Director of Career Connected Learning - Missouri [Remote]

Job Description: Director of Career Connected Learning -  Missouri

Organization: Collegiate Edu-Nation (CEN)

Position Title: Director of Career Connected Learning 

Salary Range: $85,000-$95,000

Location: Missouri (Remote with required minimum of once a month travel across partner school districts as well as Texas for a minimum of 4 training sessions per year)

Position Type: Full-Time / Administrative Leadership 

Reports To: Chief of Schools / Executive Leadership

OVERVIEW of Collegiate Edu-Nation

Collegiate Edu-Nation (CEN) is a technical assistance provider that facilitates the transformation of rural student outcomes and rural workforce development by partnering with local school, community, and business leaders to establish and support regionally relevant P-20 education systems. CEN acts as an intermediary by connecting member school districts with training and resources in a number of critical areas, including capacity building, intentional service supports, statewide networking, professional development, and continuous improvement systems. CEN advances a future-focused vision of college and career readiness through affordable access, transformative educator development, and exemplary technical support.

Position Overview

The Director of CEN Career Connected Learning Implementation serves as a member of the School Impact Team bringing evidence-based practices into classrooms across Missouri network districts. Reporting to the Chief of Schools, this role is responsible for the successful execution, coaching, and evaluation of the 7 Essential Elements of the Collegiate Edu-Nation (CEN) P20 model to drive exceptional student outcomes, support workforce alignment, and reduce generational poverty.

The Director works directly with district leaders, campus administrators, and teachers to increase student engagement, improve student achievement, and build educator capacity within the CEN Model. Key responsibilities include facilitating professional development, conducting instructional learning walks and rounds, supporting intervention programs, supporting career connected learning activities, college and career pathways and ensuring the implementation of High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) aligned with Missouri learning standards.

Key Responsibilities & Essential Functions

1. Implementation of the 7 CEN Essential Elements

The Director leads strategy, coaching, evaluation, supervision, and scaling for seven core CEN model elements:

• Culture of Innovation: Foster an environment of creativity, vision, and forward-thinking leadership. Guide districts in building strategic alignment, collaborative stakeholder engagement, and structured mentoring systems.
• College & Career Pathways Framework:
  • Provide comprehensive coaching and technical assistance to rural school leaders and teams launching or expanding college and career pathways.
  • Oversee college design, higher education and industry partnerships, work-based learning (WBL) continua, dual-credit access, and College and Career Readiness standards.
  • Ensure pathways include a vertically aligned, age-appropriate career-connected learning continuum from middle grades through graduation. 
  • Support cross-sector collaboration between K–12, higher education, and workforce partners to ensure successful program design and execution.
• Data-Informed Decision Making:
  Train educators and assist campus leaders in analyzing nationally normed assessments (e.g., NWEA MAP), curriculum-based assessments, summative/formative data, and centralized data tools to drive instructional adjustments, monitor CCMR, and refine district practices.
• Learning Walks & Instructional Rounds: Lead structured, evidence-based classroom walkthroughs and Harvard-style instructional rounds with campus leaders to evaluate instructional effectiveness, analyze trends, address Problems of Practice, and provide actionable feedback.
• Student-Centered Instructional Design:
  • Guide the selection, analysis, and execution of High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM), Research-Based Instructional Strategies (RBIS), and models such as Experiential Learning, Blended Learning, PBL, and STEM.
  • Demonstrate and communicate researched-based instructional practices that engage all students in high-cognition learning environments.
• Student-Directed Research (SDR & 4-H): Direct K–12 student-led research initiatives in partnership with university extension networks (e.g., University of Missouri Extension / 4-H). Oversee grade-level research progression and annual showcases.
• College and Career Support Alignment: Support systemwide college and career readiness frameworks (including instruction, systems, leadership, and culture) to ensure equitable access to postsecondary preparation skills, structured instructional strategies, and a strong college-going identity across secondary campuses.

