Manager of Coaching and Improvement, Middle Grades Network

Department

UEI To&Through - Middle Grades Network

About the Department

As one of the first schools of social work in the United States, the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice has shaped the field for more than 100 years. As part of the University of Chicago, the Crown Family School shares the University's core values and distinctive intellectual culture. Crown Family School faculty, staff, and students focus on identifying solutions to complex social problems through research, training, and direct community engagement. Guided by an interdisciplinary tradition, Crown Family School scholars conduct innovative research to address interconnected social challenges such as educational inequality, health disparities, crime and violence, poverty, and child and family welfare—working at multiple scales, from individual to policy-level interventions. More than 10,000 Crown Family School graduates in the US and globally hold leadership positions in academia, at nonprofits, in business, and at governmental agencies The Crown Family School is the home of several academic centers. These include the Susan and Richard Kiphart Center for Global Health and Social Development, the Kersten Institute for Urban Education, the Center for Climate, Health and Society, the Smart Decarceration Project, and the Employment Instability, Family Well-being, and Social Policy Network (EINet). More information may be found at

The To&Through Project is one of five units at the Kersten Institute for Urban Education Institute that collectively work toward a shared mission of improving educational outcomes & promoting equity in schools & communities. At the To&Through Project, we believe that schools should be places where all students have access to equitable learning experiences and pathways from the middle grades through college graduation. We strive to create equitable education outcomes for Chicago Public Schools students by helping educators use data for inquiry and impact:

• Data: We analyze and share quantitative and qualitative data on the educational journeys of Chicago Public Schools students
• Inquiry: We work alongside education stakeholders from across the system to make meaning of data in ways that support and shift practice
• Impact: We help realize equitable learning experiences, pathways, and outcomes for CPS students from the middle grades through college graduation

The To&Through team is a small, close-knit group of analysts and practitioners who are deeply committed to make schools in Chicago more equitable for marginalized students. We strive to create a highly personable, collaborative, and reflective culture that encourages people to bring their whole selves to work. We try to live out our values (care for each other, practice anti-racism, have integrity, be creative and curious, and respect all forms of expertise) not only in the work we produce, but also in the rituals and routines that hold our team together: monthly equity team meetings, feedback sessions, book groups, retreats, coffee chats, and regular supervisor/supervisee feedback. For more information visit:

Job Summary

Since its founding in January 2020, the To&Through Middle Grades Network (MGN) has partnered with 22 schools and more than 250 educators to improve the experiences and outcomes of ~4,700 5th -8th grade students across Chicago. The focus on the creation of a comprehensive middle grades strategy in Chicago Public Schools' latest 5-year strategic plan, also presents an opportunity to scale key learnings and best practices from our core model to influence district policy and practice around the foundational skills and experiences necessary for postsecondary success. As MGN prepares to launch our fourth cohort and shift our focus to scaling for impact, we seek to hire a new Manager of Coaching and Improvement.

The Manager of Coaching and Improvement (MCI) directly supports school partners via ongoing coaching as well as co-designs and facilitates professional learning for MGN partner schools and other education stakeholders aiming to redefine the middle grades experience. The MCI work will primarily focus on coaching partner school teams to increase Elementary On-Track rates through a meaningful increase in students' sense of belonging. This includes coaching schools around the collection and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data; developing teaming and communication structures; supporting the design and implementation of changes to student experiences, implementing cycles of continuous improvement to refine practice, and supporting the MGN Student Fellowship. In addition, the MCI will help chart the next phase of the MGN work by partnering with the rest of the To&Through team, researchers, and partners to codify and disseminate best practices and strategies gleaned from the MGN work to drive middle grades success locally and nationally.

A successful candidate is someone who is deeply committed to educational equity, understands the importance of adolescent development and research to improve practice, and believes that data and research play a critical role in informing systemic change. They have experience working in K-12 schools or non-profits as a leader, teacher, coach, or counselor and are skilled at building educator capacity, with a foundational understanding of improvement science and adult learning. They are also adept at co-designing educational experiences with students based on and responsive to their needs. While a successful candidate possesses an entrepreneurial spirit, they also love working in a highly collaborative, small team environment and finding opportunities to learn from and laugh alongside their colleagues. The MCI will report directly to the Deputy Director of the To&Through Project.

