Director of School Support
Location: Western Massachusetts
Position is available IMMEDIATELY
Organizational Overview:
Founded in Boston in 2005, The Achievement Network (ANet) is an entrepreneurial nonprofit organization on the cutting edge of education reform. We have grown more than 80% per year over the last four years, and we now serve over 460 schools educating 100,000 students in Massachusetts, Washington, D.C., New Orleans, Newark, Chicago, Tennessee, and New York City. Across our national network, our partner schools are outperforming their peers, with schools in most of our networks achieving twice the gains of non-ANet schools. Our support has consistently helped our schools – whether district or charter, high capacity or low capacity, new to ANet or long-time partners – achieve breakthrough results for their students.
Over the last 10 years, school systems have invested heavily in assessment programs and data systems. These systems have generated large amounts of information about student achievement, but they have done little to help educators target their instruction to the needs of each student in their classroom. In other words, schools have developed systems that enable assessment of student learning, but they have not mastered the art of using assessment for student learning. ANet helps schools build that capability through focused use of data, standards, and time. We provide our partners with the tools and training they need to go from data to action:
• Our assessment, planning, and instructional tools help teachers and school leaders understand where they need to focus their time and attention.
• Our coaching and professional development help schools turn that focus into concrete actions that consistently improve instruction for students throughout the year.
Our proprietary technology assets provide a backbone for the support we deliver to our schools.
ANet has received multiple awards and recognition, including a prestigious Investing In Innovation (I3) grant from the federal government and New Schools Venture Fund’s “Organization of the Year” in 2011. Over the next five years, we will build on this success. By 2017, we expect to reach over 250,000 students while continuing to deliver breakthrough results for our schools.
Position Overview:
We are seeking a Director of School Support to coach and develop school leadership teams to embed performance management strategies into their schools’ everyday routines, and ultimately raise student academic achievement. The ideal candidate is motivated to forge relationships and to build practices and culture of using learning standards and achievement data to achieve breakthrough results for students in low-income schools. The DSS will be responsible for coaching and developing leadership in approximately 15 schools in their Network, reaching more than 125 teachers and 3,000 students. The Director of School Support will report directly to and work closely with the Executive Director (ED) of the Western Massachusetts Network. This role will also collaborate regularly with peer coaches within their Network and across Networks, as well as with ANet’s national teams.
Responsibilities:
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
• Partner with and coach school leadership teams to embed best practices for setting student performance goals, using data to track progress, and developing strategies that drive achievement
o Set goals with school leaders regarding performance on state summative and ANet interim assessments and organizational and instructional practices
o Train and coach school leaders and teachers on effective use of real-time data from the ANet interim assessments to target student misunderstandings and to continually deepen understanding of the rigor of the Common Core standards
o Train and coach school leaders and teachers on effective backwards planning using Common Core standards, school-wide curriculum, and instructional calendar to reach goals
o Analyze data from ANet interim assessments and best practice implementation to inform strategy for coaching each school
• Develop the influence and “reach” of school leaders, through coaching, to sustain and build strength in data-driven instruction throughout their school
o Build strong relationships with school leaders and teachers that establish ANet as a key partner in increasing student achievement
o Serve as a coach for school leaders, partnering with them to overcome barriers to successful data-driven instruction and increased student achievement, including how to develop and leverage school-wide practices and structures to build a culture of achievement that accelerates student impact
o Engage in a gradual release of support to build schools’ independence with data-driven instruction first by modeling meeting facilitation, and then observing and providing coaching and feedback to leaders on school-based meetings
• Develop strong network of ANet schools
o Connect school leaders with other schools to facilitate best practice sharing on specific school challenges
o Create and lead professional development sessions for school leaders and teachers
o Support network ED in growing the network in the community by sustaining current school customers and fostering new customers
• Support internal ANet company growth
o Develop tools, coaching strategies and innovate ideas for the organization that improve our ability to coach schools
o Serve in internal ANet leadership roles, which could include recruiting and hiring, network event coordination, sales, and strategy development
Required Skills and Characteristics:
In order to be successful in this role, ideal candidates should demonstrate the following:
• Belief in The Achievement Network’s mission and strategy: embracing learning standards and student achievement data as meaningful tools for raising student achievement as well as building cultures of achievement, professional development as a critical lever in improving school achievement, and network collaboration as a powerful means of spreading best practices across schools
• Skill in the use of learning standards to drive instruction, with a strong working familiarity with the Common Core State Standards and the instructional shifts that they represent
• Motivated by an entrepreneurial, fast-paced, highly-collaborative team environment, with a desire to contribute to a growing organization
• Ability to coach, develop, and motivate others to drive results, balancing humility and assertiveness
• Excellent communication, presentation, and facilitation skills (ability to explain complex problems and solutions in clear, concise and compelling ways; ability to facilitate discussion and learning activities towards a clear end)
• Expert strategic-thinking skills: curiosity to solve complex problems and ability to think boldly to maximize new opportunities using a data-driven approach
• Adaptive to feedback and focused on continuous improvement
• Proficient in Powerpoint, Excel, and Word
Experience and Educational Background:
• Minimum of 4-7 years of work experience, including:
o Significant experience managing or coaching other adults (e.g. school leadership, instructional coaching, department and/or grade level chair, teacher leadership, adult leadership experience)
o Teaching experience with a proven track record of high achievement results (two or more years required)
• Experience with data-driven instruction required and standards based education
• Graduate school work in relevant programs (MEd, MBA, MPP) beneficial
What We Offer:
ANet is a dynamic, entrepreneurial, team-oriented organization that is committed to the professional development of all staff members. Individuals who join ANet have the opportunity to join an exceptional team of colleagues committed to helping schools to close the achievement gap. ANet offers a comprehensive benefits plan including health and dental insurance; a 401(K) plan; 10 paid holidays as well as paid days off between the Christmas and New Year’s holidays; three weeks vacation (four weeks after two years with the organization); and short and longterm disability coverage.
Salary:
Salary for this position is highly competitive and is based on prior experience and qualifications.
How to Apply:
The Achievement Network is soliciting applications for this position immediately. To apply, please visit our website, http://www.achievementnetwork.org/careers/ and click the “Apply Now” button. You can review our positions, create an application, and upload a resume and thoughtful cover letter, outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position and stating how you heard about this opportunity. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling and urgent basis.
The Achievement Network is committed to maximizing the diversity of our organization. We are an equal opportunity employer and seek individuals of all ethnic and racial backgrounds to apply to this position.
Boston, MA 02114
