, and/or administration preferred

Type of Education Required:

● Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in education, social sciences, business, public policy, or related field

● Master's degree preferred

Type of Experience and Number of Years:

● Five or more years of related professional experience. Two or more years of direct supervisory experience

● Experience in a large organization, driving complex projects requiring significant cross-functional collaboration preferred

● Background in developing and implementing outcomes-based programs for urban students preferred

● Background in Career and Technical Education (CTE), teaching, and/or administrative preferred

Other:

● Must have access to reliable transportation to aid in site visits

'276711