Chief Schools Officer

Full-Time and Permanent; 7.5 Hours/Day; 252 Days/Year; 12 Months/Year;
Grade EXEC DEFINITION

The Chief Schools Officer (CSO) provides executive leadership for the continuous improvement, performance, and well-being of all schools in Norfolk Public Schools. The CSO has direct oversight of school improvement; principal and building-level leadership; principal professional development; student wellness and support services; school attendance and graduation rates; multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS); specialty programs; school accountability; and school accreditation. The CSO ensures that schools are coherently supported, strategically aligned, and held accountable for student outcomes while fostering strong collaboration across the Executive Leadership Team.

This position reports directly to the Superintendent of Schools and serves as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team.

Executive Leadership Team.

Executive level duties are performed under the general direction of the Superintendent of Schools. Work is reviewed primarily for compatibility with the school division’s goals and objectives and the requirements of the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). Supervision is exercised through subordinate executive and senior directors, senior coordinators, building administrators, and a staff of professional administrators who serve in a variety of educational specialties.

This is a single-position executive class with division-wide responsibility for school leadership, school improvement, student support systems, accountability, accreditation, and the integration of academic and wellness supports to improve student outcomes. The role is distinguished by its emphasis on coherence, cross-departmental collaboration, and direct support of principals as the primary drivers of school improvement.

• Lead and implement a comprehensive, data-driven school improvement framework that drives sustained gains in student achievement, student growth, and well-being, including reductions in chronic absenteeism and dropout rates and improvements in graduation outcomes.
• Ensure alignment among the division’s Strategic Plan, School Board goals, accreditation requirements, and individual Continuous School Improvement Plans.
• Oversee school accountability systems, including performance monitoring, progress reporting, and continuous improvement cycles.
• Ensure compliance with state and federal accountability and accreditation requirements.
• Ensure the effective management, coaching, and mentorship of school leaders in ways that drive significant student achievement gains.
• Provide direct leadership, supervision, coaching, and evaluation of principals and other building-level leaders.
• Design and oversee a comprehensive system of principal professional development aligned to division priorities, leadership standards, and school improvement needs.
• Build leadership capacity by identifying, developing, mentoring, and retaining highly effective school leaders.
• Support principals in establishing strong instructional programs, positive school culture, effective use of data, and equitable practices.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the Department of School Leadership Development (DOSLD), ensuring strategies are student-focused and aligned with each school’s mission, core values, academic standards, and goals.
• Develop and lead the DOSLD administrators in their roles as instructional leaders.
• Assist DOSLD staff in developing annual strategic goals as well as plans to meet those goals.
• Oversee DOSLD departmental budget(s); review all personnel requests from principals.
• Oversee student wellness services, including school psychologists, social workers, school nurses, and related student support personnel.
• Ensure the effective design and implementation of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) that integrate academic, behavioral, social-emotional, and mental health supports.
• Monitor the effectiveness of student support services and ensure alignment with school improvement goals and student needs.
• Provide executive oversight of specialty programs to ensure quality,…