Deputy Chief of Schools - Elementary School Network

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.

District‑run CPS schools are organized into 17 networks. The Office of Network Support provides administrative support, strategic direction, and leadership development to the schools within each network while also driving critical support that helps to boost student learning.

Reporting to the Chief of Elementary Schools, the Deputy Chief of Elementary Schools (ONS) will support the Chief of Schools in overseeing principals within the assigned network, who are directly responsible for leveraging high quality teaching in every classroom. This role provides oversight, planning, and management for CPS’ elementary schools with the assigned network. This candidate will also monitor and assess elementary school strategy design and implementation to ensure high quality teaching and learning in every classroom and student achievement in their schools.

• Manage the transformation of schools and network support staff resulting in a dramatic increase in student achievement;
• Partner with Chief of Schools to identify, recruit and create a strong pool of highly skilled principal candidates that are committed to a standard of excellence and desired results;
• Collaborate with the Chief of Schools to assess principal leadership capacity and develop, and support execution of individualized Leadership Development Plans (“LDPs”), which includes providing weekly coaching support and conducting regular formal and informal evaluations to support the achievement of performance scorecards and goals of the LDP;
• Manage and develop Instructional Support Leaders (ISL); allocate ISL resources;
• Design and deliver Network‑wide principal and assistant principal professional development planning and development focused on building and sustaining instructional leadership capacity;
• Manage administration and operations teams, ensuring that all team members are held accountable for meeting expectations as outlined in principal scorecards;
• Serve as liaison to Support Centers; monitor schools’ operational performance and compliance, resolve open issues, and ensure principal time can be focused on instructional leadership;
• Provide ad‑hoc operational support to Principals and Network (escalated inquiries, emergencies, etc.);
• Work collaboratively with fellow colleagues to support a seamless PreK‑12 learning community, implementing a strategic plan to dramatically increase college and career readiness throughout the collaborative;
• Build collaborative relationships with a wide variety of constituent groups, including external partnerships, to ensure the entire system operates in the most effective manner possible to support school and principal needs.

• Master’s degree in Education or related field
• Valid Illinois State Board of Education Professional Educator License (PEL) or Educator License with Stipulations (out of state)

• A minimum of three (3) years of experience teaching Pre K‑12
• A minimum of four (4) complete school years of experience as a school principal or at least three (3) complete school years and at least one (1) year of experience in a district administration role
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience coaching and mentoring educators preferred
• Professional work experience in an urban setting preferred

• Ability to collaborate with the Chief of Schools in articulating a vision, setting high standards, and effectively…