For more information on the To&Through Middle Grades Network, visit

Categories for job responsibilities are as follows:

Coaching and Professional Learning - 70%

Collaboration + Partnerships - 15%

Knowledge Creation and Field Building - 15%

This is a grant funded position that will expire at the end of the grant term, if additional funding is not secured.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct coaching to teams of educators and schools leaders around: the collection and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data; defining problems of practice; developing effective teaming and communication structures; supporting the design and implementation of changes to student experiences; and implementing cycles of continuous improvement to refine practice
• Co-design and facilitate adult learning for MGN partner schools grounded in a culture of trust, collaboration, and reflection. This includes regular network sessions and our annual three-day MGN Summer Institute each July/August.
• Serve as the liaison for the MGN Student Fellows at their designated partner schools. This includes supporting/co-facilitating Student Fellowship sessions and serving as a chaperone for in-person events on campus.
• Build and maintain positive relationships and regular communications with CPS educators, district staff, and other partners relevant to our work.
• Plan, design, and facilitate middle grades related professional learning for non-MGN education stakeholders aligned to strategic priorities
• Leverage research, data, and resources produced by the To&Through Data and Research (DART) and Storytelling and Engagement (SET) teams, as well as other units at the Kersten Institute for Urban Education, to inform network and practitioner learning
• Work with the DART analysts to develop and design data tools to enable network practitioners to more easily pull, visualize, and understand data while engaging in cycles of continuous improvement
• Provide a practice-based perspective to the DART team and the UChicago Consortium on current and future research and data projects
• Contribute to communication vehicles designed to elevate the work of To&Through and MGN via newsletters, social media, blogs posts, etc.
• Support the logistics and operations of To&Through public events including Data Collaboratives, Tool Workshops, Spotlights, and our bi-annual To&Through Summit
• Contribute to the intellectual capacity and culture of the To&Through Project.
• Contribute to the refinement of the MGN scope and sequence focused on network learning, data use, coaching, student-adult partnerships, and continuous improvement
• Help codify tools and key learnings refined at MGN schools to share with Chicago Public Schools and the field aimed, at improving the middle grades experiences that support postsecondary success
• Stay abreast of the latest trends, research, and best practices in the field to ensure ongoing relevance and identify opportunities to align to our work (i.e research on adolescent development & early warning indicators; best practices for student success from the middle grades through college completion, equity practices, continuous improvement, adult learning + development; etc.)
• Attend and/or represent MGN at conferences and similar events to share learning and practices to improve the field, as needed
• Under the direction of senior leadership, develops programs and relationships to advance program initiatives
• Coordinates program initiatives, ensuring unity of focus and purpose
• Perform other related work as needed

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

-

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree

Experience:

• 5-7 years related experience as a classroom teacher or working in educational settings serving historically underrepresented Black and Latine student populations; CPS
• Experience and/or interest in working with young people to co-design design learning experiences that improve their educational outcomes

Preferred Competencies

• Belief in the potential of all students and public schools, and the mission of The To&Through Project
• A commitment to educational equity, particularly to improving outcomes for historically underrepresented Black and Latinx student populations from middle grades through college
• Comfort collaborating with, facilitating, and coaching school-based practitioners and students
• A passion for centering student voice and creating opportunities that allow them to authentically co-design their educational experiences
• Comfort organizing and analyzing school- and district-level data for school improvement
• Ability to interpret and present data and research to different audiences and in a manner that challenges mindsets and drives changes in practice
• Ability to effectively build and manage relationships across difference
• Experience with project management and influencing others to achieve outcomes
• Commitment to ongoing self-reflection, professional learning, and growth
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to work independently, with supervision, or in collaboration as a team member
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail
• Proficiency in Google Suites and Microsoft Office

Working Conditions

• Hybrid work schedule, on-site at the Hyde Park campus in Chicago (subject to change)
• Regular attendance; problem solving, reasoning, and critical thinking skills; handling multiple concurrent tasks; some periods of high stress; constant interruptions with work environment; must assimilate and incorporate newly acquired information in a timely manner; relatively sedentary position; frequent keyboarding and reading on-screen and printed text; extended time working at a computer; regular travel in Chicago, Illinois, and occasional travel across the country to facilitate professional learning and attend conferences

Application Documents

• Resume (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• References (preferred)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Academic Affairs

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Range

$88, $98,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University's good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the

Benefits Guidebook

.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the

University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call or submit a request via

Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

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