Chief of Office of Diverse Learner Supports Services, Chicago Public Schools
Alma Advisory Group, United States
Job Description
About Chicago Public Schools
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over 320,000 students in 600+ schools and employing approximately 40,000 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.
The mission of the Office of Diverse Learning Supports amp; Services (ODLSS) is to support activities designed to accurately identify students with disabilities, and provide them with the specialized instruction and services they need to meet their individual educational needs.
The Office of Diverse Learner Supports and Services (ODLSS) is responsible for providing critical, equitable and transformative support to students with diverse learning needs across the city. ODLSS is responsible for student evaluations, creating and monitoring Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and working with schools, staff, and families to fulfill these plans towards greater student development and achievement. ODLSS uses a data-driven approach to best support the needs of each individual student, and does so in compliance with federal and state regulations regarding special education, including the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
About The Role
Under the direction of the Chief Education Officer (CEdO), the Chief of the Office of Diverse Learner Supports and Services provides critical leadership for the Office of Diverse Learner Supports and Services (ODLSS) and directly oversees a team of approximately 100 people and nearly 2000 citywide clinician. The Chief of ODLSS has direct ownership of all activities targeted at improving instructional practice, and ultimately driving outstanding academic outcomes for all CPS students. This role provides strategic direction to both central office and school-based leaders and staff to ensure that all students receive high-quality, grade-level instruction in their least restrictive environment. As a critical member of the senior leadership team, this role will lay out a clear vision and plan for curriculum and instruction, staff development and accountability, and operational excellence of the department, designed to ensure equitable support and services for diverse learners.
Your Responsibilities
The Chief of the Office of Diverse Learner Supports and Services will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:
- Collaborate with other CPS offices to ensure that students with diverse learning needs receive high quality grade level instruction in the least restrictive environment.
- Establish, communicate and build commitment to a shared vision for serving diverse learners in a manner that drives high expectations and outstanding academic outcomes while eradicating inequities between peers;
- Improve the quality of the continuum of services for diverse learners to ensure instruction and services are highly effective, inclusive, culturally relevant and centered around the needs of students;
- Leverage research, best practices and deep personal expertise around special education to design and articulate clear theories of pedagogy, develop intervention programs, implement curriculum and assess efficacy to improve the delivery of special education and related services;
- Lead the design of a comprehensive assessment and progress monitoring system to both outline the annual cadence of diverse learner assessments, including appropriate modifications and accommodations, as well as to evaluate the equitable distribution of diverse learner supports and services to ensure that they are equitably allocated to meet the needs of all CPS students, families and schools;
- Create a culture of continuous improvement by proactively establishing systems to gather feedback from schools and families intended to influence both policies and practices at the district level that support the education of diverse learners;
- Increase accountability by developing, in partnership with the Illinois State Board of Education special monitor, strategies and procedures to ensure that CPS meets all state and federally-mandated regulations and requirements for diverse learner programs;
- Manage the quality assurance process of instructional and intervention materials for diverse learners, including those in bilingual programs to inform a