ERIE CATHOLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM (ECSS)
JOB TITLE: DIRECTOR OF ACADEMICS
REPORTS TO: ECSS PRESIDENT
POSITION STATUS: FULL TIME, EXEMPT
Position Summary:
The Director of Academics contributes to the mission of the ECSS by overseeing the development, implementation, and evaluation of academically distinguished educational programs that promote student success and are aligned with the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary Schools, diocesan curriculum guidelines, and state standards.
The Director of Academics leads ECSS curriculum committees, organizes professional development to enhance instructional strategies and curriculum knowledge of educators, and supports each campus in using assessment data for continuous academic growth.
Required Qualifications:
· Practicing Catholic.
· Valid and active Pennsylvania Teaching Certificate.
· Bachelor’s degree in Curriculum.
· Demonstrated ability to perform each essential job function and carry out each responsibility, competently.
· Demonstrated adherence to the highest moral standards.
· Demonstrated commitment to the ECSS mission, vision, and philosophy.
· The President may approve appropriate or acceptable alternatives to the above.
· Would prefer at least five years successful teaching experience, preferably in a Catholic school.
· Would prefer at least three years successful administrative experience, preferably in a Catholic school.
Essential Job Functions:
Curriculum:
· Integrate Catholic Identity content across the curriculum.
· Provide training for administrators and teachers on academic standards and the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools (NSBECS), also referred to as Catholic Identity Standards.
· Collaborate with the principals to identify teachers who have demonstrated exceptional knowledge of content and curriculum and would be excellent candidates to serve as a content area lead teacher or to serve on an ECSS curriculum committee.
· Lead curriculum committees responsible for reviewing and revising curriculum and ensuring vertical and horizontal alignment across grade levels and subjects.
· Distribute system wide reports on the accomplishments of curriculum committees and their goals.
· Observe the implementation of the curriculum in the schools through structured classroom visits.
· Collaborate with directors of co-curricular and extra-curricular programs to discuss how these program extend student learning beyond the traditional classroom.
· Develop, in conjunction with program directors, co-curricular and extra-curricular plans of study and materials that are aligned with Catholic school standards.
· Determine ways to provide enrichment programs equitably across the system.
· Establish middle school electives that engage students and are available at all campuses.
· Supervise the evaluation and selection of teaching materials system wide in support of the curriculum.
· Plan and provide training for principals and teachers in the use of new curriculum materials.
Instruction:
· Identify and share current best, evidence-based instructional practices.
· Work with principals to identify and plan evidenced-based professional development that targets the specific needs of faculty and staff as identified by data.
· Conduct system wide classroom observations to see first-hand the various instructional practices being utilized.
· Convene post observation meetings with teachers to provide feedback on what was observed, listen to teachers’ instructional concerns, and recommend strategies and/or resources.
· Assist principals and teachers in the use of testing data to improve teaching strategies and instruction.
· Collaborate with the Catholic Schools Office (CSO) to provide professional development opportunities for teachers based on the NSBECS and Middle States goals.
Assessment:
· Update and maintain the ECSS Assessment Plan.
· Provide ongoing professional development related to grading and report cards.
· Provide support for school administrators in the implementation of assessments at the building level with a focus on the use of multiple assessments, including but not limited to diagnostic, formative, and summative assessments.
· Collaborate with leadership responsible for co-curricular programs/activities to determine appropriate assessment tools that measure the effectiveness of the programs/activities.
· Collaborate with the Director of Campus Ministry to determine a standards-based assessment tool that measures the effectiveness of service learning experiences.
· Ensure that all system wide assessment tools are valid, reliable, and fair.
· Ensure rater reliability when individuals are responsible for scoring assessments.
· Provide the Executive Team and the Board of Directors with comprehensive reports that include both a narrative and data on the results of all program assessments.
· Collaborate with the Vice President of Technology to provide and manage secure online data systems for assessment.
Administrative:
· Ensure compliance of state and diocesan curriculum, instruction, and assessment (CIA) standards and policies.
· Serve as the point of contact for the CSO and act as the CSO liaison to school principals, ensuring all CSO requirements are met in a timely manner.
· Serve as the liaison to the CSO for the Middle States Accreditation process.
· Develop classroom observation procedures in conjunction with the President.
· Determine a schedule to engage parents in conversations related to CIA.