2. Professional Development, Coaching & Instructional Support

• Train-the-Trainer Leadership: Participate in and complete CEN Train-the-Trainer professional development opportunities (requiring travel to Texas network headquarters/partner sites) to fully internalize the CEN P20 model, master High Cognition frameworks, and provide turnkey training to Missouri educators and leaders.
• GOCSD RWL Transformational Teacher Training: Participate in and complete the training to align it with CEN seven essential elements.
• Teacher & Administrator Coaching: Provide job-embedded, individual, and group coaching to campus leaders and classroom teachers. Model lessons when appropriate, support classroom motivation/management strategies, and foster ongoing professional growth.
• Intervention & Technology Support: Monitor intervention programs through observations and teacher meetings. Instruct and support educators with curriculum software products and classroom/curriculum-related technologies.
• Professional Learning Delivery: Design, facilitate and conduct high-impact PD workshops, Virtual PLCs (VPLCs), and onboarding modules focused on HQIM lesson internalization, RBIS, and data literacy. Attend relevant conferences to internalize new innovative strategies for implementation.

3. Personnel Management & Team Leadership (possible future expansion)

• Assign and monitor work priorities to ensure timely completion of administrative, data management, event coordination, and project support activities.
• Conduct regular check-ins and performance evaluations in alignment with CEN policies and expectations.
• Develop systems and processes that maximize team efficiency and foster a collaborative, mission-driven team culture.

4. Curriculum, Artifacts & Missouri State Alignment

• Ensure instructional strategies and HQIM choices align with Missouri Learning Standards, DESE guidance (including evidence-based literacy/Science of Reading initiatives and math standards), and local workforce needs.
• Maintain accurate documentation of district visits, creation of artifacts, data collection and matrix tracking of network outcomes.
• Work flexibly to accommodate teacher schedules and adapt to varying district-specific needs and goals.

5 . Collaboration Across Systems and Strategic Alignment

• Communicates clearly and consistently with diverse stakeholders across organizations, school districts, and states.
• Builds strong partnerships, fosters trust, and facilitates collaboration across organizational boundaries.
• Adapts to different organizational cultures, navigates priorities, and develops collaborative solutions.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Education: Master's Degree required (preferably in Educational Leadership or Curriculum and Instruction).
• Certification: Valid Missouri Educator or Administrator Certification (e.g., Principal or Superintendent Certification).
• Experience:
  • Minimum of 5 years of successful K–12 core-content classroom teaching experience (ELA or Math preferred; rural public school experience is a plus).
  • Experience with experiential learning and blended learning environments preferred.
  • Minimum of 3–5 years of instructional coaching, campus leadership, or district-level administration.
  • Demonstrated experience conducting classroom walkthroughs, instructional rounds, and formal teacher observation/feedback cycles.
  • Proven track record in facilitating adult professional development, PLCs, and using assessment data tools (e.g., NWEA MAP, curriculum-based assessments) to drive instruction.
  • Experience implementing Early College/Pathway models, CTE, College and Career Support programs, or Work-Based Learning pathways.
  • Experience supervising, coaching, and developing staff members is preferred.

• Knowledge & Skills:
  • Deep familiarity with Missouri Learning Standards, DESE curriculum alignment frameworks, and High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM).
  • Strong background in college/career readiness, early college systems, and work-based learning continua.
  • Skilled in systems design, cross-sector partnership development (K–12, higher ed, industry), and managing multiple projects across rural settings.
  • Ability to build confidential, collegial, and productive relationships with school administrators, teachers, and external stakeholders.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

• Travel:  
  • Requires regional travel (50–60% of the time) across partner school districts in Missouri, postsecondary institutions, and community partners. 
  • Requires periodic travel to Texas (including CEN headquarters/partner sites) to complete mandatory Train-the-Trainer professional development, model internalization, and state network alignment.
• Environment: Remote home office setup with consistent use of virtual collaboration and project management tools.
• Physical Demands: Requires prolonged sitting or standing. Occasional physical exertion to manually move, lift, carry, pull, or push heavy objects/materials, along with occasional stooping, bending, and reaching.
• Occasional attendance at state or national CEN events and conferences.