Department: Office of Civil Rights

Reports to: Senior Legal Director

Location: Central Office

 

The Boston Public Schools Office of Civil Rights

 

Overview:

Founded in 1647, Boston Public Schools (BPS) is the oldest public school district in the country. With approximately 46,000 students from over 100 countries, and over 8,000 employees, the BPS is the largest school district in Massachusetts.   

 

The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) aims to ensure that the Boston Public Schools is an educational and working environment unimpeded by bias or discrimination, where individuals of all backgrounds and experiences are welcomed, included, encouraged, and can succeed and flourish. The OCR is charged with helping to ensure a workplace free of bias and discrimination, and establish greater coherence in safeguarding the rights of our students with disabilities and our multilingual learners. The Office has primary responsibility for investigating reports of possible violations of internal policies, state and federal law, regarding bias-based conduct and sexual misconduct; and engaging in proactive efforts to prevent such conduct through training, education, and other forms of engagement and intervention. In addition, the Office responds to disability and religious accommodation requests (primarily from employees). OCR will report to the Superintendent’s Office and operate in close collaboration with other Central Office departments and with our schools to uphold the district’s educational and legal responsibilities. Importantly, this Office will also expand the equity training continuum for district staff and improve our response to workplace microaggressions and bias-based conduct at Central and in schools.

 

Position Overview:

 

The Director of Training and School Support will assist the Office of Civil Rights in carrying out the district's responsibilities to attain employment and educational equity, including but not limited to management of the Office of Civil Rights, analysis and advising on matters pertaining to concerns regarding bias-based conduct and sexual misconduct, and implementation of non-discrimination and equal opportunity policies.

 

The Director’s two primary roles are to manage and facilitate training sessions regarding the district’s internal Equity policies (“circulars”), and manage and support a high volume of intake of concerns related to bias-based conduct and sexual misconduct in schools. The role also includes overseeing other forms of Equity-related school support, including training and consultation to school administrators and school based investigators, and the 24/7 Respect educational program.

 

We are seeking a highly skilled, energetic, committed, collaborative individual to join our team.

 

Responsibilities

• Prepare, administer and conduct mandatory, remedial, and voluntary training sessions and presentations for school leaders, school based investigators, Central Office staff, educators, and other employees on preventing and addressing bias-based conduct and sexual misconduct as defined by BPS internal policies, and other related topics (including but not limited to investigative processes).
• Prepare, administer and conduct training sessions and presentations for students, families, partner organizations, and other stakeholders on preventing and addressing bias-based conduct and sexual misconduct as defined by BPS internal policies and other related topics.
• Manage the intake, triage, and documentation of concerns alleging possible violations of BPS Equity policies impacting employees, students, families, and third parties who interact with them at District-sponsored events and in District buildings in partnership with the Director of Compliance and Title IX Coordinator. Oversee data analysis and generate reports regarding intake and other Office of Equity response efforts.
• Manage all aspects of school support, including training and coaching of school administrators in preventing and addressing bias-based and sexual misconduct that impacts students, and overseeing the Office of Equity’s LGBTQ+ student support efforts, the 24/7 Respect educational program, and online resources for classrooms. 
• Assist in the development, oversight, implementation, and enforcement of BPS Equity policies and protocols to ensure that the district does not engage in discriminatory or bias-based practices.
• Supervise Office of Civil Rights intake and school support staff
• Serve as the Office of Civil Rights representative on district-wide cross-functional teams to apply an equity lens, which may include (but not be limited to) working groups on employee compensation review or the Code of Conduct.
• Provide effective and supportive coaching to school administrators and others who may seek assistance in addressing Equity-related concerns in schools and the investigative process.
• Perform other tasks as assigned by the Senior Legal Director, including assisting with internal investigations of alleged bias-based conduct or sexual misconduct as needed.

 

Qualifications - Required:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Demonstrated knowledge of civil rights laws, particularly related to disability and religious accommodation, disparate treatment, and various forms of discriminatory harassment, including sexual harassment
• Excellent training facilitation skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Demonstrated experience with program design and project management, working under tight deadlines to achieve goals
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills
• Ability to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to work effectively in a team-oriented, fast-paced environment both within the Office and across the district, initiating and maintaining cooperative relationships with individuals at every level of the internal organization as well as students, families, and external stakeholders. 
• Able to work independently, applying impeccable judgment, discretion, and integrity.
• Ability and willingness to reflect and constantly improve on job performance. 
• Demonstrated commitment to continually developing cultural competence, with a history of working effectively with people who are members of a wide variety of protected categories and other identities.
• Current authorization to work in the United States by the first day of employment.

 

Qualifications - Preferred:

• Prior work experience in the field of urban public education and/or knowledge of the Boston Public Schools. 
• Experience achieving compliance with anti-discrimination laws, including Title IX, in the workplace and/or education.
• Proven leadership skills.
• Demonstrated experience advising senior level managers.
• Advanced degree in Human Resources, Education, Law, Policy, Public Administration or other relevant field.
• Working knowledge of Google and Microsoft Office products, including Google Docs, Drive, Calendar, Sheets, and Slides, and Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Data analysis and report generation skills.
• Bilingual in Spanish, Haitian Creole, or Mandarin.

 

Qualities: 

• Results-oriented team player who can work collaboratively, but is also able to take initiative and work independently. “Can-do,” “all hands on deck” attitude.
• Ability to maintain neutrality and confidentiality.
• Exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to manage stress effectively.
• A passionate commitment to achieving a bias-free workplace and bias-free schools, and a firm belief that there is no more urgent task than ensuring that every child in Boston has equitable access to a high-quality public education.

 

Essential functions of the job include, but are not limited to: 

• Physical presence in the Office during the times that employees and students may contact the Office or require training, which may sometimes include early morning, evening and weekend hours. 
• Expert knowledge of state and federal civil rights laws.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work at a computer for several hours daily.
• Ability to travel throughout the district.

 

Terms: Managerial, D61. 

 

Please refer to www.bostonpublicschools.org/ohc (under "Employee Benefits and Policies") for more information on salary and compensation.  

 

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.