TITLE: Program Manager: Educator PreparationREPORTS TO: Director of Educator PreparationSTART DATE: June 1, 2024
BACKGROUND:

The Educator Academy (The EA) is a nonprofit education organization focused on recruiting and preparing individuals to become teachers, and also supporting current teachers to stay in the classroom for the long term. We envision a world where an equitable education system is a reality. To get there, we aim to cultivate and sustain empowered educators in creating equitable classroom experiences for all students.

Founded in 2016 as Kansas City Teacher Residency (KCTR), our organization's original core focus was teacher preparation through the residency model. Over time, given the shifting dynamics and needs of education, we have expanded to offer multiple avenues for people to enter the classroom and deepened our support for those already in the classroom.

Programs:

• Teacher Residency - This program is designed for individuals with little to no teaching experience to earn teacher certification. This model allows teacher residents to learn theory and apply strategies in real time through a clinical experience. Residents gradually transition from observing and supporting their mentor teacher to lead-teaching full days of instruction by the end of the school year. After the residency year is complete, graduates commit to being a teacher of record in Kansas City for at least 3 years. Throughout the entire process, The EA provides instructional coaching to ensure they are developing into highly effective teachers. .
• Teacher Fellowship - This program is meant for educators currently teaching in an uncertified manner to earn their teacher certification. With hands-on support through coaching and professional development, this certification pathway supports keeping individuals in the classroom for the long haul.
• Mentor Teacher Program - Our mentor teacher program is meant to provide professional development for veteran teachers. Through this program, mentors are paired with pre-service teachers (residents) for an entire school year while receiving development to provide coaching to their residents. This program provides the opportunity for teachers to grow in their profession while remaining in the classroom.
• Professional Development - We provide professional development to educators at large through programs like The Summit. Our vision is that The Summit is grounded in community, connection, and content. Great things are happening in education and we want to connect educators to the resources and community they need to be effective in the classroom. This educator conference in Kansas City is meant to provide engaging resources to educators both in and outside of the classroom.

SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EDUCATOR ACADEMY TEAM MEMBER:

• A belief in the core values of The Educator Academy, and a shared passion for our mission.
• The ability to motivate, inspire, and interact with others on topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Effective time management, including the ability to balance multiple priorities independently and cooperatively, in a fast-paced work environment.
• Strong analytical skills, including an ability to synthesize new information and processes quickly and with solid judgment.
• The collaborative instinct, situational awareness, and acumen to build and maintain trusting relationships with adults.
• Excellent oral, written and interpersonal communication skills.
• Tact and diplomacy accompanied with active listening skills and an approachable personality.
• The self-awareness, flexibility, and optimism necessary to navigate stressful situations and the willingness to improve as needed.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Program Manager for Educator Preparation (ed prep) will play a pivotal role in managing, implementing, and owning elements of The Educator Academy’s pre-service teacher pathways aimed at preparing individuals for a career in teaching, as well as initial teacher certification in the state of Missouri. This position is integral to the comprehensive development of future educators, blending theoretical knowledge with practical experiences in the K-12 classroom. The Program Manager for Ed Prep is primarily responsible for providing instructional coaching and clinical supervision to preservice teacher candidates (residents and fellows), as well as working in the role of instructor on designated certification courses throughout each semester. Finally, the Program Manager will lead designated projects that address one or more elements of programming considered by The EA to be integral to the execution of a nationally accredited and highly effective ed prep program. This role involves collaborating with internal teams and school partners to ensure the success and effectiveness of the program participants.

RESPONSIBILITIES: Coaching Expectations: Program Participant Growth and Effectiveness:

• Observe and provide regular, specific, actionable, high-leverage feedback based on The Educator Academy's Core Practices to program participants on their teaching and coursework performance
• Support resident and fellow development through weekly coaching (gradual release planning, goal setting, and progress monitoring)
• Document coaching interactions in the shared platform
• Provide ongoing development and support to mentor teachers to strengthen their mentoring skills in support of their resident’s development anchored in the identified six high leverage skills and progress toward goals set
• Support cooperating teachers in meeting all of the requirements associated with supporting their designated fellow
• Collaborate with other managers and director(s) of ed prep to implement and execute additional layers of support through formalized performance plans
• Serve as a liaison at host school sites and participate in training site alignment meetings with building leadership.
• Analyze and respond to participant feedback as appropriate

Coaching Skills:

• Reflect on strengths and opportunities for growth, based on the EA coaching rubric
• Set goals for individual growth
• Engage in reflection and response to program participant feedback
• Use teacher performance data as an opportunity for additional practice and immediate feedback (observational, student achievement, school site input, etc)
• Collaborate regularly with site mentor teachers and/or instructional leaders to align performance goals and plan meaningful gradual release of responsibility activities
• Develop coaching skills through internal professional development, book studies, etc.

