Director of Cradle to Career Initiatives

Position Type:
Administration/Director

Date Posted:
5/31/2024

Location:
River Bluff Education Center

Date Available:
2024-25 school year

Closing Date:
06/14/2024
Goodhue County Education District is a collaboration of six southeastern Minnesota school districts: Cannon Falls, Goodhue, Kenyon-Wanamingo, Lake City, Red Wing, and Zumbrota-Mazeppa. Our primary goal is to strive towards inclusive excellence in learning across the county.

Position Summary:
The Director of Cradle to Career Initiatives manages the supportive infrastructure for schools across the districts. The supportive infrastructure includes governance structures, strategic community partnerships, sustainable resources, professional learning opportunities, and data systems.
Supervision and Controls over the Work:
Serves under the broad guidance and administrative supervision of the Executive Director. Is responsible for reporting results in terms of effectiveness of planning, policies, programs, and achievement of district goals and objectives. Work is guided by, and must be in compliance with, federal and state law, policy direction of the School Board, and compliance with state and local regulatory agencies.

Major Duties and Responsibilities: Governance structures

• Provide strategic guidance to the leaders of the Red Wing Youth Partnership as they identify, establish, and meet performance goals that have emerged from comprehensive assets and needs assessment related to C2C Initiatives.
• Attend school board, district leadership, and RiseUp Red Wing meetings to act as the liaison between cradle-to-career initiatives and district and/or community leadership.
• Facilitate community-wide leadership structure to support student success, by aligning leaders, advocating for policy at the city/state/district level, and eliminating barriers to partnerships.
• Complete all grant reports on time and with accuracy.
• Promote and maintain high standards related to organizational structures to ensure that district policies/ state statutes are being followed as strategies are being implemented.
• Work with RiseUp Red Wing to access financial support for initiatives.

Strategic community partnerships

• Conduct monthly partnership meetings with Red Wing Youth Partnership Members to facilitate, assess partnership opportunities, and accomplish the performance goals.
• Construct detailed MOUs to outline expectations for partnerships and strategies being implemented.
• Develop relationships with organizational leaders, such as universities, foundations, community-based organizations, health, and other institutions.
• Attend all Education Partnerships Coalition Meetings.

Sustainable resources

• Apply for grants to support C2C initiatives within the schools and for subcontracting with non-profit community agencies.
• Develop a sustainability plan, braiding private, local, state, and federal funding opportunities.
• Collaborate with district leadership and RiseUp Red Wing to monitor contract performance.
• Support the development of district-wide policy sustaining community schools.
• Follow the StriveTogether Theory of Action and complete the StriveTogether Civic Infrastructure Assessment annually.

Professional learning opportunities

• Support schools and community partners in training related to implementing the C2C initiatives.
• Provide responsive training, technical assistance, and coaching that support the implementation of the key practices and enabling conditions at sites and member district level for C2C initiatives.
• Regularly convene partners for information-sharing, professional development, and opportunities to collaborate
• Attend the StriveTogether annual convening. Ensure school staff and partner organizations are aware of StriveTogether convenings. Support them in applying for and attending these opportunities.

Data systems

• Connect leaders in developing protocols for gathering, sharing, monitoring, reporting, analyzing, and integrating data into program practice to improve outcomes.
• Meet with i3Works (data consultants) and StriveTogether regularly to ensure the use of data accurately reflects StrivieTogether's expectations.
• Implement data-sharing agreements and expectations for C2C initiatives.
• Support schools to leverage MTSS structures, attendance meetings, and other structures to ensure equitable student assessment and connection to resources.
• Work closely with evaluators to support formative assessments.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required, Master's preferred;
• At least three years of experience in management and supervision in the field of Education, Public Policy, Project Management, Youth Programs;
• Three to five years of experience working in schools;
• A systems-thinking approach, with the ability to make connections and align services to better support student engagement and learning;
• The ability to ignite and support change, to encourage leaders to be open to new approaches to collaboration, time, and resources, with the goal of achieving improved outcomes;
• A deep understanding of effective community partnerships;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to build solid work relationships;
• Experience coordinating and/or managing programs in an educational, non-profit, or human services setting
• Knowledge of school environment ? tiered interventions, professional learning communities, etc.;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills;
• A high degree of cultural awareness and competency in cross-cultural practice with children and families;
• Experience developing and managing program budgets;
• Experience writing and managing grants;
• Understands and respects the diversity of families' economic, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds and situations;
• Computer literacy to include the use of Microsoft Word and Google applications;
• Knowledge of research-based strategies that support powerful family and community engagement;
• Experience in coaching and supporting adult learners

Salary/Benefits: Commensurate with experience
Application Procedure: Can be completed online at gced.k12.mn.us