Academic Data Specialist

WELCOME TO INDIANAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS!

Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) is a student-focused, innovative educational organization committed to academic excellence. Our mission is to empower and educate all students to think critically, creatively, and responsibly, to embrace diversity, and to pursue their dreams with a purpose. We are a family of excellent public schools in which every student has the opportunity to succeed and the power to create their own future.

Led by forward-thinking leadership and our commitment to prioritizing students, racial equity, and authentic engagement with our families, team members, and communities, our staff have diverse opportunities to develop their careers in a challenging but rewarding environment. We are an organization for people who are passionate about education and who are committed to the Indianapolis community.

Together, we are Proving What's Possible by building a community where everyone belongs and each student has the opportunity to fulfill their potential.

A Career in IPS Offers…

Purpose and Impact:

• Essential Contributions: In every non-teaching and non-leadership role, your work directly supports the success of IPS students and schools. Whether you're maintaining facilities, providing student services, or managing administrative operations, you play a key part in ensuring an equitable and high-quality educational environment.
• Belonging and Community: IPS is a place where every employee is valued. You'll join a supportive community that promotes respect, teamwork, and a shared commitment to serving students and families.

Professional and Personal Growth:

• Training and Development Opportunities: IPS offers a variety of training programs to help staff build new skills and grow professionally. This includes access to development opportunities for administrative, technical, and operational roles, as well as pathways to becoming a certified teacher.
• Skill Enhancement: Whether you're new to your role or seeking to deepen your expertise, IPS provides resources and support for continuous improvement.

What We Expect:

• Professionalism and Reliability: Every role at IPS is vital to the district's success. We expect staff to demonstrate professionalism, dependability, and a commitment to providing excellent service to students, educators, and families.
• Collaboration and Communication: IPS values teamwork. Working collaboratively with your colleagues ensures a supportive environment for all. Clear communication and mutual respect are key to maintaining this culture.
• Flexibility and Problem-Solving: As a large, dynamic district, IPS needs staff who are adaptable and proactive in solving problems to meet the ever-changing needs of students and schools.

JOIN US!

Indianapolis Public Schools is more than a workplace; it's a community where purpose, impact, and belonging come together to help Prove What's Possible - in your career and in your school. If you're ready to embrace challenges, strive for excellence, and make a meaningful impact, IPS is the place for you.

SUMMARY OF OPPORTUNITY:

Indianapolis Public Schools seeks an Academic Data Specialist to play a critical support role on the districts Academic Strategy and Performance team. The role focuses on collecting, organizing, and visualizing academic performance data that informs instructional decisions and district strategy. The specialist works under the supervision of the Senior District Data Coordinator to support internal data requests, contribute to routine and one-time reporting, and assist in maintaining the integrity of district performance data systems. The role also provides secondary support for assessment logistics and operations.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

The following outlines this positions core duties and responsibilities and provides a sample overview of what your day-to-day may look like.

The Academic Data Specialist plays a critical support role on the districts Academic Strategy and Performance team. The role focuses on collecting, organizing, and visualizing academic performance data that informs instructional decisions and district strategy.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

• Data Reporting & Analysis Support
• Produce clean, well-structured data reports for use by school leaders, coaches, and district staff.
• Support disaggregation of state and local assessment data by various subgroups (e.g., grade, race/ethnicity, English learners, IEP status) to uncover trends.
• Generate charts, graphs, and visualizations to aid stakeholder understanding of student performance metrics.
• Ensure accuracy and consistency in data files through regular validation, data cleaning, and formatting procedures.
• Assist in maintaining academic dashboards and data tracking systems that reflect student performance across the district.
• School-Focused Data Support
• In collaboration with the Senior Academic Data Coordinator, respond to school and department-level data requests by retrieving and organizing student learning data in accessible formats.
• Partner with the Senior Academic Data Coordinator to provide school leaders with timely, actionable data for instructional planning.
• Participate in data review meetings and learning walks, assisting with note-taking, data collection, and follow-up deliverables.
• Accountability Framework Management
• Maintain and update specialized internal tools and dashboards designed to track metrics aligned with Indiana's K-12 Accountability Framework.
• Serve as a technical resource for schools to help them understand the nuances of state accountability logic, including growth and achievement markers.
• Translate complex state accountability data into actionable reports for school leaders and instructional teams.
• Assessment Operations Assistance
• Support the administration and logistics of state and district assessments (e.g., ILEARN, WIDA ACCESS, NWEA), including data collection, file uploads, and student rostering.
• Assist in preparing training materials, checklists, and guidance documents for assessment operations.
• Help with tracking and compiling assessment completion metrics for reporting to Central Office and state agencies.

Process & Systems Maintenance

• Contribute to the development and refinement of internal data workflows, including naming conventions, version control, and secure storage practices.
• Maintain awareness of data privacy protocols and ensure compliance with FERPA and district policy.
• Collaborate with the IT team on student information system tasks related to class rosters, assessment platforms, and account setup.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING: SKILLS AND MINDSETS

As an ideal candidate for this role, you will be able to achieve the following:

• Knowledge of Indianas K-12 Accountability Framework, including an understanding of state-mandated performance indicators and reporting cycles.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (e.g., pivot tables, formulas) and Google Sheets for tool management and data modeling.
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy, and organization in handling complex datasets.
• Ability to present data in user-friendly formats for educators and non-technical stakeholders.
• Collaborative team player with a growth mindset and willingness to take on new challenges.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills; able to summarize data findings concisely.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in education, data analytics, public policy, or a related field required.
• Experience in a school, district, or education-related organization strongly preferred.
• Prior work with student data systems, assessment platforms, or academic reporting tools is a plus.

WHAT WE OFFER

IPS offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience in a similar position. The pay range for this position is $60,000 - $ 83,000.

FLSA CLASSIFICATION:

Exempt

REPORTS TO: Senior Data Coordinator

ELIGIBILITY FOR REMOTE WORK:

Hybrid and virtual work are possibilities and at the discretion of the Senior Data Coordinator.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand and walk; use hands to manipulate, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee will need to be able to legally operate a motor vehicle safely and responsibly.

EEOC STATEMENT:

Indianapolis Public Schools, in accordance with its nondiscrimination policies, will not discriminate in its programs, facilities, or employment or educational opportunities on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, familial status, domestic violence victim status, homelessness or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations, or ordinances. Indianapolis Public Schools does not tolerate any form of retaliation or bias-based intimidation, threat, or harassment that demeans individuals' dignity or interferes with their ability to learn or work.

DISCLAIMER:

Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the above representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This job description is illustrative only and is not a comprehensive list of all essential functions and duties performed by the occupant of this position. Factors such as regular and punctual attendance are not routinely listed in job descriptions but are an essential function.