Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over 325,000 students in 500 schools and employing nearly 45,000 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. In order 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.
Job Summary:
District-run CPS schools are organized into 18 networks, which provide administrative support, strategic direction, and leadership development to the schools within each network. This network support model is designed to support the unique needs of CPS elementary and high schools and their school leaders that focus exclusively on those needs. Options schools are designed to be a unique learning model for students who are not engaged in a traditional high school and seek an alternative pathway to graduation that leads to college and career success.
Under the direction of the Chief and Deputy Chief of Schools (Options Network), the Instructional Support Leader (ISL) supports instructional development and school-level improvement to drive academic achievement for high schools. All ISLs are expected to be instructional experts with proven content expertise in at least one core subject (i.e., Literacy, Mathematics, Science) and/or with priority student groups (i.e. Diverse Learners and English Language Learners), but specific content expertise and requirements for the ISL will vary based upon the needs of the schools in the network.
The preferred area of content expertise for this position will be either Mathematics, English Language Arts, Science, Social Science.
The Instructional Support Leader will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:
Build day-to-day instructional capacity of classroom teachers and school administrators in a portfolio of schools to deliver core district and network priorities which include: Common core state standards, a multi-tiered system of support, and a framework for teaching
Provide differentiated instructional support by working directly with administrators, teacher leaders and teachers in the classroom, as appropriate, to model effective, research-based instructional practices, by working collaboratively with teacher teams to drive data-informed instructional planning, and by working with school-based leadership teams to actualize CCSS implementation at the classroom level.
Consult and collaborate with Principals, Assistant Principals, school-based Instructional Leadership Teams, and fellow Network staff as needed to develop data-informed strategies to support development and implementation of CIWP. These strategies include: curriculum development, professional development plans, direct support to classroom teachers, student outcome progress monitoring, and student intervention plans.
Design and lead professional development around Common Core implementation for network teacher leaders and network administrators.
Organize and communicate Network initiatives and/or other District initiatives to support the improvement of instruction and academic achievement.
Other duties as assigned.
In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Instructional Support Leader must possess the following qualifications:
Education Required:
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university is required
Master's degree in Education, Curriculum and Instruction, or Educational Leadership highly preferred
Certifications Required:
Valid standard teaching certificate issued by the Illinois State Board of Education with appropriate grade level and content level endorsements is required
General Administrative (Type 75) Certificate issued by the Illinois State Board of Education (or equivalent certificate from outside Illinois) preferred
Experience Required:
Minimum of five (5) years of classroom teaching experience
Minimum of three (3) years of experience working with adult learners, including coaching, and designing and facilitating professional development for classroom teachers and school leaders
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Strong communication skills including speaking, presenting, listening, and writing
High levels of instructional expertise, integrity, honesty, credibility, and the courage to make difficult yet necessary decisions
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 build collaborative relationships with a variety of constituent groups, including external partners, to ensure the entire system operates in the most effective manner possible to support schools and principals
Ability to use multiple data sources to set measurable goals and strategically plan to complete the goals
Ability to define problems, analyze data and develop action plans as part of a continuous improvement cycle
Excellent communication skills: writing, speaking, and listening
Experience with curriculum mapping, unit planning, and formative progress monitoring
Knowledge of research-based school improvement models and strategies
Benefits:
Health & Wellness: Your Care, Your Choice
CPS is committed to providing comprehensive health coverage to our employees and their eligible dependents. You'll have access to a variety of choices to best fit your needs:
Medical Plan Options
Pharmacy
Dental
Vision
Behavioral Health & EAP
Employee Wellness Program
Financial Security: Planning for Today and Tomorrow
We understand the importance of financial stability, which is why CPS offers strong retirement and savings options:
Basic Life Insurance
Life and Disability Insurance
Pension Plans
Supplemental Retirement Plans (403(b) and 457(b))
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
Spot Pet Insurance
Work-Life Balance: Supporting Your Personal and Professional Life
CPS values the well-being of its employees and offers competitive paid time off policies:
Paid Leave
Sick Leave
Vacation Days
Parental Leaves
Short-Term Disability
Religious Holidays
Leaves
Reference the Chicago Public Schools: A Comprehensive Benefits Overview or the benefits handbook for comprehensive details.
Conditions of Employment
As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:
| Location | Chicago, IL |