Director, SE/Metro Regional Center of Excellence
Posted: Continuous
2012-08-09
Available: September 2012
Closes: 08/30/2012
Southeast Service Cooperative
Special Note: The position of SSC Regional Center of
Excellence has been opened due to the incumbent's need to leave the position
and focus time and energy on family needs.
SSC and the Center Team appreciate the current Director's significant contributions
and support during the development and implementation of the Center. The current Director may be able to provide
some training and orientation to the new Director to assist with the
transition. Suzanne Riley, SSC Executive Director
JOB SUMMARY --
This
position is full-time and involves providing direction and oversight of
Regional Center of Excellence activities within the purview of the goals and
guidelines established by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). The Director will work with the MDE Director
of School Support, the MDE Regional Centers Program Coordinator, and other
Regional Center Directors to develop and implement the Center of Excellence
model for the statewide system of support.
The Director will collaborate with the Southeast Service Cooperative Executive
Director to manage staff of the SSC Regional Center of Excellence, which will
serve identified schools in the 11
southeast counties and seven Twin Cities/Metro counties of Minnesota.
The
Regional Center Director position and other team positions are funded by annual
federal grant contracts under Title I funding.
Continued employment is contingent upon award and period of grant
contract.
The
primary goal of the Minnesota School Improvement and Support System is to focus
schools and districts on closing the persistent achievement gap between high
and low performing children, especially the achievement gap between minority
and nonminority students and between disadvantaged and their more advantaged
peers. An emphasis on leadership and professional development at all levels
creates and maintains an environment that supports powerful learning and high
expectations for all learners. Guiding principles for all programmatic school
improvement programming include data driven decision making,
culturally-relevant pedagogy, and evidence-based practices. The Center structure design may include the
following elements:
Technical Assistance: Coordinated capacity building and intensive on-site assistance with job embedded professional development
- MDE Director of School Support and Regional Center Directors
- MDE Implementation Team Specialists
- Specialist Teams - tailored to each site, may include specialists in math, reading, ELL, Special ed, instructional leadership, and charter school design, instruction, and leadership.
Guidance and Capacity Building in These Areas:
- Data analysis and planning
- Research based practice (exploration, selection and implementation)
- Principal instructional leadership development
- Team building and professional learning community cultivation
- Curriculum analysis and development
- Formative and summative assessment design.
- Research, planning, and delivery of parent engagement training and development.
Methods:
- Training in assessed need areas of content and instructional practice.
- Technical Assistance by Specialist Teams: Intensive coaching and modeling for principal and each educator working with identified sub-groups and content areas.
- Teaming within a school site.
- Teaming across sites/districts for isolated educators.
The role of the Minnesota Regional Center of Excellence Director will include the following responsibilities:
- Report directly to the Director of School Support at the MN Department of Education.
- Meet weekly with MDE staff for program planning.
- Travel as needed to perform the duties of the position.
- Collaborate with MDE staff to plan, implement and evaluate school improvement programming.
- Participate in MDE coordinated training of Center staff.
- Collaborate with the SSC Executive Director in Center staff performance management.
- Hold bi-weekly meetings of all Regional Center staff on program planning.
- Provide timely reporting of all required grant and agency documentation.
- Exhibit fiscal responsibility within the goals, guidelines and expectations of the Department of Education.
- Assist in the evaluation of the grant activities.
CENTER STAFFING. It is anticipated that the Regional Center of Excellence will be staffed by the following specialist positions, to be recruited, selected, and hired by the Center Director and SSC Executive Director with MDE approval:
- Implementation/Leadership Development Specialist
- Literacy/Reading Specialist
- Mathematics Specialist
- English Language Learner Specialist
- Special Education Specialist
- Charter School Specialist
Qualifications and Skills required for this position:
This position requires a combination of education and career experience equivalent to a minimum of ten years directly relating to school improvement processes and job embedded professional development design and coordination. Requires extensive knowledge about public school instruction and operations, with the following specific knowledge and experience:
- Experienced and highly qualified educator or administrators. (building or district leadership experience preferred)
- Knowledge of scientifically-based research in relationship to the science of implementation.
- Ability to assist schools in overcoming challenges or barriers to learning and leverage regional resources to improve student achievement
- Experience and knowledge in implementing a wide variety of school reform initiatives and practices to improve teaching and learning
- Experience in collaboration with schools, building and district leadership to implement school improvement processes
- Experienced in designing, implementing, and monitoring meaningful and realistic school improvement plans
Qualities the Center of Excellence Director should possess:
Strategic leadership: Knowledge and skills to creatively solve problems, initiate solutions, monitor and assess outcomes and are able to address challenges from a systems perspective.
Instructional Leadership: Extensive experience in leading, supervising, and evaluating instruction. Candidates should have a proven track record as an instructional leader and have a deep understanding of the pedagogical processes that address a wide range of student learning styles and needs.
Managerial Leadership: Experienced in managing personnel, program planning, fiscal management, and resource development. Candidates should possess evidence of setting expectations and holding others accountable for their performance.
Communication Leadership: Extensive array of communication tools including strong verbal and written skills, ability to work in large and small groups, and be able to communicate the goals and vision of the Department of Education and Regional Center to all stakeholders.
Ethical and Professional Leadership: Highest level of professional and ethical integrity in all aspects of their work with respect for all stakeholders in carrying out the duties of the position.
Other needed skills: Technology literacy and computer experience with word processing and other software.
Physical requirements: Able to lift and carry light loads (up to approximately 20 lbs); able to sit for extended period of time and work at a computer and/or desk. Good driving record and ability to travel to meetings, mostly across southeast Minnesota and the Twin Cities/Metro area.
REPORTS TO: MDE Director of School Support and SSC Executive Director
COMPENSATION: Commensurate with industry standards and local market, based primarily on experience and training and within Southeast Service Cooperative wage and benefit guidelines. Details provided if interviewed.
Southeast Service Cooperative is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Learn about SSC at www.ssc.coop
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