Chief Schools Officer - Chicago Public Schools : Job Details

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Feb 11, 2025, 8:06:26 AM

Central-42 West Madison Street (Network Support)

CPS Non-Union Job Grade: S14

Position Type: Non-Union Position

Exempt

JOB DESCRIPTION

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 developed the five-year strategic plan, Success 2029: Together We Rise, setting the goals and outlining the strategies to ensure a rigorous, joyful, and equitable experience for every student.

District-run CPS schools are organized into 18 networks. The Office of Network Support provides strategic direction, leadership development, and administrative support to the schools within each network while also driving critical support that help boost student learning and well-being.

Job Summary

Under the direction of the Chief Education Officer, the Chief Schools Officer will lead the Office of Network Support for Chicago Public Schools. This position is responsible for principal quality and school performance, primarily through the direct management of CPS' 17 regional Network Chiefs, the Independent Schools Network, and the Options Schools Network. The Network Chiefs directly supervise Principals, who are responsible for the leadership development and support for principals that leads to high-quality teaching and learning in every classroom and for student achievement in their schools.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and effectively execute an implementation plan that advances the District's five-year vision, supports a seamless PreK-12 learning community and allows for transparent accountability towards CPS' student outcome goals;
• Actively recruit, hire, support and develop Network Chiefs and an internal team of 30+ staff;
• Cultivate a culture of high expectations with shared strategic goals around measurable and continuous improvement in principal quality, as well as around student academic achievement in all schools;
• Create, manage and sustain effective systems that enable Network Chiefs to identify, recruit, support and develop a strong pool of highly-skilled Principal candidates for schools;
• Monitor performance through data and performance management systems enabling weekly, real-time coaching conversations with Network Chiefs;
• Develop transparent, fair and effective tools for assessing Principal and Network team leadership capacity;
• Set a learning agenda for Network Chiefs based on regular assessment of chief and team capacity;
• Allocate resources to enable data-informed decisions about Principal needs;
• Ensure timely and efficient communication of actionable information to stakeholders.
• Manage team administration and operations, ensuring accountability and effective stewardship of public resources;
• Develop systems for providing ad-hoc operational support to Principals and Network;
• Build effective, collaborative cross-team partnerships;
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with senior leadership team members;
• Work with the Talent team to develop internal talent benches and recruitment strategies;
• Liaise with Support Centers to monitor schools' operational performance and compliance.
• Other duties and workstreams as assigned.

Qualifications:

Education Required:

• Master's degree in Education or related field from an accredited college or university.
• Valid Professional Educator License, endorsed in General Administration issued by the Illinois State Board of Education.

Experience Required:

• Minimum of ten (10) years of leadership experience within a complex educational organization;
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience as a principal;
• Experience coaching, teaching and mentoring educators, and supporting urban youth;
• Demonstrated experience developing the capacity of school and district leaders;
• Experience working with senior leadership teams and facilitating cross-departmental collaboration.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to model and lead the team's moral imperative to work in the best interest of children;
• Ability to utilize applied instructional expertise, sound judgment, integrity, honesty and credibility;
• Demonstrate courage in making difficult decisions;
• Capable of establishing and executing against an ambitious vision;
• Effective strategic planning capabilities;
• Ability to define problems, analyze data, identify opportunities and outline valid conclusions;
• Demonstrates the capacity for adaptive leadership;
• Exemplary written and verbal communication skills;
• Strong knowledge and understanding of operations, management and organizational design in district settings;
• Ability to build collaborative relationships with a wide variety of stakeholder groups;
• Thrives in a changing environment and demonstrates a lifelong commitment to learning.

Conditions of Employment:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency: Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district.

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