Title: Program Manager (Office of School Transformation)

Reports to: Director, Office of School Transformation  

Managerial Tier C

About the Office of School Transformation

The Office of School Transformation (OST) is responsible for supporting the progress and sustainability of schools in BPS that have been identified as in Need of Intervention and Assistance by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (these are often known as “Turnaround” or “Transformation” schools). Currently, there are 33 Transformation Schools in BPS supported by the Office of School Transformation. OST takes a dual approach to supporting these schools: first, by facilitating high-leverage supports and activities directly with school teams; and by working with district offices and leaders to create a system of district supports and practices that make accelerated improvement possible and sustainable. 

 

This year, BPS is taking a strategic approach to supporting school Transformation, providing every Transformation school with additional personnel and resources, and aligning Transformation planning, monitoring, and support around common expectations and practices. OST plays a critical role in operationalizing this strategy within individual schools, and in ensuring they receive necessary support from the district.

 

Position Overview

Just as the Office of School Transformation balances a focus between district-level systems and school-level supports, the Program Manager will balance time leading projects and coordinating support with internal stakeholders, and providing intensive support for a specific portfolio of schools (likely ~7-10 schools as of August 2020). 

 

The ideal candidate has a mindset of continuous improvement, a commitment to educational equity, and the ability to work effectively alongside school leaders and their teams, district staff and leadership team members, and external stakeholders. Candidates must be willing to reflect on and grow their capacity to have conversations about equity, anti-racism, and the practices, systems, and conditions that marginalize students.

 

While some processes and projects the Program Manager will facilitate with schools are based in part on technical requirements from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the mission of the Office of School Transformation is to provide schools a process of continuous improvement that addresses the authentic, adaptive challenges of school improvement, and to support leaders and their teams in identifying the underlying conditions and mindsets that pose barriers to educational equity. 

 

Responsibilities

Provide dedicated support and facilitation for Transformation-related activities to a portfolio of Transformation Schools. These activities may include:

• Quarterly, convening school leaders and their teams to identify barriers to progress, and convene cross-functional district teams to support schools to address these challenges
• Managing Transformation Plan Coordinators (school-based staff who receive a stipend for additional responsibilities associated with this role) to effectively track schools’ progress on their Transformation plans
• Facilitating the reflection, data analysis, and writing necessary for school teams to revise and renew their Transformation Plan each year
• Setting up systems (routines, tools, etc.) to assist school efforts to track and make progress towards Measurable Annual Goals
• Supporting schools to strategically align additional resources (Transformation grants, partnership funds, etc) to their Transformation priorities
• Providing thought-partnership and problem solving to school teams on other specific challenges impacting their ability to make rapid improvement

With the OST team, plan and launch Transformation efforts for newly identified Transformation Schools. Specific responsibilities may include:

• Managing stakeholder engagement and input for a newly designated school, and communicating with staff, students, and community members about the Transformation process
• Managing the transformation plan development process for a newly designated school
• Supporting collective bargaining efforts to address potential changes in working conditions, if applicable
• Curating resources and tools to improve the effectiveness of the activities above

With the OST team, serve a connecting and coordinating role for district alignment of supports and strategies for Transformation Schools. Specific responsibilities may include: 

• Serve as primary liaison to assigned district departments or teams to increase understanding and access to that content area
• Facilitate cross-departmental workgroups to problem solve common issues that arise across Transformation Schools or to support the Transformation Strategy’s development and evolution
• Participate in cross-departmental meetings to ensure discussions and decisions align with OST strategy and the needs of schools

Qualifications - Required

• Bachelor degree required
• Graduate degree in education, public policy, or management field, or a combination of other learning and work experiences that are demonstrated to be commensurate with this requirement
• Demonstrated excellence in analytical thinking and problem-solving
• Strong group facilitation, oral and written communication, and interpersonal skills, including the ability to exemplify cultural competence and manage relationships with racially, culturally, and educationally diverse stakeholders
• Extensive project management experience, organizing multiple complex projects under tight deadlines and achieving goals successfully
• Demonstrated experience leading a team and/or coordinating work with multiple internal/external stakeholder groups
• Ability to integrate data analysis into strategy development and to use data to support implementation of strategies at school and district levels

Qualifications - Preferred:

• 5+ years experience working in or with a school district or other K12 public educational setting is strongly preferred
• Specific training or prior professional experience in a role that required coaching adults is strongly preferred
• Bi-lingual capability preferred (the Office of School Transformation supports multiple Spanish dual language school communities)

TERMS:Managerial, C52. City of Boston residency is required.

 

Please refer to www.bostonpublicschools.org/ohc (under "Employee Benefits and Policies") for more information on salary and compensation.  Salaries are listed by Unions and Grade/Step.

 

The Boston Public Schools, in accordance with its nondiscrimination policies, does not discriminate in its programs, facilities, or employment or educational opportunities on the basis of race, color, age, criminal record (inquiries only), disability, homelessness, sex/gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, genetics or military status, and does not tolerate any form of retaliation, or bias-based intimidation, threat or harassment that demeans individuals’ dignity or interferes with their ability to learn or work.