· Collaborate with the Vice President of Communication, Marketing, and Enrollment, the Communications Manager, and Campus Liaisons to publish timely CIA updates and reports for faculty, staff, students, parents, and the community.
· Collaborate with the Vice President of Advancement to seek, complete, and submit grants to secure funding for academic, co-curricular, and extra-curricular programs, resources, and related professional development.
· Work with all school professional learning/data teams who are responsible for conducting standards alignment, gap analysis, curriculum development, and review processes. If schools have not established a productive, professional learning/data team, assist the principal in developing the team.
· Collaborate with the Vice President of Human Resources to plan and implement celebratory activities for principals and teachers.
· Collaborate with the Board of Directors’ Policy and Planning Committee and the principals to create and review academic policies and procedures.
· Convene a group of administrators and teachers to review and update the ECSS Parent/Guardian and Student Handbook, yearly.
· Participate in relevant professional development at the national level (e.g., Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development) to stay informed on educational trends, research, and technology to maintain a relevant and effective learning community.
· Attend Board of Directors’ meetings as necessary and requested.
· Prepare and present student achievement and academic growth data to the Executive Team and Board of Directors as requested.
· Assist the President in the development of short and long range academic plans.
· Assist the President in the development of the School Calendar and to incorporate planned professional development opportunities as appropriate throughout the school year.
· Participate in meetings with principals as scheduled by the President.
· Propose and manage a budget for program development and professional learning.
· Perform other related duties assigned by the President.
Competencies:
· Knowledge of the teachings of the Catholic Church.
· Knowledge of child and adolescent development, learning, and behavior.
· Knowledge of the ECSS PreK-8 Curriculum and the NSBECS.
· Knowledge of curriculum development and design, evidence-based instructional methods, and assessment strategies.
· Knowledge of best practices in decision-making.
· Knowledge of and skill in using effective assessment methods, managing data, and interpreting and analyzing assessment data.
· Knowledge of evidence-based practices for professional learning communities.
· Skill in leading collaborative work teams and working collaboratively with individuals across multiple educational entities.
· Skill in teaching and using evidenced-based instructional methods and assessment strategies.
· Skill in active listening and communicating effectively orally and in writing, utilizing a variety of communication tools and techniques.
· Skill in recognizing, employing, and evaluating evidenced-based instructional methods and resources and assessment strategies.
· Skill in completing teacher and staff professional observations and evaluations and conducting follow-up meetings to discuss observation ratings and comments.
· Skill in conducting administrator and teacher conferences.
· Skill in writing competitive grants.
· Skill in organizational and time management. Must be able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
· Skill in completing reports and tasks in a professional and timely manner.
· Skill in information and data management.
· Skill in critical thinking, problem solving, and strategic planning.
· Skill in delegating responsibilities.
· Skill in accurately managing program budgets.
· Skill employing job-appropriate technologies and integration of instructional technologies.
Work Conditions:
· Required to work in a professional office environment and school environment, with 40% to 50% of the time conducting classroom observations.
· Be visible on the five campuses throughout the school year. The time spent at each campus should be in direct proportion to enrollment, as well as the curriculum needs of faculty.
· Professional attire, as outlined in the ECSS Administrative Dress Code, is required.
· Required to work some evenings and weekends.
· Required travel among school campuses, parishes, and sites outside of the Erie area necessitates the incumbent to have a vehicle and valid driver’s license to attend job related meetings, seminars, and professional development.
· Required to manage all levels of stress.
· All Erie Catholic positions require on-campus attendance; remote work and flexible scheduling options are not offered.
Property and Confidentiality Requirements:
All property, including intellectual property, materials, equipment, actual products, and services developed or accrued as part of the job duties and responsibilities listed above, is the property of the ECSS. It may not be used for personal profit or gain and will be relinquished to the ECSS upon termination of employment from the ECSS. In addition, the person employed in this position shall maintain confidentiality with regard to the personal and private information about students, faculty, and staff; programs and services; and any other proprietary information accrued as a result of Erie Catholic’s employment or as required by state or federal laws and regulations.
Note: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, competencies, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may be assigned or changed at any time with or without notice.
ECSS is committed to equal employment opportunity and employs all qualified persons without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age handicap, or any other classification protected by the federal, state, or local laws.
Job Type: Full-time
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
