ED, Humanities

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 320,000 students in 500+ schools and employing over 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. 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.

Located within the Office of Teaching & Learning (T&L), the Department of Humanities works to ensure that every Chicago Public Schools student receives a high-quality education in language arts (including English language arts and Spanish language arts) and social science. This includes creating a vision and strategy for this work, partnering on curriculum development and professional learning, and providing coaching support for implementation.

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Deputy Chief of Teaching & Learning, Curriculum & Assessment, The Executive Director of Humanities will collaborate with multiple stakeholders and offices in executing the vision of the Department of Humanities and will lead a team of direct reporting leaders responsible for the Departments of Literacy and Social Science. This is a full-time, exempt position that will be paid for time worked on a salary basis.

The Executive Director of Humanities will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Set the vision, strategic priorities, and objectives for the Department of Humanities that drive coherence and convergence across content areas and align with the district’s vision including strategic planning, progress monitoring, budgeting, reporting, contract management, communications, and marketing

• Supervise, develop, and manage the performance of a high-functioning, collaborative team in meeting deadlines, individual and programmatic goals; provide leadership, professional development, and effective coaching

• Ensure alignment between the Department of Humanities and District-wide initiatives by working collaboratively with Central Office departments, Networks and Schools to identify strategic academic and operational priorities and create/execute long and short-term project plans to meet related objectives.

• Participate in cross-departmental collaboration regarding the development and implementation of curriculum materials, professional learning, and instructional tools to strengthen a multi-tiered system of supports and improve grade-level instruction, effective interventions and supports to promote student success

• Analyze and report on departmental key performance indicators, practice data and student academic data; utilize this data to inform strategic decisions, driving improvement and student success

• Facilitate current external partnerships and establish new partnerships for collaboration on the development and implementation of standards-aligned Humanities education and programming

• Develop and manage the Department of Humanities budget for Central Office and school-based staff; ensure that budgetary and resource considerations inherent in Department priorities are aligned, effective, efficient, and grounded in equity

• Oversee and direct the department’s procurement and payroll processes, as well as grant administration (ex: grant budgets, deliverables, data collection and reporting)

• Serve as an active member of the Teaching & Learning leadership team, engaging in efforts such as strategy setting, performance management, and team building; Act as the district’s representative and subject matter expert for Humanities including coordination of media requests and information
• Other duties and workstreams as assigned
  
  
  
  
  
  

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 320,000 students in 500+ schools and employing over 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. 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.

Located within the Office of Teaching & Learning (T&L), the Department of Humanities works to ensure that every Chicago Public Schools student receives a high-quality education in language arts (including English language arts and Spanish language arts) and social science. This includes creating a vision and strategy for this work, partnering on curriculum development and professional learning, and providing coaching support for implementation.

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Deputy Chief of Teaching & Learning, Curriculum & Assessment, The Executive Director of Humanities will collaborate with multiple stakeholders and offices in executing the vision of the Department of Humanities and will lead a team of direct reporting leaders responsible for the Departments of Literacy and Social Science. This is a full-time, exempt position that will be paid for time worked on a salary basis.

The Executive Director of Humanities will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Set the vision, strategic priorities, and objectives for the Department of Humanities that drive coherence and convergence across content areas and align with the district’s vision including strategic planning, progress monitoring, budgeting, reporting, contract management, communications, and marketing

• Supervise, develop, and manage the performance of a high-functioning, collaborative team in meeting deadlines, individual and programmatic goals; provide leadership, professional development, and effective coaching

• Ensure alignment between the Department of Humanities and District-wide initiatives by working collaboratively with Central Office departments, Networks and Schools to identify strategic academic and operational priorities and create/execute long and short-term project plans to meet related objectives.

• Participate in cross-departmental collaboration regarding the development and implementation of curriculum materials, professional learning, and instructional tools to strengthen a multi-tiered system of supports and improve grade-level instruction, effective interventions and supports to promote student success

• Analyze and report on departmental key performance indicators, practice data and student academic data; utilize this data to inform strategic decisions, driving improvement and student success

• Facilitate current external partnerships and establish new partnerships for collaboration on the development and implementation of standards-aligned Humanities education and programming

• Develop and manage the Department of Humanities budget for Central Office and school-based staff; ensure that budgetary and resource considerations inherent in Department priorities are aligned, effective, efficient, and grounded in equity

• Oversee and direct the department’s procurement and payroll processes, as well as grant administration (ex: grant budgets, deliverables, data collection and reporting)

• Serve as an active member of the Teaching & Learning leadership team, engaging in efforts such as strategy setting, performance management, and team building; Act as the district’s representative and subject matter expert for Humanities including coordination of media requests and information
• Other duties and workstreams as assigned
  
  
  
  
  
  

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Executive Director of Humanities must possess the following qualifications:

Education Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study from an accredited college or university, required

• Master’s or other advanced degree, preferred

• Valid teaching certificate issued by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) with appropriate content and grade level endorsement(s) required

• Principal/administrator endorsement, preferred