Program Manager, New Teacher Induction and Mentoring

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over 330,000 students in 600 schools and employing nearly 36,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life.

In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity. Six core values are embedded within these commitments — student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.

Located within the Office of Teaching & Learning, the New Teacher Induction and Mentoring Team (NTIM) seeks to ensure equitable, rigorous, affirming schooling experiences for students, teachers, and families through research-based, collaboratively designed induction practices at the district and school levels. Currently, the NTIM supports over 1100 new teachers with a school or district-based mentor and over 200 pre-service teachers with a cooperating teacher or resident mentor as part of the CPS Residency Programs.

The Program Manager, New Teacher Induction and Mentoring will support the team’s efforts to positively impact new teacher retention through multiple district and school-based professional learning and mentoring programs. This position will collaborate with colleagues across Teaching and Learning, and serve as the primary point of contact and support for schools and teachers involved in CPS induction programs. The Program Manager will report to the Director of New Teacher Induction and Mentoring.

The Program Manager will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Develop and support teacher leaders in an ongoing effort to improve teaching and learning in classrooms
• Ensure fidelity of implementation to CPS’s high-quality approach to teacher induction by assessing, developing, and managing a tri-level induction program; including,
• Support and co-manage a new teacher summer learning series and three-day orientation for approximately 500 new teachers
• Lead district-wide cohort of teacher leaders, who mentor and provide monthly new teacher professional learning
• Manage school-based induction plans and processes
• Organize and administer the school-based mentor selection process
• Manage outreach and registration process for multiple teacher leader programs
• Coach, manage, and develop a portfolio of teacher leaders through facilitation and management of professional learning scope and sequences
• Support an induction through line from the pre-service experience to a teacher’s second year in the district
• Create and disseminate district-wide communication to all new teachers
• Develop and sustain ongoing effective partnerships with internal and external stakeholders
• Maintain flexibility of schedule, including availability on occasional nights & weekends, as required to meet the needs of the program and its participants
• Other duties as assigned

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Program Manager must possess the following qualifications:

Education Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in education, policy, or other related field(s) of study from an accredited college or university is required
• Valid teaching certificate issued by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) with appropriate grade level and content level endorsement preferred
• Master’s degree preferred

Experience

Required:

• Minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience, including the following, is required:
• Two (2) years of classroom teaching experience
• One (1) year of experience as a teacher mentor
• Project management experience
• Experience leading teachers and/or administrators preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong knowledge of adult learning theory, curriculum, instruction, assessment and professional development
• Strong leadership and team building skills, e.g. ability to develop high-performing teams united around a clear vision for serving schools and achieving student…