English Learner (EL) Network Support Manager - Elementary or High School

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over 320,000 students in 500 schools and employing approximately 44,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. To fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity. Six core values are embedded within these commitments – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.

The Office of Multicultural-Multilingual Education (OMME) exists to guide CPS in providing a high-quality education for all language learners that is attentive to a culturally and linguistically diverse community of students, families, and educators. OMME aims to achieve its mission through strategic planning, collaborative partnerships, professional development, and the production of tools and resources to improve instruction.

Job Summary:

The English Learner (EL) Network Support Manager will lead a team that provides crucial instructional development and support at either the elementary or high school level. This position will drive academic achievement by building the instructional capacity of Network support staff and English Learner Program Teachers (ELPTs) in alignment with district priorities, including Common Core State Standards, WIDA standards, multi-tiered support systems, and bilingual best practices. This position will report to the Executive Director of EL Instructional Development

The EL Network Support Manager will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Lead a team of EL Network Specialists in providing professional coaching to educators to drive academic achievement in a portfolio of elementary or high schools.
• Provide guidance and direction to EL Network Staff in delivering core district and network priorities, including Common Core State Standards, WIDA, multi-tiered support systems, and bilingual best practices.
• Support and mentor team members in collaborating with administrators, teacher leaders, and teachers to model effective instructional practices and provide differentiated support based on classroom needs.
• Work closely with Network and school-based leadership teams to develop and implement the Continuous Improvement Work Plan (CIWP) and school and Network EL priorities to drive curriculum and instruction best practices.
• Utilize data to identify areas of improvement and develop strategies to enhance instructional quality.
• In collaboration with the EL Network Support Director, design professional development sessions for network staff, teacher leaders, administrators, and instructional staff, focusing on effective Common Core and WIDA instructional practices, tying theory to action in the implementation of best practices in EL support and coaching.
• Support EL Network Specialists in the delivery of professional development sessions
• Provide leadership and guidance to direct reporting staff, including training on coaching best practices, ensuring alignment to EL and bilingual best practices
• Organize, communicate, and support the implementation of network and district initiatives that enhance instruction and academic achievement.
• Collaborate with Network Chiefs, Principals, Assistant Principals, and school-based Instructional Leadership Teams to align strategies, goals, and initiatives.
• Other duties and workstreams as assigned

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the EL Network Support Manager must possess the following qualifications:

Education Required:

• Master's Degree in Education or a related field from an accredited college or university is required
• Valid Professional Educator License (PEL) issued by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) with bilingual and/or ESL endorsement(s) is required (Candidates with a valid out-of-state, reciprocal license will be considered but must obtain ISBE licensure within 6 months of hire.)
• Administrative endorsement, preferred
• Doctoral Degree in Education with a study focus on bilingualism or second language acquisition, preferred

Experience Required:

• Minimum of five (5) years of professional experience working with bilingual programs in the education field, including the following, is required:
  • Minimum of five (5) years of classroom teaching experience supporting ELs
  • Minimum of three (3) years of teacher leadership experience, such as leading school teams in the development of curriculum and assessments, analyzing student performance data, providing professional coaching, serving as a contributing member of an Instructional Leadership Team (ILT), etc.
  • Minimum of two (2) years of experience reviewing/evaluating the effectiveness of EL programs in schools/districts
• Experience in a supervisor/manager role with responsibility for leading a team of direct reports, strongly preferred.

Other Requirements:

• Access to reliable transportation to travel to schools and other locations throughout the district, required
• Bilingual/multilingual fluency in English and another language, including the ability to present to various stakeholders in more than one language, preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills; Ability to communicate effectively and build collaborative relationships with a variety of constituent groups including colleagues, internal and external stakeholders, and community-based organizations
• Excellent time and project management and organizational skills; capable of managing multiple projects/priorities simultaneously, problem-solving, and delegating as situations dictate
• Self-lead learner capable of recognizing failures as opportunities for growth, and learning from mistakes to improve conditions for working and learning as a team
• Strong leadership and team building skills, e.g. ability to develop high-performing teams united around a clear vision for serving schools and achieving student success
• Ability to articulate a vision, set high standards, and effectively guide schools and principals in the realization of expectations set
• Ability to define problems, analyze data, and outline valid conclusions and action steps
• Proficient in the use of a range of technology tools and software (e.g., Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, and Mac applications)

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.