Network Leader

CUNY School Support Organization

Network Leader

Position Description

Overview

The CUNY School Support Organization (SSO) provides high quality instructional and operational support services to a group of New York City public schools that share a commitment to preparing all middle and high school students for success in college. The SSO has four overarching goals:

• Ensuring all students are college-ready upon graduation, having the knowledge and skills to succeed in credit-bearing courses without remediation.
• Ensuring all students have access to rigorous curriculum, instruction and assessment aligned with the Common Core Learning Standards and CUNY's college proficiency standards.
• Fostering continuous teacher growth and development driven by varied data sources and a research-based framework.
• Achieving good standing on identified city and state metrics.

The CUNY SSO offers individualized and responsive service to meet the diverse needs of each school in its network, including:

• Regular, ongoing, professional development tailored to the needs of the schools
• Instructional and leadership coaching
• Day-to-day operational and business support
• Data reports and monitoring
• Priority access to CUNY programs and services throughout the city

The CUNY Network Leader provides strategic direction to the work of the School Support Organization and works closely with school principals and SSO team members to develop and adapt the support offerings to best meet the needs of the schools in the network.

The Network Leader manages an integrated instructional and operations team of approximately 12-15 members. The team members bring a range of specialized expertise to support the schools in the network and spend most of their time in the schools.

Reports to: Executive Director, School Support & Development

Responsibilities

The Network Leader is the day-to-day leader of the School Support Organization, and as such, interacts regularly with all key constituent groups, including school principals and staff, SSO staff, DOE leaders and staff, district and high school superintendents, CUNY leaders and staff, and parents and students, as needed. The Network leader provides school principals and SSO staff members with contact information (phone and email) and will be available 24 hours a day/7 days a week to respond to emergency situations.

The Network Leader leads the development and implementation of all aspects of the School Support Organization's operations, including:

• Develop and implement structures, routines and programs for supporting schools in the network in the areas of:

• instructional issues;
• operational issues, including DOE regulations and requirements;
• organizational development & staff development;
• youth development issues;
• support for students with special needs;
• leadership issues;
• analytical and programmatic support related to the DOE's accountability measures.
• leaders at the Department of Education, including staff in the Office of School Support and the appropriate Cluster, the Division of Academics, Performance and Support; the Office of Finance & Administration and the Office of Portfolio Management;
• leaders of other collaborative programs in the University's Office of Academic Affairs;
• relevant faculty and staff at the colleges of the University, including faculty who provide services to schools within the network.

• Ensure that all requests from schools are responded to in a timely and effective manner.
• Actively maintain open lines of communication with all principals in the network. Provide confidential advice and act as a thought partner to school leaders as they manage their diverse responsibilities.
• Work with school leaders and SSO team members annually to develop and refine individualized School Support Plans that guide and align the organization's supports for each school in the network.
• Develop and oversee the implementation of the SSO's monthly tiered professional development process. This process includes regular meetings for network principals, instructional coaches, lead teachers and other key staff members. Important topics include strategies to implement the DOE's Citywide Instructional Expectations, CUNY initiatives and priorities identified by school leaders.
• Develop and implement systems for communication and effective problem solving with the following:

• Advocate for school needs and programs with appropriate offices in the Department of Education.
• Promote a service-oriented culture designed to assist principals and schools in improving student achievement and accelerating students' learning and in attaining high levels of principal satisfaction with the services and support the network provides.
• Hire, supervise and evaluate the performance of Network staff. Assign staff roles and responsibilities.
• Monitor SSO budgets.
• Prepare all necessary reports.

Qualifications

• A minimum of eight years of professional experience as a manager in educational settings
• Comprehensive understanding of educational reforms and structures in New York City, including accountability initiatives
• Comprehensive understanding of all relevant New York State policies and procedures related to standards, assessments and graduation requirements
• Proven ability in working with principals and other school staff to plan and implement major projects
• Experience managing large and diverse teams
• A demonstrated commitment to enabling public school students to succeed in college
• Outstanding organizational skills and attention to detail
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to multi-task and to respond quickly to requests
• Effectiveness in adhering to deadlines
• Proven ability to work well with others
• Master's degree in a relevant field preferred

Compensation

Commensurate with experience.

To apply, please send resume and cover letter to:

CUNY School Support Organization

cunynl@gmail.com