Chief for Academic Support, Improvement, and Special Populations

Chief for Academic Support, Improvement, and Special Populations

Rhode Island Department of Education Rhode Island Department of Education - Providence , Rhode Island Open in Google Maps

Job : 5892763
Final date to receive applications: Aug 25, 2026 11:59 PM (UTC)
Posted: Aug 19, 2026 12:00 AM (UTC)
Starting Date: To Be Determined

The Rhode Island Department of Education seeks a dynamic leader to advance the agency's strategic vision through the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of statewide education improvement initiatives. The ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional communication skills and experience in leadership, management and collaboration. Teamwork and mutually supportive methods are ascribed as successful outcomes and are necessary for providing high-quality service and achieving high standards of performance.

TITLE:

Chief for Academic Support, Improvement, and Special Populations
ORGANIZATIONAL CENTER:
This position reports to the Deputy Commissioner.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES:
The Chief for Academic Support, Improvement, and Special Populations serves as a senior executive leader responsible for advancing the agency's strategic vision through the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of statewide education improvement initiatives. The incumbent leads agency-wide strategic planning, accountability alignment, continuous improvement systems, and organizational effectiveness efforts to improve student outcomes and strengthen district and school performance.
The Chief for Academic Support, Improvement, and Special Populations is also responsible for leading, managing, and providing technical assistance to district and school personnel and parents to ensure that all children -- especially those with disabilities and, learning English as a second language -- are instructed by well-prepared teachers using proven methods. Incumbent is responsible for leading the state initiative on achievement gap closure using all tools at his or her disposal including federal funding, state policy and regulations, and community and parent partnerships.

Incumbent is responsible for ensuring state compliance with all federal and state regulations to include civil rights requirements associated with Title III, and IDEA.
The Chief for Academic Support, Improvement, and Special Populations collaborates across agency divisions, local education agencies (LEAs), state partners, and external stakeholders to align policies, programs, resources, and data systems with strategic priorities. This position provides executive leadership for statewide improvement planning, implementation science and evidence-based decision-making while ensuring compliance with state and federal accountability requirements. Incumbent also serves as a member of the Commissioner’s senior leadership team.
LEADERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND

COLLABORATION:

The functions of leadership, management and collaboration are to be integrated so as to achieve both product and process objectives. Teamwork and mutually supportive methods are ascribed as successful outcomes and are necessary for providing high-quality service and achieving high standards of performance. Work must be conducted in ways that include and involve those who have a stake in the outcome and must ensure that issues related to equity and special needs are addressed in a comprehensive fashion.

Must work in collaboration with other team members to support the Department’s strategic plan’s priorities, including extensive work with cross-functional teams and with community stakeholders. The context for this work must be strong advocacy for students and schools and a positive commitment to the role of the Department of Education as a central state level advocate.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED:
Works in cooperation with colleagues with considerable latitude for the exercise of initiative and independent judgment; work is reviewed upon completion of results obtained and on collaborative process used in achieving results. The Chief for Academic Support, Improvement, and Special Populations is subject to an annual performance assessment.
SUPERVISION…