DATE OF OPENING: Friday, April 10, 2020
APPLICATIONS DUE: Sunday, May 3, 2020
EMPLOYMENT BEGINS: Wednesday, July 1, 2020
REGIONAL CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE OVERVIEW: the Regional Centers of Excellence (RCEs), in partnership with districts, schools and charters, focus school improvement and turnaround efforts on equity and underserved student groups so that schools can meet the needs of each student, and ensure that each student benefits from a high-quality school. The Southeast/Metro Regional Center of Excellence is located at the Southeast Service Cooperative and is one of six regional centers that works in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Education to support districts or charters with schools identified for Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI) or Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) under the North Star Accountability system. Principal Leadership Support, School Climate, and support for systems that serve American Indian students.
POSITION PURPOSE: As a team leader, the Center Director understands the complex nature of school improvement and possesses experience in leading and facilitating systems change. The Center Director is deeply committed to leading for educational equity–the condition of justice, fairness, and inclusion in our systems of education–so that all students have access to resources and the opportunities to learn and develop to their fullest potentials.
The Center Director plays an integral role in leading and supervising the regional center team to build their capacity to support systems improvement utilizing effective adult learning and feedback practices. The Center Director is responsible for regional project management and organization and works in collaboration with the MDE Director of School Support, the RCE Program Manager, other RCE staff, and service cooperative partners to ensure statewide continuity and implementation of the RCE work plan. Requires flexibility in work schedule and location. Frequent travel is required.
REGIONAL CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE DIRECTOR COMPETENCIES:
Leadership
- Establish, promote, and maintain a professional environment and culture with a regional team focused on ensuring educational equity.
- Support RCE Theory of Action, grant aims, and implementation of work plan.
- Collaborate with other leadership to design and implement the state school support and improvement model that complies with federal and state requirements.
- Model appropriate personal, professional, and ethical behavior.
Staff Development and Support
- Implement a cohesive approach to recruitment, placement, induction, and retention of staff with specific practices designed to hire staff of color.
- Provide effective and timely supervision and evaluation of staff through ongoing feedback and support to build capacity based upon identified needs.
- Facilitate weekly team regional meetings and professional development.
- Provide guidance and direction to individuals and the team to build their capacity to guide continuous improvement.
- Expand knowledge and skills to advocate for adaptive and technical change.
- Support staff in ensuring equitable learning conditions and addressing resource inequities in schools and districts.
Communication, Collaboration, Capacity Building
- Communicate effectively and build collaborative relationships with all levels of district, school, regional and MDE staff, service cooperative partners, other RCE partners and the public.
- Actively participate in regularly scheduled Center Director meetings and other cross-regional or agency partnership meetings.
- Facilitate and lead RCE project teams and other groups as assigned.
- Maintain open communication links with participating schools and districts.
Administration
- Administer and oversee implementation and monitoring of program work plan, budget and other required documentation related to projects and program evaluation.
- Coordinate delivery of regional services to schools and districts aligned to the statewide work plan and aims.
- Develop, implement, monitor and revise service model and work plan for the RCEs.
- Differentiate and prioritize technical assistance for schools and districts.
- Make appropriate and effective use of time, technology, and resources.
- Complete all operational reports within a timely manner.
- Be flexible in a variety of working environments in schools, virtual or home office settings.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Travel to perform the duties of the job (travel costs are reimbursed).
- Report to Service Cooperative Executive Director or designee.
RCE CORE COMPETENCIES: All RCE staff demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and willingness.
Equity
- Engage educators in conversations and action planning to ensure high levels of learning for all students and staff without exception.
- Identify and eliminate structural and institutional barriers to educational opportunities resulting in improved conditions for teaching and learning.
Effective Instruction
- Support systems and educators in implementing and sustaining standards-based curriculum, instruction, assessment, and multi-tiered systems of support.
- Support systems and educators in implementing and sustaining highly effective Professional Learning Communities.
Coaching
- Maintain a professional coaching relationship with educators.
- Engage in focused conversations with district and school leaders to build capacity for continuous improvement that embeds timely and meaningful stakeholder engagement.
Facilitation
- Build the capacity of leadership teams to function effectively in the continuous improvement process.
- Design and provide professional development activities.
Evidence/Data
- Use evidence and data to support the continuous improvement process and ensure equitable distribution of resources, including the use of MDE secure reports, multiple types of education data, and comprehensive needs assessment.
Active Implementation
- Assist systems and educators in identifying and implementing evidence based practices using the Active Implementation Framework.