Executive Director of Family

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over 330,000 students in 600 schools and employing nearly 36,000 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 Office of Family & Community Engagement (FACE) Operationalizes the CPS Equity Framework by driving positive change, fostering an inclusive and equitable environment, and enhancing collaboration among families and communities. The Office of Family and Community Engagement (FACE) creates opportunities for parents, schools, families, and communities to collaborate to create meaningful partnerships that ultimately lead to student achievement. Reporting to the Deputy Chief of Equity, Engagement, and Strategy, the Executive Director of Family and Community Engagement (FACE) will enhance family and community engagement and empowerment across the district and ensure effective collaboration between schools, families, and external stakeholders.

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Deputy Chief of Equity, Engagement & Strategy, the Executive Director of Family and Community Empowerment and Engagement will serve as a visionary and strategic leader within the school district, overseeing multiple teams to co-create and implement a districtwide strategy that fosters equitable and targeted approaches while centering cultural responsiveness. This role is instrumental in promoting collaboration between the district, families, and the broader community, with the ultimate goal of empowering students to achieve academic success through holistic support systems. The Executive Director will directly oversee and support the following teams, including but not limited to Data & Accountability, Local School Council Relations, Faith-Based Initiatives, Parent University, FACE Programs, and School & Community Supports.

The Executive Director of Family and Community Engagement (FACE) will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

* Lead the co-creation and implementation of a districtwide strategy that promotes family and community engagement and empowerment, focusing on equity and cultural responsiveness.


* Work collaboratively with district administrators, school principals, and community stakeholders to ensure alignment with overall district goals and priorities.


* Oversee FACE's continuous improvement processes and initiatives


* Oversee and support multiple directors and teams responsible for family and community engagement initiatives, including but not limited to Data & Accountability, Local School Council Relations, Faith-Based Initiatives, Parent University, FACE Programs, and School & Community Supports.


* Set clear performance expectations, provide regular feedback, and support the professional development of directors and team members.


* Champion and embed equity and cultural responsiveness throughout all family and community engagement efforts, ensuring that the needs and perspectives of diverse communities are acknowledged and respected.


* Develop and provide training opportunities for district leaders, school leaders, and community partners to foster cultural awareness and competency.


* Establish and maintain strong partnerships with community organizations, local agencies, and other stakeholders to expand the impact of family and community engagement initiatives.


* Cultivate relationships with families, promoting two-way communication and incorporating their voices in decision-making processes.


* Collect and analyze data on family and community engagement initiatives, using metrics to assess effectiveness and make data-driven improvements to strategies and programs.


* Regularly report progress and outcomes to district leadership, school board, and other stakeholders.


* Manage FACE budget; Collaborate with the finance and budgeting teams to allocate resources efficiently to support family and community engagement initiatives.


* Seek additional funding opportunities through grants and partnerships to enhance existing programs.


* Serve as a strong advocate for the needs and interests of families and communities within the district, ensuring their voices are represented in decision-making processes.


* Advocate for policies that promote equity and inclusivity within the school district.


* Perform other duties as assigned



To be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Executive of Family and Community Engagement (FACE) must possess the following qualifications:

Education Required:

* A Master's degree in Education, Public Administration/Policy, Social Justice, or a related field from an accredited college or university is required.


* Ed.D. or Ph.D. in a related field is strongly preferred.



Experience Required:

* A minimum of eight (8) years of relevant professional experience, including the following, is required:


* Minimum of five (5) years of leadership experience, managing teams


* Demonstrated experience building and leading high-performing teams to achieve ambitious goals with strong outcomes


* Proven record of building and leading large-scale complex programs, projects, and change management initiatives


* Experience managing and leading diverse teams, fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment.


* Experience with multi-year strategic planning and change management is preferred.


* Bilingual (Spanish, Polish, Arabic, Mandarin, and Urdu) preferred



Other Requirements:

* Occasional evening and weekend work hours are expected



Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

* Ability to articulate a vision, set high standards, and effectively guide school, district, and directors in realizing expectations set


* Ability to adapt to changing priorities and work under pressure in a fast-paced environment.


* Expertise in leadership development. Ability to coach directors and managers toward excellence, build the capacity of content area teams and develop meaningful and high-impact professional communities for teachers and school leaders


* Experience working collaboratively with community partners, including families, educators, and local organizations


* Demonstrated success in designing and implementing initiatives aimed at promoting equity, family, and community empowerment in educational settings


* Knowledge and Understanding of federal, state, and local education policies and regulations and best practices related to equity and family & community engagement


* Strong communication skills (speaking - including presentations - listening, and writing)


* Demonstrate high levels of instructional expertise, integrity, honesty, credibility, and the courage to make difficult yet necessary decisions.


* Effective strategic planning capabilities, including establishing long-term vision and goals and aligning/managing activities toward goal fulfillment


* Strong leadership and team building skills, e.g., developing high-performing teams united around a clear vision for serving schools and achieving student success.


* Knowledge of operations, budget/finance, management, and organizational development


* Ability to build collaborative relationships with a variety of constituent groups, including external partners, to ensure the entire system operates in the most effective manner possible to support schools and principals


* Ability to define problems, analyze data, and outline valid conclusions and action steps



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.



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