Manager, Connected Schools

Our public school students need your expertise, passion and leadership.

We are looking for highly motivated and skilled talent to join our team at District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). We seek individuals who are passionate about transforming the DC school system and making a significant difference in the lives of public school students, parents, principals, teachers, and central office employees.

DCPS serves 50,000 students in the nation's capital through the efforts of approximately 4,000 educators in 118 schools. As part of a comprehensive reform effort to become the preeminent urban school system in America, DCPS intends to have the highest-performing, best paid, most satisfied, and most honored educator force in the nation and a distinctive central office staff whose work supports and drives instructional excellence and significant achievement gains for DCPS students.
Position Overview

The Manager, Connected Schools will manage and oversee the implementation of the DCPS Connected Schools Model at a single DCPS school site. The incumbent will manage work under the Connected Schools initiatve to radically shift the way schools, DC agencies, and communities work together in order to fully and authentically integrate academics, social services, and student and family engagement. The Connected Schools Model is intended to create community hubs within schools and is DCPS's version of a full-service community school.

The Connected Schools work is grounded in the belief that an increase in services and resources alone is not enough to affect lasting change. Instead, DCPS must look at how all stakeholders-DC agencies, partners, community members, and more-work together in new ways that fundamentally break down silos and keep students and communities at the center of our work. To accomplish this ambitious goal, the Manger, Connected Schools is a pivotal leader in each school site, charged with critical responsibilities to set this model up for lasting success. The Manager will (1) serve as a key strategic leader within the assigned school site, (2) oversee school level systems-building to coordinate and streamline service provision, (3) facilitate robust partnerships to implement programming critical to Connected Schools priorities, (4) ensure regular and ongoing data reporting and analysis that is critical for data-driven impact, and (5) lead and support family and community engagement strategies and events for the school. This role will work directly with partner organizations, school leaders, district leaders, government agencies, and other external stakeholders. The Connected School Manager position is a 12-month, school-based role. The Manager is based full-time at the assigned school location.
This position is a safety-sensitive position. As a result, throughout employment this position will be subject to the Employee Mandatory Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy.
The Manager, Connected Schools will report to the Principal.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties, and/or skills required. Other duties may be assigned.

• Leads and manages the implementation of the DCPS Connected Schools Model at the assigned school site by serving as member of school leadership team and actively participating on various school teams.
• Facilitates relationships between and among school staff, partners, families, the community, and DCPS central office administration to incorporate a wide range of perspectives in the development and implementation of the DCPS Connected Schools Model and overall school goals.
• Leads and/or enhances existing community and family engagement practices to support and bolster involvement and connectivity; and helps to foster a broad sense of school community.
• Leads and/or enhances communication with community stakeholders, DC agencies, and external partners, raising awareness around the DCPS Connected Schools Model and an overall alignment of resources and opportunities.
• Facilitates an annual school-based needs assessment and asset mapping process; and collaborates with school staff to prioritize student, family, and community needs based on results.
• Develops annual Connected Schools goals and strategies, as part of the school's existing Comprehensive School Plan, focusing on identified student and family assets, needs, and risk factors.
• Assesses, onboards, and manages multiple school partners aimed at providing academic and/or personal supports for students and families to ensure a coordinated, high-quality delivery of services.
• Builds streamlined systems and strategies to facilitate robust resource connection to meet students' and families' academic, emotional, and physical needs.
• Serves as a trusted liaison to community and government services; and strategically connects and coordinates resources within the school.
• Serves as lead, alongside the principal, in data-driven decision making for Connected Schools programming, working with school and central office colleagues to assess attendance, behavior, and academic data with frequency.
• Gathers student and family data for ongoing programmatic evaluations and to report on the implementation of the school's Connected Schools strategies and their impact on school-wide goals.
• Facilitates quarterly partnership data deep dive meetings that provide a global view of school partner trends in the building.
• Leads planning and execution of multiple school-based events in collaboration with the school leadership team, partners, and the community (e.g., Back to School Night, Open Houses, literacy nights, attendance incentive parties, resource fairs, etc.)

Qualifications

• Master's degree.
• Four to six years of relevant work experience preferred.
• Previous exposure to or experience in the education sector a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain trusting, collaborative relationships with various stakeholders.
• Superb written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information concisely and to inspire multiple stakeholders.
• Proven ability to lead and manage multiple complex projects across distinct priorities.
• Demonstrated experience in using data management systems and in using data analysis to inform strategic planning and decision-making.
• Proven track record in taking initiative to lead new work.
• Proven experience developing and evaluating programs and partnerships.
• Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills, including ability to lead without authority.
• Experience working with, or for, DCPS is preferred, preferably in the community to be served.

DCPS Values

• STUDENTS FIRST: We recognize students as whole children and put their needs first in everything we do.
• COURAGE: We have the audacity to learn from our successes and failures, to try new things, and to lead the nation as a proof point of PK-12 success.
• EQUITY: We work proactively to eliminate opportunity gaps by interrupting institutional bias and investing in effective strategies to ensure every student succeeds.
• EXCELLENCE: We work with integrity and hold ourselves accountable for exemplary outcomes, service, and interactions.
• TEAMWORK: We recognize that our greatest asset is our collective vision and ability to work collaboratively and authentically.
• JOY: We enjoy our collective work and will enthusiastically celebrate our success and each other.