Continuous Improvement Specialist

POSITION TITLE: SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT COORDINATION (PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT #1739)

STARTING SALARY RANGE: $62,449 - $78,917

Reporting to the Director of School/District Improvement, this position provides leadership and advocates for equity for all students. School improvement coordinators execute the policies and expectations of the State Board of Education (ISBE), and function as a liaison between ISBE, ROEs/ISCs, the school/district, and school improvement professional learning partners. This position advocates for underserved students (e.g., English learners, special education students, students of color or poverty) to ensure inclusion and a sense of belonging and resources to achieve equity and access for all students across all Illinois districts.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Consults with schools on smart goal development for ELA and math and expectations for school improvement plan.
• Facilitates data meetings with schools and learning partners in implementation years 1-3.
• Coordinates annual review of resource inequities including partner effectiveness with CSI and ISI schools and districts.
• Develops and reviews list of schools entering year 3 of their plan that may not meet exit criteria at end of FY and discusses additional supports for upcoming year.
• Reviews results of school level needs assessment and facilitates the root causes analysis process.
• Maintains current data for all CSI and ISI schools and districts.
• Develops and communicates current FY timeline for data review meetings and professional learning sessions.
• Facilitates peer to peer sessions with like schools at annual ESSA conference.
• Provides individualized technical support and consultation to schools as needed.
• Reviews and interprets local and state data to monitor the implementation of the school improvement plan.
• Provides support and consultation to newly designated schools on planning grant application and completing a school improvement plan.
• Supports regional launch meetings for newly designated schools.
• Shares relevant evidence-based resources and professional learning opportunities (i.e. resources, webinars, workshops, conferences) with schools and districts.
• Approves planning grant application for newly designated schools.
• Approves grant application for implementation years 1-3.
• Consults with schools on learning partner matches.
• Facilitates monthly (CSI) and twice a month (ISI) check-in meetings with school districts.
• Reviews and approves school improvement plans.
• Confirms submission of the school improvement reports.
• Schedules and facilitates 1 on 1 meetings with newly designated schools and districts.
• Connects newly designated schools with appropriate ISBE departments, as needed, to complete planning grant application and provide ongoing support to schools and districts.
• Reviews process for identifying and conducting review of resource inequities with CSI and ISI schools and districts.
• Establishes regular communication processes and expectations with other ISBE departments to ensure coordinated support for TSI, CSI, and ISI schools and districts.
• Shares relevant evidence-based resources and professional learning opportunities aligned with school improvement goals with approved learning partners.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree or higher in Education required (e.g., Educational Leadership, Curriculum and Instruction). (COPY OF TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED AT TIME OF APPLICATION)
• Extensive experience in leading school improvement.
• Experience developing and leading data informed decision-making processes in light of school improvement planning needs.
• Experience in alignment of curriculum, instruction, and assessment with the Illinois Learning Standards.
• Experience with systems change processes for districts and schools.
• Knowledge of whole child, whole school, and whole community approaches to ensure integration of learning environments to address development of cognitive, social-emotional, and physical well-being.
• Knowledge of organizational structures, policy, and practices to support effective teaching for all students with attention to those historically underserved.
• Knowledge of effective leadership practices, such as distributed leadership, and other approaches that are supported by research and evidence.
• Knowledge of current research regarding effective practices in school improvement areas to address governance and management, curriculum and instruction, and climate and culture.
• Strong writing and speaking skills.
• Skilled in approaches to the development of classroom, grade level, and content area assessments.
• Skilled in data analysis with equity lens and continuous improvement with actional outcomes.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional educator license with an endorsement for Principal and/or Superintendent.
• Experience as a building principal, curriculum coordinator, or district leader.