Assistant Superintendent of Schools, School District of Philadelphia
Alma Advisory Group, United States
Job Description
The School District of Philadelphia (SDP) is the eighth largest school district in the nation, serving a historic and culturally vibrant community. We are a community of 19,000 dedicated employees working together with parents, families, volunteers and community members to support the limitless potential of more than 203,000 young scholars. We are committed to educating and graduating generations of thought leaders, entrepreneurs, artists, government officials and change makers. Our goal is simple; to become the fastest improving district in the country. Our mission is to deliver on the civil right of every child in Philadelphia to have an excellent public school education and ensure that all children graduate from high school ready to succeed, fully engaged as a citizen of our world. To meet our mission, we seek leaders who have a passion for working with schools and communities dedicated to ensuring all students achieve. Serving a population as diverse as ours requires creativity, commitment, and vision. Will you join us?
Job Summary
Assistant Superintendents for the School District of Philadelphia supervise and support a network of 15-20 school principals. Assistant Superintendents are expected to promote high quality instructional practices; provide instructional leadership and direction through coaching, mentorship, and support to principals as they grow their leadership skills. The work of Assistant Superintendents is an integral part of the classroom-by-classroom, school-by-school effort to ensure that all students are given an education that allows them to thrive, succeed and lead in a global society. Assistant Superintendents are responsible for helping to select and assign principals, support differentiated professional growth and build the leadership capacity of the District. Data collection and analysis, to guide the continuous improvement of schools is an important function of this job. Assistant Superintendents are also expected to help assess school climate and to assist principals with the development of plans to achieve the Goals and Guardrails of the School District over the next five years.
What You’ll Do (Responsibilities)
Instructional Leadership
- Guides the principal group to create learning environments to achieve the Goals of the District which enable every student to achieve and read on or above grade level, perform on or above grade level in math and graduate ready for college and career.
- Ensures the consistent implementation of instructional practices across all schools to achieve the District’s Goals and Guardrails.
- Coordinates the successful integration of evidence-based strategies to ensure the growth and success of all District schools.
- Formulates, plans and implements mentoring and professional growth and development to assigned principals; develops and implements differentiated professional growth plans that include current, evidence-based practices.
- Reviews and assesses the effectiveness and efficiency of professional development plans.
Operations Leadership
- Works with principals on the development of strategies that support the Goals and Guardrails and enhance the learning environment and support administrative efficiency.
- Ensures the deployment of resources and intervention approaches to appropriately and effectively address challenges.
- Ensures the implementation of strategies to meet the District’s Goals and Guardrails.
- Ensures that all functions and activities are executed in compliance with District policies and professional standards and local, state and federal laws.
- Uses executive judgment to solve problems and manage crises.
- Ensures coordinated, excellent services are delivered to schools.
Develop and Lead an Effective Team
- Helps to select, develop and evaluate principals.
- Functions as a qualified observer of teachers and principals.
- Supports principals to assess the core competencies that teachers need to implement curriculum, deliver instruction and improve student outcomes.
- Develops effective working relationships with principals and school stakeholders, and provides leadership in organizational or school change.
Build and Cultivate Strong Relationships Across Stakeholder Groups
- Actively engages with students, parents and families to learn from them and support their needs.
- Responds to constituents’ concerns and serves as the liaison to schools, central offices and community groups on matters related to instruction and school leadership.
- Advocates on behalf of school communities within the School District central administration.
- Effectively represents the District in a professional manner andserve in a liaisoncapacity.
- Communicates