GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB 

The Executive Director of Division Accountability and Strategic Initiatives orchestrates the division’s data analysis, research initiatives, implementation of assessment programs, and oversees the implementation of Roanoke City Public Schools (RCPS) strategic plan. This role is crucial in leveraging data to inform strategic decisions, enhance educational programs, and support the division’s commitment to academic excellence. The position involves coordinating state testing systems, directing the division’s approach to data and analysis, and ensuring alignment with the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA) and Virginia’s accountability framework. Serves as the primary point of contact for assessment-related communications within the division and with external agencies. This role will serve on the division leadership team. The Executive Director of Division Accountability and Strategic Initiatives reports to the Chief Academic and Accountability Officer.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS 

Guides the administration of national, state, and local assessments, ensuring effective implementation and compliance with regulatory standards.

Analyzes and interprets assessment data to highlight instructional strengths and areas for improvement, communicating findings to stakeholders to inform educational strategies.

Assists in navigating federal guidelines, ensuring the division’s testing and data practices meet required standards.

Leads the creation of a balanced assessment system that accurately reflects student mastery of content knowledge and critical skills.

Provides training and guidance on proper test administration, security, and the ethical use of assessment results to school administrators and improvement specialists.

Oversees the secure handling of testing materials, maintaining integrity and confidentiality in all testing processes.

Manages departmental staff, overseeing hiring, training, supervising, and evaluating team members to ensure a high level of competency in test administration and data analysis.

Conducts workshops and presentations on assessment data analysis and interpretation, fostering a culture of data-driven decision-making.

Works closely with the Department of Technology to ensure the availability of accurate data for continuous improvement efforts and the implementation of emerging technologies (such as Artificial Intelligence) to aid in educational practices.

Creates user-friendly reports that aid in the analysis and interpretation of assessment results for administrators and educators.

ADDITIONAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Acts as the primary liaison with the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), scoring vendors, and other divisions on all testing matters.

Oversees the continuation of online Standards of Learning (SOL) testing across all schools.

Communicates test administration guidelines and results interpretation to school leaders, specialists, and the media.

Trains administrators and specialists on test administration and security.

Guides testing specialists and oversees the ordering and budgeting for testing materials.

Ensures the security of testing materials and adherence to testing policies.

Prepares and distributes training materials for test administrations.

Addresses inquiries and provides technical support on testing to administrators and staff.

Facilitates workshops on testing systems and data interpretation for various stakeholders.

Attends state training on test administration, ensuring division compliance with testing mandates.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervises and conducts personnel administration duties for direct subordinates, evaluating, assigning special duties, monitoring attendance and travel reports, and granting leave. 

Supervisory Responsibilities: Evaluate all direct reports and other administrators as assigned. Direct Reports include the Director of Data and Analysis.

The duties of the Executive Director of Division Accountability and Strategic Initiatives performed will have been when the evaluation of this person is at standard or above on the applicable Performance Appraisal Criteria.

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

A Master’s Degree is required, with a minimum of five years of successful experience in student assessment, including test development, administration, and the analysis of results. At least five years of teaching experience and three to five years of school administration or central office experience. A postgraduate professional license endorsed in Administration and Supervision is required. Experience as a Principal is highly recommended and preferred.

Prior experience with national and state assessment systems is highly desirable.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OR STANDARDS REQUIREDTO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to operate a variety of equipment including computers, copiers, etc. Must be physically able to operate a motor vehicle. Must be able to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, and pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Light Work usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree. 

Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural or composite characteristics (whether similar or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.

Interpersonal Communication: Requires the ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving instructions, assignments or directions to subordinates or assistants.

Language Ability: Requires the ability to read a variety of correspondence, reports, forms, billing statements, etc. Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, reports, forms, evaluations, budgets, purchase orders, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style. Requires the ability to speak before groups of people with poise, voice control and confidence. 

Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; and to deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in standard English.

Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; multiply and divide; utilize decimals and percentages; and to apply the principles of descriptive statistics and statistical inference.

Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.

Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using office equipment.

Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items such as office equipment and hand tools. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

Color Discrimination: Does not require the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.

Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with emergency situations.

Physical Communication: Requires the ability to talk and hear: (Talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words. Hearing: perceiving nature of sounds by ear.) Must be able to communicate via telephone.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Comprehensive understanding of national, state, and local assessment systems, including ESSA and Virginia’s accountability system.

Expertise in both summative and formative assessments, with the ability to guide the appropriate use of data for educational improvement.

Advanced proficiency in data analysis software and applications, capable of generating insightful reports and presentations.

Excellent communication skills, with the ability to establish effective relationships across all levels of the school division and with external partners.

DISCLAIMER 

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees for this job.