Chief of Schools

Posting Date Primary Location

Central-42 West Madison Street (Network Support)

CPS Non-Union Job Grade : S13

Position Type :
Non-Union Position

Exempt

Job Summary

Reporting to the Chief Schools Officer, the Chief of Schools, Options Schools will serve as the chief executive for the Options School Network, a network of 38 high schools serving students all over the city. With school principals serving as critical agents in accomplishing the district’s vision, the Chief’s most important role is supporting, developing, coaching, and supervising principals’ instructional leadership.

The Chief of Schools works in collaboration with local school councils and CPS departments to identify, prepare, place and retain great principals in network schools; create a climate of professional collaboration by establishing structures that foster shared learning and resource exchange across networks and schools; and implement a strategic plan to anchor the work of the network in improving student achievement.

Chiefs also leverage network and district resources strategically to effectively support students and schools.

This is a full-time, exempt position that will be paid for time worked on a salary basis.

The Chief of Schools, Options will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

Supervise and support school leaders and schools in the Network by:

Developing the ability of principals and their instructional leadership teams to develop, implement and monitor a strategic plan that helps meet student achievement goals. This includes assisting principals and their teams in engaging in root cause analyses, developing theories of action and building coherent multi-year strategies.

Support principals’ development and implementation of their school’s Continuous Improvement Work Plan (“CIWP”), including the change management process needed to implement transformation initiatives at the school-level.

Working with school leaders to closely monitor school improvement through a cycle of continuous improvement and sound management practices.

Assessing the leadership capacity of each principal and their leadership teams (including teacher leaders and Assistant Principals) and developing an individualized Leadership Development Plan (“LDP”) for each leader; conducting regular performance evaluations to support the goals in the LDPs.

Providing frequent, actionable feedback to assist principals and their leadership teams in improving in their leadership practice and achieve better results.

Work collaboratively with CPS, city, and non‑profit colleagues to support a rigorous and relevant high school learning experience for students who face significant barriers to high school graduation.

As needed, manage the process for students transferring into Options Schools; ensuring Options Schools are following all transfer policies and procedures.

For contract, Alternative Learning Opportunity Programs, and charter schools, manage and/or support the evaluation and reporting of school performance against the District’s academic, financial, and operational expectations and the renewal of existing school contracts, including application launch, evaluation, and community engagement to drive effective decision‑making.

Assess principal quality within the network and effectively plan for, facilitate and/or execute school leadership transitions as needed (including succession planning), in consultation and partnership with the Office of Network Support, Department of Principal Quality and Talent Office.

Identify, recruit and engage in the selection of new principals able to successfully lead school improvement efforts.

Develop a high‑performing community of principals who leverage one another’s strengths and support one another in achieving shared goals. This may include via principal network meetings, peer mentoring, and/or individual job‑embedded coaching focused on instructional leadership.

Develop and build a high‑performing network team focused on supporting the work of school leaders and their leadership teams. This support should include activities that:

Foster meaningful relationships with families and community…