Department

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Division

Education Administration

Salary

$150,011.00 - $197,209.00

Job Profile

JC-08045910-99 - Chief (Non-Union Executive Branch)

Scheduled Work Days & Work Hours

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

Knowledge of principles and strategies for planning and improving educational results for students in low-performing schools.

Knowledge of systems of professional development, educational technology, school district and school operations, strategic planning, effective family and community involvement strategies, and school/business partnerships.

Knowledge of applicable Federal and State laws and regulations including Title III, and IDEA.

Knowledge of the needs and rights of differently abled students and multilingual learners.

Familiarity with federal and foundation grant management, including reporting requirements and fiscal management

Knowledge of budgeting and funding opportunities.

Skilled in working with diverse populations.

Knowledge of rules and regulations of federal and state education laws, with a demonstrated ability to understand and interpret written procedures, policies, and laws with a focus on achieving results.

Knowledge of grant processes and procedures.

Skilled in conducting, reading, and summarizing complex studies, analyzing and evaluating data, and preparing reports.

Skilled in coordinating and facilitating collaboration on a wide range of topics and issues with diverse groups of people, including staff, educators, and stakeholder groups.

Strong writing and speaking skills, including the use of technology to enhance external stakeholder engagement.

Skilled in designing and delivering professional development opportunities.

Skilled in developing policies.

Skilled in communicating and interpersonal exchanges as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

EDUCATION: Master’s Degree in Education, Educational Leadership, Public Administration, Special Education, TESOL, Language Acquisition, Policy, or a related field.

Doctorate (Ed.D. or Ph.D.) preferred.

EXPERIENCE: Five years of leadership/management experience in education at the local or state level.

OR: Any combination of education and experience that shall be substantially equivalent to the above.

Must have own transportation and be available evenings and occasionally on weekends.

Reasonable accommodations can be made for individuals with a disability.

To move forward with the review process, please submit your most current resume along with a cover letter outlining your qualifications, relevant experience, and interest in the role.

Job Requisition Number

JR103725 Chief for Academic Support, Improvement, and Special Populations (Open)

Pay Grade

N00R21 A

Classification

Chief

Class Definition

TITLE: Chief for Academic Support, Improvement, and Special Populations

ORGANIZATIONAL CENTER: This position reports to the Deputy Commissioner.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES: The Chief for Academic Support, Improvement, and Special Populations serves as a senior executive leader responsible for advancing the agency's strategic vision through the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of statewide education improvement initiatives. The incumbent leads agency-wide strategic planning, accountability alignment, continuous improvement systems, and organizational effectiveness efforts to improve student outcomes and strengthen district and school performance.

The Chief for Academic Support, Improvement, and Special Populations is also responsible for leading, managing, and providing technical assistance to district and school personnel and parents to ensure that all children -- especially those with disabilities and, learning English as a second language -- are instructed by well-prepared teachers using proven methods. Incumbent is responsible for leading the state initiative on achievement gap closure using all tools at his or her disposal including federal funding, state policy and regulations, and community and parent partnerships. Incumbent is responsible for ensuring state compliance with all federal and state regulations to include civil rights requirements associated with Title III, and IDEA.

The Chief for Academic Support, Improvement, and Special Populations collaborates across agency divisions, local education agencies (LEAs), state partners, and external stakeholders to align policies, programs, resources, and data systems with strategic priorities. This position provides executive leadership for statewide improvement planning, implementation science and evidence-based decision-making while ensuring compliance with state and federal accountability requirements. Incumbent also serves as a member of the Commissioner’s senior leadership team.

LEADERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND COLLABORATION: The functions of leadership, management and collaboration are to be integrated so as to achieve both product and process objectives. Teamwork and mutually supportive methods are ascribed as successful outcomes and are necessary for providing high-quality service and achieving high standards of performance. Work must be conducted in ways that include and involve those who have a stake in the outcome and must ensure that issues related to equity and special needs are addressed in a comprehensive fashion. Must work in collaboration with other team members to support the Department’s strategic plan’s priorities, including extensive work with cross-functional teams and with community stakeholders. The context for this work must be strong advocacy for students and schools and a positive commitment to the role of the Department of Education as a central state level advocate.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Works in cooperation with colleagues with considerable latitude for the exercise of initiative and independent judgment; work is reviewed upon completion of results obtained and on collaborative process used in achieving results. The Chief for Academic Support, Improvement, and Special Populations is subject to an annual performance assessment.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED: Facilitates, directs, coordinates and assesses the work of professional, technical, and support staff. Work is reviewed in process, as necessary, and upon completion for achievement of desired results and on collaborative processes used in achieving results.

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Ensure the integration of all Department efforts to enhance the ability of schools and local education agencies to improve teaching and learning, including broad policies and strategic direction, specific statewide programs and initiatives, and efforts to improve performance in individual schools, especially chronically under-performing schools.

Lead initiatives that collect and examine data relative to existing policies and procedures and oversee the implementation and evaluation of federal and state policies and procedures to determine their effectiveness and/or applicability.

Oversee the development and implementation of RIDE’s school improvement process for low-performing schools and districts, including, but not limited to, needs assessment, school improvement plan, monitoring and evaluation protocols, and funding competitive and formulaic school improvement applications.

Facilitate collaboration with leadership and staff across RIDE to ensure aligned support is provided to schools and districts based on their specific educational challenges.

Organizes and implements district capacity-building efforts for districts to engage in local school improvement efforts, including the use of data to develop, implement, and monitor strategic plans to improve student achievement and performance.

Supports schools and districts in their use of data to inform their strategic and investment decisions, including aligning the use of federal funds to evidence-based school improvement strategies.

Develops, reviews, and recommends budgets/policies and regulatory guidance documents to ensure compliance with applicable laws, rules, and/or regulations.

Ensures ongoing data collection and policy analysis to inform the continuous improvement of school improvement strategies at the school, district, and statewide level.

Engages in meetings with school and school system leaders regarding the school planning and improvement process.

Engages and supports community stakeholders to be active members of the school planning and improvement process.

Seeks opportunities to write state, federal and privately funded grants. Represents RIDE at a variety of meetings, conferences, and public gatherings.

Performs related work as assigned.

Supplemental Information

The Rhode Island Department of Education seeks a dynamic leader to advance the agency's strategic vision through the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of statewide education improvement initiatives. The ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional communication skills and experience in leadership, management and collaboration. Teamwork and mutually supportive methods are ascribed as successful outcomes and are necessary for providing high-quality service and achieving high standards of performance.

Benefits

For information regarding the benefits available to State of Rhode Island employees, please visit the Office of Employee Benefits' website at http://www.employeebenefits.ri.gov/.
 

Also, be advised that a new provision in RI General Law 35-6-1 was enacted requiring direct deposit for all employees. Specific to new hires, the law requires that all employees hired after September 30, 2014 participate in direct deposit. Accordingly, any employee hired after this date will be required to participate in the direct deposit system. At the time the employee is hired, the employee shall identify a financial institution that will serve as a personal depository agency for the employee.