College & Career Readiness - Director-Climate Justice Programs - 1.0 FTE
Job ID
22946
Location
BESC
Full/Part Time
Full-Time
Regular/Temporary
Regular
Posting Timeline
This job is open until filled. Applications will be reviewed as received. Portland Public Schools reserves the right to make a hiring decision at any point during the posting period.
Position Details
BASIC FUNCTION:
Under administrative direction, provide leadership to coordinate district efforts in promoting climate justice and sustainability across Portland Public Schools in terms of academics, youth leadership, community engagement, professional learning, and district operations; develop and implement climate change and climate justice curriculum, and promote youth leadership--including access to career, technical education and innovative mentorship opportunities, strategic community partnerships, and district sustainability efforts--as well as the requisite professional learning to support this work across the system with fidelity; develop, implement, monitor and evaluate operational and/or instructional vision and focused plans for assigned programs; supervise and support professional educators and administrators in program activities; manage operational support activities, staff and budgets; implement the District’s Racial Equity Policy ensuring a culture of high expectation which provides every student with equitable access to high quality and culturally relevant instruction.
REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES:
Program Management and Leadership
Collaboratively facilitate the development and implementation of a full K-12 articulation of transformative standards-based Climate Change and Climate Justice curriculum, integrated into core science and social sciences/humanities units of study, following the GVC Process and involving educators, youth, and strategic community partners and in alignment with the district vision for graduates of PPS
Coordinate with Career and Technical Education, Facilities and Assets Management, and community partners to offer an array of authentic learning opportunities for students to identify and access career and continuing education pathways in the field of sustainability, Green Jobs, public policy, and other means through which they can practice applying innovative solutions to the climate crisis.
Transform district practices in sustainability and climate justice by developing and managing a district-wide plan for promoting sustainability in terms of both education and operations as guided by the PPS School Board Climate Crisis Response Policy*; collaboratively develop goals, benchmarks, metrics, methods for progress monitoring, and public accountability/reporting.
Cultivate and promote authentic partnerships with members of frontline communities, frontline-serving organizations, and culturally-specific organizations in order to center, amplify, and sustain their efforts for climate justice in terms of both education and sustainability in Portland Public Schools through a Racial Equity Social Justice lens.
Develop and sustain a diverse and student-led PPS Climate Justice Youth Advisory group to guide and advise Senior Leadership/Superintendent on the future of climate justice efforts at PPS in alignment with the PPS Racial Equity Social Justice Framework and Plan.
Increase capacity of school and district staff to respond to climate-related crises to safeguard lives, health, facilities, assets, and environment through official and unofficial professional learning opportunities.
Represent the district in meetings with community leaders/stakeholders, workshops, conferences, and professional activities.
Identify and curate an open-source platform for which Climate Justice curricular and student advocacy materials will live.
Manage the implementation of major Climate Justice grants.
High Fidelity Implementation
Direct the implementation of the PPS Climate Crisis Response Policy*; ensure alignment to research-based practices and the district strategic plan
Informed by data, including student voice, ongoing stakeholder engagement feedback loops, and multiple, diverse perspectives, identify and enact improvements across the system to meet the needs of students (e.g., policy, physical and operational infrastructure, budget and resource investment, academic opportunities, youth leadership)
Collaborate with the Office of Strategic Partnerships to research, request and manage external funding sources
Collaborate with key stakeholders as a designer and influencer to effect systemic improvements to the district and school systems related to sustainability, climate justice, professional learning, curriculum alignment, instructional resources and integrity to promote overall district sustainability
Identify, coordinate and collaborate on professional development services.
Leverage technology and flexible, digital approaches for professional learning and planning.
Communication and Stakeholder Engagement
Assemble and manage a district PPS Climate Justice Advisory team with diverse representation and experience in alignment with the Core Values, Graduate Portrait, Educator Essentials, and System Shifts outlined in PPS reImagined
Model the integration of technology and multiple modalities for creativity, communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and citizenship
Work collaboratively with all district stakeholders in promotion of sustainability and climate justice in PPS. Stakeholders may include, but are not limited to, executive leaders, Human Resources labor relations teams, union representatives, community members, and students.
Create opportunities and facilitate learning experiences for internal and external stakeholders
Coordinate internal and external communications, including Board reports and responses and marketing efforts
Professional and Team Growth
Pursue ongoing professional growth and stay abreast of current education research and practices related to sustainability and climate justice (e.g. highly effective and/or innovative pedagogy, school design trends, state and federal guidelines). Exhibit curiosity and proactively take on new challenges and learning.
