This full-time, year around position at the Regional Professional Development Center (RPDC), part of the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s School of Education, is primarily funded through a contract with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The mission of the UMKC School of Education is to recruit, prepare and support teachers, mental health professionals and administrators who will create lifelong opportunities through education for America’s diverse urban communities. The physical location of the RPDC is Union Station, 30 W. Pershing Rd., KCMO Suite 401.
The District Continuous Improvement Secondary MTSS Team Consultant provides training and assistance, including job-embedded professional development, to PK-12 teachers and administrators in the Kansas City area in the elements of District Continuous Improvement Secondary MTSS Team Consultant and collaborative teacher Data Teams for improved student achievement. This position will include knowledge about the science of reading work as that will be an area of emphasis in our training/coaching and with Teacher Academy work next year.
This position reports to the Director of the UMKC RPDC and works collaboratively with Missouri’s DESE staff to serve Missouri PK-12 educators, assist with statewide school improvement issues, and to perform other duties as assigned.
Major Responsibilities and Activities:
- Provide professional development, technical assistance, and on-site support to districts and schools in District Continuous Improvement DCI is to ensure:
- high-performing collaborative data teams;
- data-based decision-making to inform instruction;
- the development and use of common formative assessments; and;
- the use of effective instructional practices.
- Assist districts and schools in monitoring and evaluating the fidelity and implementation level of District Continuous Improvement DCI;
- Assist districts and schools in the collection and analysis of data;
- Provide training and support to district and school leaders in the essential leadership components of the District Continuous Improvement DCI processes;
- Collaborate with DESE and other RPDC consultants throughout the state to provide consistent and high-quality standards for implementing the District Continuous Improvement DCI processes in schools and districts;
- Participate in required trainings and collaborative planning meetings with other RPDC coordinators and DESE for school/district improvement;
- Attend appropriate professional development opportunities upon prior approval from the center director and DESE leadership to keep current with changing school needs and share new knowledge with other consultants locally and statewide;
- Assist DESE with collection of district and school data for statewide analysis and dissemination;
- Provide technical support, materials, and resources to support school improvement efforts in other regions;
- Engage in shared learning with other RPDC consultants to build common language, skills and strategies to assist schools/districts in school improvement efforts;
- Complete and submit required documentation accurately and completely;
- Monitor and operate within overlapping deadlines, including project, fiscal, and academic;
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Skills and Knowledge:
This position requires comprehensive knowledge of:
- Methodology and implementation processes regarding:
- creating a collaborative culture;
- leadership and effective teaming;
- assessment for learning (common formative assessments);
- goal-setting (collective inquiry and problem-solving);
- continuous learning;
- research-based effective instructional practices with literacy instruction;
- knowledge regarding the component of the science of reading;
- data (collecting, analyzing, and data-based decision-making).
- Effective professional development standards for adult learners.
- Change process and systems change;
- Integration of school improvement efforts;
- Culturally-responsive teaching;
- Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support;
- Response to Intervention (RtI);
- DESE Literacy model and Reading Initiative;
- High Schools That Work, Making Middle Grades Work, and Technology Centers That Work;
- Missouri Turnaround Network;
- Missouri Priority Standards (Common Core);
- Missouri Model Curriculum;
- Missouri Educator Standards and Quality Indicators;
- Essential Principles of Effective Evaluation;
- Implementation and scaling up theory/practice;
- Cultural awareness;
- Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP 6).
Base skills of this position include:
- Effective meeting management and processes/protocols;
- Coaching, presenting, consulting, and facilitating skills;
- Conflict resolution and problem-solving processes;
- Leadership skills;
- Use of technology to enhance professional development.
NOTE: This position is externally funded and is renewed annually based on performance and continued funding.