Ed Prep Programming and Certification Support:

• Support with mentor teacher development
• Support with resident and/or fellow culture and development
• Support ed prep director(s) with the accurate record keeping of program participant portfolios which include progress towards certification and overall performance on program components (coursework, programming, certification exams, and certification tasks)
• Participate as a contributor on projects as assigned

Course Instructor:

• Planning and development of summer institute and seminar coursework, as determined by semester, which includes, but is not limited to:
• Course summaries
• Syllabi
• Module plans
• Session plans
• Assessment plans (formative and performance assessments)
• Facilitation via the designated course structure (i.e. in person, remote synchronous, etc)
• Feedback and grading (instructors are expected to provide ongoing, timely, and detailed feedback to residents and fellows)
• Demonstrate knowledge of:
• professional skills and content knowledge for the specified certification area of any assigned course
• principles of adult learning
• cultural competency and culturally responsive pedagogical practices
• Demonstrate proficiency in the following facilitation skills:
• presentation skills such as talk ratio and economy of language
• ownership of content
• checking for understanding
• appropriate pacing and ability to respond and readjust to the needs of learners in real time
• pushing for critical thinking through questioning, seeking and leveraging opportunities to push for acquisition of deep conceptual knowledge.

Project Lead: Program Participant Growth and Effectiveness:

• Serve as owner/lead of projects that address one or more elements of programming considered by the EA to be integral to the execution of a nationally accredited and highly effective ed prep program

QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE IDEAL CANDIDATE:
Education:

• Master’s degree in education related field

Experience:

• Minimum of 3 or more years of teaching experience required; previous coaching experience highly preferred
• Experience working in urban public schools is preferred, with a deep understanding of the opportunities and challenges within that dynamic environment
• Strong familiarity and experience with the Missouri State Standards, Kansas State Standards, and/or Common Core State Standards
• Demonstrated expertise in pedagogy, curriculum development, and instructional design, with a commitment to excellence in teaching and learning.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in education

Skills:

• Strong knowledge of educational theory, pedagogy, and best practices in teacher education.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders and work in a team-oriented environment.
• Proficiency in data analysis, assessment, and program evaluation techniques.
• Strong project management skills, including planning, execution, monitoring, and closing projects, ensuring they are completed on time, within budget, and to the desired quality standards.
• Demonstrates strong decision-making skills and ownership of decisions and outcomes.
• Ability to adapt to changing circumstances, embrace new ideas, and pivot strategies in response to new information or challenges.
• Encourages innovation within the team, promoting a culture of continuous improvement and creative problem-solving.

TRAVEL:

• This role requires reliable transportation and willingness to travel to and from partner sites. Occasional overnight travel is required for training purposes.

COMPENSATION:

• The Educator Academy offers a competitive compensation package, including benefits, aligned to previous experience and the anticipated duties & responsibilities. The salary range for this position is $65,500-$87,000, to be determined upon final offer.
• Staff benefits include
• A 403(b) with a 2% match
• 12 weeks paid parental leave
• Paid family leave
• Fully covered health, dental, and vision insurance for the employee
• A flexible PTO policy
• A professional growth stipend
• Short / Long Term Disability & Life Insurance
• Travel reimbursement
• Full office closure in late December to early January
• At The Educator Academy, we provide competitive salaries positioned in the 65th percentile of the market among similarly sized not-for-profit organizations in the KC metro area, with potential for salary progression over time. We prioritize equitable compensation for our staff, taking into account their qualifications, experience, and the impact they make on our organization. Both internal and external equity are key considerations in our salary determination process. As part of our commitment to equity, we generally do not engage in salary negotiations; instead, each salary offer is intentionally and fairly crafted based on thorough external and internal benchmarking. You will have an opportunity to discuss salary in more detail during the interview process.

TO APPLY:

• Interested applicants can apply for this position by completing an application and submitting a cover letter and resume. Submit your materials on the The Educator Academy webpage at .

All of the statements in this position description are intended to describe the general nature of the work being performed and are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. This document describes the position currently available. EA reserves the right to modify job duties or job descriptions at any time, including after the position is filled.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $65,000.00 - $87,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Health savings account
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Ability to Relocate:

• Kansas City, MO 64108: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Kansas City, MO 64108