What are the responsibilities and job description for the Chief of Staff to the Board of Education position at Chicago Public Schools?
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving 320,000 students in 500 schools and employing more than 44,000 people, more than half of them teachers. While we have made progress toward providing a high-quality public education for every child in every neighborhood, we continue to face long-standing challenges and opportunity gaps. If we want our system to make bold and transformational changes in our students’ lives, then we have to make bold and transformational changes to our system. We believe every student deserves a rigorous, joyful, and equitable learning experience. Our targeted priorities are designed to ensure that all students receive the opportunities and resources that meet their unique needs and aspirations, prioritizing those most harmed by the past.
The Chicago Board of Education (BOE), founded in 1840, is responsible for the governance, organizational and financial oversight of CPS. It establishes policies, standards, goals and initiatives to ensure accountability and provide a high-quality, world-class education. The board has transitioned to a new hybrid governing model that includes 11 appointed and 10 elected Board members. The Board’s goal is to break the cycles of inequity while keeping CPS students, families, staff, and our many stakeholders at the core of every Board action and discussion. The Board works with CPS administration, staff, stakeholders, and constituents to ensure achievement of the shared vision outlined in the CPS Five-Year Strategic Plan. This is and will continue to be the North Star to help guide the District and the Board.
Job Summary : Reporting to the President of the Board of Education, the Chief of Staff to the Board of Education will serve as a strategic adviser, management leader, and thought partner to all Board Members and will represent the Board in absentia, serving as a liaison and trusted advisor to CPS, city leaders, and external agencies and partners. This is a full-time, exempt position that will be paid for time worked on a salary basis.
The Chief of Staff to the Board of Education will be held accountable for the following responsibilities :
1. Serve as a strategic partner to support Board Members in their oversight and management of CPS, including, but not limited to :
- Increasing Board member capacity by deepening their understanding of the educational space and key CPS issues
- Acting as the primary liaison between Board Members, CPS management, and the Mayor’s Office, ensuring a closed feedback loop and creating a no-surprise environment for Board Members, CPS, and City Hall
- Developing a transition plan and appropriate tools to prepare for and support a fully elected school board, formalizing existing procedures and creating new processes and procedures to facilitate the transition to a 21-member board and maintain effective operations, and
- Managing the onboarding and offboarding of new Board members
2. Oversee the ongoing operations of the Board Office, including but not limited to :
3. Lead, develop, and manage the performance of the Board Office staff, including but not limited to :
4. Represent the BOE in front of varied internal and external partners regarding district programs, projects, and policies and build effective, productive relationships with stakeholders
5. Initiates, builds, and manages coalitions and cohesive partnerships with internal and external stakeholders including governmental agencies and community partners.
6. Assist management in the preparation of briefing materials to address board member questions and concerns, and manage information flow to ensure Board members have equal information and everything needed to vote on agenda items
7. Other duties and workstreams as assigned
In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Chief of Staff to the Board of Education must possess the following qualifications :
Education Required :
Experience Required :
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :
Conditions of Employment :
As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to :
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. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary / part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.