Supervise the performance and professional growth of assigned personnel
Perform related duties as assigned
EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS:
Knowledge of:
Design, empathy, integrative thinking, collaboration, and innovation.
Site-based leadership.
Deep understanding of Design Thinking and experience applying design methodology to solve complex problems in the education space.
Strong understanding and comfort level managing budgets, analyzing resource allocation to achieve results, and blending and braiding multiple funding sources.
Established research-based, emerging and next generation best practices in:
Teaching and learning
Social-emotional and mental health
Family partnership and engagement
Ability to:
Work both independently and collaboratively with diverse individuals; leveraging different strategies and interpersonal skills to move work forward.
Manage a high performing team, including hiring, supervisory responsibilities, and facilitating professional growth to collaboratively lead and effect change in a complex and evolving environment.
Communicate effectively, using a variety of modalities, to ensure productivity, build trusted relationships, and inform and advance critical work.
Solve problems creatively and confront complex challenges and organizational barriers with a design oriented approach.
Effectively move work from ambiguity and design to planning and implementation of multi-faceted projects across schools, the district, and/or the broader community using strong and adaptive program management skills.
Engage with culturally and racially diverse students and stakeholders to improve academic outcomes and close the achievement gap while creating a connected and welcoming environment.
Facilitate cycles of continuous improvement using principles of improvement science.
Build an inclusive culture that promotes equity.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education, Training and Experience:
Seven (7) years as an educator with three (3) years as a site administrator or five (5) years of experience leading projects focused on curriculum, racial equity/social justice, professional learning, and leadership.
State of Oregon issued Administrative License is required at the time of appointment
Proven leadership in advancing innovative 21st century models of teaching and learning that reflect cutting edge, research based best practices to accelerate progress towards PPS’s Vision
CLASSIFICATION AND SALARY:
This position is classified as Director of Academic Programs, on the Licensed (Certified) Administrator Salary Schedule FLSA Exempt. The Licensed (Certified) Administrator Salary Schedule for 260 day employees can be found here: Salary Schedules.
Special Requirements:
This position requires the use of a personal automobile and possession of a valid driver’s license.
Work hours will routinely include evening and weekend activities and meetings and district, school and student functions.
May require the ability to read, write and speak in a language other than English.
The Educator Essentials from PPS reImagined represent attributes and expectations of every adult working within PPS.
Trustworthy, reliable, and courageous allies.
Proactive about keeping their professional knowledge up-to-date and even anticipating future trends in their fields, and contributing to innovations and best practices in their schools and departments
Skilled in a variety of evidence-based, engaging teaching approaches, including strategies for social-emotional, culturally-responsive academic learning
Committed to using a range of tools, including current and emerging technologies and data to inform continuous improvement of practice, collaborate with colleagues throughout the system, and support diverse learners.
Courageous change agents who actively promote and ensure racial equity and social justice. They develop strategies that disrupt predictable patterns of performance based on race. Replace the narrative with a more inclusive and objective multi-cultural approach that contributes to the positive identity development of adults and students of color.
Ensure equitable access to learning for every student, and their diverse learning styles, through clearly defined racial equity and social justice-based practices, and culturally and linguistically responsive teaching and curricula and materials.
Create safe learning communities that value diversity in their departments, schools, and classrooms.
Respect, understand, and adapt to unique cultural, linguistic, and special needs of our diverse learners. Deeply familiar with a variety of inclusive practices, along with culturally and linguistically responsive teaching strategies.
Cultivate deep relationships with students, families, and community members. Eager collaborators, willing to reach beyond school-based resources and connect community members with students and each other.
Team players who are both leaders and followers, sensitive to and willing to rise to the needs of the moment.
Understand a variety of leadership models from various cultures and can “lead from any seat.”
Committed, creative problem-solvers who develop and implement solutions that are assessed thoughtfully and that balance risk and results.
Capable of being both locally minded and globally oriented to collaborate with others in addressing challenges
Inspire learning and willing and able to facilitate difficult conversations that show empathy across wide-ranging student and family experiences.
Demonstrate care for students and families and are enthusiastic about building personal relationships.
Demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement by developing the skills and persistence to shift the system and structures around them
Please see PPS reImagined for a complete description of the Educator Essentials.
*Climate Crisis Response Policy currently in draft