Chief, Social Emotional and Academic Development (SEAD) Strategy

Position Overview

The Office of Social Emotional Academic Development works with the Chancellor to ensure coherence in the educational experience for our students, families, and schools. Our goal is to initiate change and lead DC Public Schools into the highest performing school district in the nation.

Office of SEAD Strategy

• Athletics: The Department of Athletics ensures all DCPS students have access to comprehensive and inclusive interscholastic athletics programming designed to increase student satisfaction, improve physical fitness, keep students engaged in school, develop leadership qualities, and provide additional outlets for students to express their unique talents.
• Career and Technical Education: Career Education programs provide the academic, technical, and employability skills necessary to succeed in college, careers and to become lifelong learners. This includes JROTC programming.
• Postsecondary Success Programs (PSP): PSP includes programming that prepares students for college and career, including Dual Enrollment, AP/IB, SAT/PSAT, School Counseling and Postsecondary Planning, Work-based Learning Opportunities, and Navigator supports.
• Graduation Success Initiatives (GSI): GSI consists of programming designed to keep students on track academically and connected to their school communities. This includes work on Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate, New Heights programs, OSTP, and Extended Learning programs such as summer school and academic recovery.
• Grade Level Academies: Sixth and Ninth Grade Academies in DCPS provide rich, responsive, and well-rounded educational experiences for students during key transition years to promote success.
• Scheduling, Transcripts, and Academic Records Support (STARS): STARS is responsible for supporting and monitoring DCPS schools in four areas: scheduling, grading, graduation, and the development and distribution of accurate student records.
• Data, Strategy, and Operations (DSO): DSO supports the division through the management of budgets, data reporting and analysis, and special projects that support the division’s key priorities in alignment with the strategic plan including policies and associated guidance.

The Chief, SEAD Strategy will work with the Deputy Chancellor, SEAD on DCPS’s efforts to rethink and rebuild the way we approach the school experience. The Chief provides leadership to Principals, Administrators, and Teachers so that they may achieve academic excellence. The Chief also maintains excellent interpersonal relationships with parents, and represents the District to relevant stakeholders and constituencies, including civic and business leaders on behalf of the Chancellor, Management Team of DCPS, and the Deputy Chancellor, SEAD. The core focus of the Chief, SEAD Strategy is ensuring that all students have a well-rounded, robust, rigorous school experience by leading key programming and policy efforts. The Chief, SEAD Strategy develops, implements, and monitors effective graduation and postsecondary success programs, in order to provide all students—especially those who have been most underserved and overlooked—with the opportunity to graduate and succeed in college, career, and life.

If you are hired into this position at an annual salary of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) or more, DC government regulations require that you must establish residency in the District of Columbia within one hundred eighty (180) days of the effective date of the appointment and continue to maintain residency within the District of Columbia throughout the duration of the appointment. If you do not currently reside in the District of Columbia and face extenuating circumstances that prevent relocation, you may request a hardship waiver for consideration.

This position has been designated as Safety Sensitive. Pursuant to section 410 of Chapter 4 of the D.C. Personnel Regulations; in addition to the general suitability screening, individuals applying for or occupying security sensitive positions are subject to the following checks and tests: Criminal background check; Sex Offender Registry check; Pre-employment drug and alcohol test; Traffic record check (as applicable); Reasonable suspicion drug and alcohol test; and Post-accident or incident drug and alcohol test.

If you are hired into this position at an annual salary of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) or more, DC government regulations require that you must establish residency in the District of Columbia within one hundred eighty (180) days of the effective date of the appointment and continue to maintain residency within the District of Columbia throughout the duration of the appointment. If you do not currently reside in the District of Columbia and face extenuating circumstances that prevent relocation, you may request a hardship waiver for consideration.

The Chief, Social Emotional and Academic Development (SEAD) Strategy will report to the Deputy Chancellor, Social Emotional and Academic Development (SEAD).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties, and/or skills required. Other duties may be assigned.

• Oversees all leaders on the SEAD Strategy team, including the Deputy Chief of SEAD Strategy and program team Directors.
• Serves as a key member of the Chancellor's management team and helps drive the formulation and implementation of broad, long-term policies and strategies to meet the vision and goals of DCPS.
• Oversees clear, specific, and ambitious performance targets and evaluates progress of schools; and holds parties accountable and helps adjust strategy and approach accordingly to achieve goals laid out by the District leadership, especially the system's five-year strategic plan.
• Oversees the Graduation and Postsecondary Success Programs team members to focus on academic policy and guidance, college and career readiness, school counseling and postsecondary planning, adjusted-cohort graduation rate, and Grade Level Academies at key transition grades.
• Oversees a broad range of key programs in schools by leading Career and Technical Education, JROTC, Advanced Studies (AP, IB/Dual enrollment), Out-of-School Time (OSTP), academic recovery, and summer learning/bridge programs.
• Oversees school operation supports to include scheduling, grading, and distribution of accurate academic records.
• Oversees the Department of Athletics to advance the academic and athletic development of students; and builds a comprehensive, competitive, and educational sports program across all grade spans that builds strong leaders, good citizens, and productive members of society.
• Provides leadership in the development, implementation, and evaluation of comprehensive dropout program development; develops a strategic plan for system-wide dropout prevention and supervises the implementation of the plan; develops and implements programs that refer students to alternative programs; monitors and evaluates the overall effectiveness of the program; and makes changes as necessary.
• Researches successful and promising school models in the United States and in other countries, as well as transformation efforts in other fields that may be applicable to DCPS schools.
• Builds relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including senior-level leaders in a number of DCPS offices, external organizations and government agencies, a broad set of school-based staff, and community members and advocates.
• Performs program management responsibilities, including: (a) the development and implementation of a budget exceeding $25 million and spending plan; and (b) the development and evaluation of annual measurable outcomes for performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and ten to fifteen years of related work experience.
• Master's degree strongly preferred.
• Previous exposure to or experience in the education sector a plus.
• Exposure to urban school districts strongly preferred.

DCPS Values

• STUDENTS FIRST: We recognize students as whole children and put their needs first in everything we do.
• COURAGE: We have the audacity to learn from our successes and failures, to try new things, and to lead the nation as a proof point of PK-12 success.
• EQUITY: We work proactively to eliminate opportunity gaps by interrupting institutional bias and investing in effective strategies to ensure every student succeeds.
• EXCELLENCE: We work with integrity and hold ourselves accountable for exemplary outcomes, service, and interactions.
• TEAMWORK: We recognize that our greatest asset is our collective vision and ability to work collaboratively and authentically.
• JOY: We enjoy our collective work and will enthusiastically celebrate our success and each other.

We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to creating an inclusive, accessible workplace. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals with disabilities. Accommodation and/or application assistance is available upon request at all stages of the application and employment process. To request accommodation, please contact dcps.eeo-ada@k12.dc.gov.