Chief Teaching & Learning Officer

Chief Teaching & Learning Officer

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 325,000 students in 500+ schools and employing over 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. Aligned with our transformed philosophy, we are steadfastly focused on ensuring that the District provides resources equitably to support every student, every school, and every community. Six core values guide the work we do every day for our students student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning. Each role in the district supports our vision that every student deserves a rigorous, joyful, and equitable learning experience. The Office of Teaching and Learning (T & L) provides school administrators and teachers with the professional learning and resources needed to engage students in rich and rewarding learning experiences. The Office is comprised of various academic and support departments, which work collaboratively to support students' growth and progress in meeting or exceeding state standards for academic excellence.

Job Summary: Reporting to the Chief Education Officer, the Chief Teaching & Learning Officer will be responsible for establishing a holistic, research-based strategy for school support that advances the district's Instructional Core Vision. This position will oversee the implementation of a PreK-12 Curriculum System, continuous improvement work plans, content departments, and the coaching and development of leaders through formalized goal setting and alignment/convergence of work across academic departments. The Chief Teaching & Learning Officer will also oversee the district's investments in instructional improvement, including an aligned system of collaboration with the Office of Network Supports, District Networks, school leaders, teachers, school-based coaches, and teacher leaders.

Responsibilities include providing the strategic vision for the Office of Teaching & Learning in alignment with the Chief Schools Officer, Network Chiefs, and other central office departments; leading the design, delivery, and facilitation of a coherent system of professional learning aligned to the district's Instructional Core Vision; leading the district-wide implementation and continuous improvement of Skyline, the district's PreK-12 digital curriculum system; partnering with the Chief Schools Officer and Network Chiefs to identify and coordinate deployment of differentiated academic supports based on essential data; leading content specialists and directors in planning for large-scale, district-wide events, and professional development; leading the district's efforts to implement the district's vision and commitment to a balanced assessment system; supervising and evaluating directors by modeling growth mindset, effective collaboration, data utilization and problem solving; providing guidance to departments on increasing student access to early college and career credit opportunities; clearly communicating the T&L priorities to network staff and principals; actively engaging in dialogue with varying stakeholders to inform the effectiveness of the work of T&L and driving district decision-making and implementation around academic practices and policies.

Qualifications include a Master's degree in Education or related field from an accredited college or university, a valid teaching certificate/Professional Educator's License (PEL) issued by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) with an administrative endorsement, and a minimum of ten (10) years of relevant professional experience, including seven (7) years of leadership experience within a complex educational organization and three (3) years of school leadership experience, preferably as a principal. Demonstrated experience in teaching; designing and building curriculum; developing assessments and analyzing student performance data; experience developing differentiated instructional strategies that address achievement gaps and creating, organizing, and leading professional learning experiences for teacher leaders; and experience in professional project and change management are preferred.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities include the ability to articulate a vision, set high standards, and effectively guide schools and principals in the realization of expectations set; expertise in leadership development and instructional leadership; ability to coach directors and managers toward excellence, build capacity of content area teams, and develop meaningful and high-impact professional communities for teachers and school leaders; strong communication skills; high levels of instructional expertise, integrity, honesty, credibility, and the courage to make difficult yet necessary decisions; effective strategic planning capabilities; strong leadership and team building skills; knowledge of operations, budget/finance, management, and organizational development; 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; and ability to define problems, analyze data, and outline valid conclusions and action steps.

Conditions of employment include establishing/maintaining Chicago residency and benefits including comprehensive health coverage, retirement and savings options, and competitive paid time off policies.