Director, Elementary English Language Arts and Social Studies

The mission of the Office of Teaching and Learning (OTL) is to provide educators with curricular resources, academic programs, and aligned professional development to ensure rigorous and joyful learning experiences for every student. OTL team members support school-based staff in implementing DCPS's existing academic programs while simultaneously working to rethink and redesign school programming, academic and curricular resources and educator professional development.

Divisions/Teams

• Content and Curriculum: The Content and Curriculum division sets the vision for equity and excellence for each content area in DCPS schools by researching, creating, and curating curricular materials and providing aligned professional development experiences to ensure that all students have access to rigorous and joyful learning experiences every day in every content area. Additionally, the team sets a vision for serving the whole child and closing the opportunity gap through leading the work in academic programming, innovation and high-potential learners.

• Extended Learning and Academic Recovery: The Extended Learning and Academic Recovery division oversees most of DCPS' K-12 summer school programs including enrichment and retention programs in alignment with the laws and regulations of the District of Columbia. Additionally, the team oversees the largest group of afterschool programs with the 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant and meets the needs of high potential students in grades K-5 through the Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM.)

• Language Acquisition: The Language Acquisition division welcomes families of linguistically and culturally diverse backgrounds to DCPS, leads the process of identifying English Learner students, and supports schools in developing programs that supports English language acquisition and academic growth.

• Professional Learning and Educational Technology: The Professional Learning and Educational Technology division sets a vision for professional development for DCPS as well as creates systems, tools, and structures to increase the efficacy of professional learning and educational technology initiatives. This work includes LEAP, cluster-based PD, district PD and other learning opportunities. The team works across all DCPS offices to increase the cohesion of professional development and broad sharing of knowledge, while exploring new avenues and opportunities for meaningful development and learning for our educators.

• Specialized Instruction: The Specialized Instruction division works to reduce the opportunity gap between students with IEPs and their non-disabled peers; and increases equity and excellence in schools through specific academic programming, related services, professional learning, school leadership development, family engagement, dispute resolution, and community partnerships.

  
  

The Content and Curriculum division is responsible for leading OTL's work in the areas of English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, World Languages, and Dual Language. Additionally, the team oversees related formative assessments, interventions, and the development of curriculum and professional development for teachers.

The Director, Elementary English Language Arts and Social Studies is responsible for using their expertise in elementary ELA and Social Studies curriculum and instruction to assist with the management of key initiatives and the development of engaging curriculum and effective professional development. The Director also will oversee the implementation of multiple models of school support that ensure responsiveness to schools’ needs, including the ongoing development and implementation of LEAP (LEarning together to Advance our Practice), DCPS’ school-based model of professional development. This leader manages a team in working towards the goals of the Content and Curriculum division, and the broader Office of Teaching and Learning.

The Director, Elementary English Language Arts and Social Studies will report to the Deputy Chief, Content and Curriculum.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties, and/or skills required. Other duties may be assigned.

• Works collaboratively with the directors of Social Studies and Secondary ELA to set the vision for the curriculum, instruction, programming, and school-based support for Social Studies and ELA in DCPS school teams, with a focus on creating and sustaining high-quality teaching and learning and equity in ELA and Social Studies.

• Collaborates with the directors of Social Studies and Secondary ELA to increase connections and alignment between elementary and secondary implementation of Social Studies and ELA curriculum, professional development, assessments and interventions.

• Applies ELA and Social Studies curriculum development expertise to setting criteria and the framework for developing rigorous college and career preparation curricula in DCPS elementary schools.

• Applies instructional expertise to improving the effectiveness of ELA and Social Studies instruction in DCPS school, specifically including implementation of the Common Core State Standards for ELA, DC Social Studies Standards, the C3 Framework for Social Studies, and district-wide elementary ELA and Social Studies curriculum.

• Works with instructional superintendents and school leaders to assess needs of elementary ELA and social studies teachers and LEAP Leaders; and supervises the creation of professional development opportunities and school-based supports to address those needs and increase the quality of elementary ELA and Social Studies instruction.

• Provides professional development to school-based leadership.

• Supports school-based leadership teams by participating in instructional walkthroughs and observations in elementary ELA and Social Studies classrooms.

• Evaluates the effectiveness of elementary ELA and Social Studies professional development sessions and plans for continuous improvement.

• Oversees the management of district-supported elementary ELA and Social Studies programs; and develops strategy and clear, specific, and ambitious performance measures for these and other projects that are easily translated into individual work goals and deliverables.

• Creates detailed timelines for each initiative; assesses and tracks progress regularly using various computer programs and tools; and drives project completion holding others accountable for responsibilities and deadlines.

• Helps manage the analysis and presentation of data and progress of data-driven initiatives for senior leadership team and external audiences; communicates progress to key stakeholder groups; and incorporates their input.

• Interviews and surveys other colleagues and management teams to determine opportunities for improvement; researches specific issues; and develops detailed recommendations and implementation plans to resolve issues.

• Builds relationships and liaises with various internal departments to drive collaboration and project success; and interacts with and responds effectively to urgent requests from multiple internal and external DCPS stakeholders.

• Manages a team of six people who support the implementation of elementary ELA and Social Studies professional development, assessments, interventions, and curriculum design.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and five to seven years of related work experience, including experience teaching in the classroom or operating in an administrator position in the education industry.
• Master's degree in education with a primary focus on English Language Arts highly preferred.
• Previous exposure to or experience in the education sector a plus.
• A deep desire to excel, persevere, and proactively identify opportunities to innovate.
• Experience managing large scale projects.
• Experience using qualitative and quantitative data to design and evaluate programs.
• Extremely high expectations of oneself, colleagues, and clients; ability to communicate those expectations in a direct and motivating way; deep commitment to professional growth and learning; and thrives in a culture of continuous feedback.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to work under tight deadlines; and ability to multitask and self-manage the deadlines of competing projects.
• Experience creating and managing systems to collect and monitor programmatic data, meeting benchmark indicators, and innovating solutions when necessary.
• Ability to learn quickly, work in a fast-paced and evolving environment, and handle multiple priorities effectively.
• Outstanding interpersonal, teamwork, and management skills.
• Strong acumen engaging in conversations and producing work products that are centered in equity and inclusion best practices.

DCPS Values

• STUDENTS FIRST: We recognize students as whole children and put their needs first in everything we do.
• COURAGE: We have the audacity to learn from our successes and failures, to try new things, and to lead the nation as a proof point of PK-12 success.
• EQUITY: We work proactively to eliminate opportunity gaps by interrupting institutional bias and investing in effective strategies to ensure every student succeeds.
• EXCELLENCE: We work with integrity and hold ourselves accountable for exemplary outcomes, service, and interactions.
• TEAMWORK: We recognize that our greatest asset is our collective vision and ability to work collaboratively and authentically.
• JOY: We enjoy our collective work and will enthusiastically celebrate our success and each other.