Manager, Literacy 

Job Number:

240003UP 

Posting Date

: Nov 19, 2024, 8:28:16 PM

Primary Location

: Central-501 West 35th Street (Office of Humanities)

CPS Non-Union Job Grade: S09

Estimated Annual Salary Range

: 87,000.00 – 115,500.00

Position Type: Non-Union Position

Overtime Status

: Exempt

Final salary offers are dependent upon candidate qualifications.

JOB DESCRIPTION ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 320,000 students in 500+ schools and employing over 44,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity. Six core values are embedded within these commitments – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.

Located within the CPS Department of Humanities in the Office of Teaching & Learning (T&L), the Department of Literacy is committed to increasing equity of literacy outcomes across the district and ensuring that advanced literacy skills serve as a gateway to opportunity for all CPS students. Through the CPS PK-12 Vision for Advanced Literacy, the department sets clear expectations for what literacy learning should look like in our district and outlines the district-wide shifts and key practices we promote and support through universal and differentiated professional learning to ensure students have equitable opportunities to develop advanced literacy skills. Our departmental efforts are aligned with the CPS Instructional Core Vision and the Office of Teaching and Learning strategic priorities.

Job Summary:

The Literacy Manager will oversee major initiatives related to Teaching and Learning in K-12 Language Arts. This position will be tasked with overseeing the Curriculum Equity Initiative for the Department of Literacy, as well as other mission-critical projects related to Curriculum, Assessment, and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support. In addition, they oversee and evaluate the work of Literacy Content Specialists whose work streams relate to these initiatives. The Literacy manager will report to the Director of Literacy.The Literacy Manager will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Participate in departmental strategic planning, program development, and policy recommendations related to literacy curriculum, instruction, and assessment in alignment with the CPS PK-12 Vision for Advanced Literacy and District priorities outlined in CPS’s 5-year Strategic Plan.
• Contribute expertise to the development and implementation of strategic initiatives designed to increase equity of literacy outcomes for Black and Latino students, multilingual learners, and students with disabilities.
• Support the Director in managing the Literacy Team’s continuous improvement process, including maintaining a regular cadence of team meetings, data-driven quarterly CI progress monitoring sessions, and ongoing examination of problems of practice.
• Collaborate with teams across the District and other key internal and external partners to help drive implementation, innovation, and continuous improvement of the CPS Skyline English Language Arts curriculum
• Lead a team that develops district-wide resources and instructional guidance on key literacy practices including reading of diverse, engaging texts, extensive discussion, engagement in the writing process, rigorous and authentic learning experiences, and creating content in a digital environment in alignment with the CPS Vision for Advanced Literacy
• Investigate and incorporate emerging technologies to strengthen communication for striving readers, multilingual learners, and students with disabilities while enhancing learning for all
• Collaborate with and advise a team of specialists on professional learning design and facilitation aimed at fostering the development of antiracist, collaborative, prepared, and responsive educators.
• Lead development of resources and guidance for the use of literacy assessments and the design of multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), including recommended pathways to post-secondary success for students on-track, eligible for acceleration, or in need of intervention in collaboration with internal stakeholders..
• Provide leadership and guidance to a team of direct reports; conduct RISE goal-setting and performance reviews with Literacy Specialists whose work streams align with key responsibilities.
• Support the Director in managing CPS teacher evaluation protocols (REACH Performance Tasks) for the Department of Literacy, in collaboration with internal stakeholders.
• Collaborate within the Office of Teaching and Learning and across Central and Network Offices and schools to ensure alignment and coherence of district priorities.
• Develop and maintain relationships within CPS and with vital external partner organizations (e.g., Chicago Public Library, cultural institutions, nonprofit literacy organizations, etc.). Increase student and educator access to joyful, rigorous, and equitable literacy learning opportunities in and outside of school.
• Other duties and workstreams as assigned.

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Literacy Manager must possess the following qualifications: 

Education Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study from an accredited college or university required.
• Master’s degree in English, Education, Reading, or related field preferred.
• Valid teaching certificate (Type 03, Type 09) issued by the Illinois State Board of Education with appropriate content level endorsement, required.
• LBSI, ESL, or Bilingual Endorsement preferred.

Experience Required:

• Minimum of five (5) years of classroom teaching experience in English or language arts, including teacher leadership experience, such as leading school teams in the development of curriculum and assessments, analyzing student performance data, etc.
• Minimum of three (3) years working with adult learners, including evaluating the professional learning needs of teachers and creating, organizing, and facilitating professional learning experiences to meet those needs. This experience is required in addition to the teaching experience outlined above.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Expertise in research-based, culturally and linguistically sustaining language arts instructional practices and pedagogy
• Success in working with culturally and linguistically diverse student populations; familiarity with strategies for supporting English learners, diverse learners, and students at a wide range of reading and writing levels
• Expertise in the Common Core State Standards for Language Arts
• Knowledgeable of methods for curriculum mapping, unit planning, and formative progress monitoring
• Understanding of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support
• Skilled in designing and leading adult professional learning experiences
• Ability to define problems, analyze data, and develop action plans as part of a continuous improvement cycle
• Results-focused, responsive, self-directed, and collaborative; demonstrates a sense of urgency in accomplishing goals and objectives to ensure success
• Takes initiative to identify challenges and recommend solutions; identifies, documents, and shares best practices
• Effective strategic planning and project management capabilities, including the ability to establish long-term vision and goals, and align/manage activities toward goal fulfillment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong leadership and team building skills, e.g. ability to develop high performing teams united around a clear vision for serving schools and achieving student success
• Capable of developing and maintaining relationships within CPS and with vital external partner organizations to enhance learning opportunities for instructional leaders and teachers
• Ability to use technology to create strong communications, reports, and presentations
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and drive multiple projects concurrently, both independently and as a member of a team

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency – Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.
• Be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 – Unless approved for a medical or religious exemption, all employees are required to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, and to submit proof of vaccination to the district within 30 days of hire. “Up-to-date” on vaccination is defined as being at least two weeks past all primary vaccine doses and any applicable boosters.

Read Full Description