Short-Term School Improvement Specialist (October 2025 – March 31, 2026)

Job Title: Short-Term School Improvement Specialist
Job Goal: Enhance the educational outcomes for students and staff in Intensive and Comprehensive Schools in the
Chicago Public Schools by providing targeted, strategic support through expert coaching, resource
allocation, and facilitation, and implementation of evidence-based improvement practices.

Terms of Employment
Position Title: Short-Term School Improvement Specialist
Employment Period: October 2025 – March 31, 2026 (6 months)
Reports To: IARSS CPS Project Leads and the assigned Regional Superintendent of Schools

Salary and Compensation:

The salary for this position is $45,000 for the six-month period (October 2025 through March 31, 2026).
Compensation is for this period only. No additional salary or benefits will accrue beyond the specified dates.
The salary is not an annualized amount; it reflects payment for the short-term nature of the position.

Nature of the Position:

This is a short-term role designed to provide targeted support for Chicago Public Schools in the implementation of
School Improvement Plans (SIP) and related continuous improvement initiatives.
Employment is limited to the October - March 31, 2026 period and does not imply or guarantee employment beyond March 31, 2026.

Qualifications:

Master’s Degree in Education, Educational Leadership, Curriculum & Instruction, or a related field.
Minimum 5 years of experience in school or district leadership, coaching, or consultancy with an emphasis on school improvement.
Demonstrated success in implementing effective educational improvement strategies with measurable results.
Thorough understanding of local, state, and federal education laws and regulations to ensure compliance in school improvement efforts.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Skills and Competencies:

Continuous Improvement:

In-depth understanding of the challenges and needs of schools requiring intensive improvement efforts.
Ability to use systems thinking for holistic educational problem-solving.
Expertise in analyzing internal and external influences on school performance.
Strong knowledge and facilitation skills in continuous improvement processes.
Ability to disaggregate and analyze measures of progress of schools, staff, and students.

Robust Coaching Skills:

Effective leadership in team settings and collaborative efforts, with a focus on engaging and productive team dynamics.
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, suitable for a diverse educational environment.
Skills in enhancing the capabilities of school leaders to drive improvement initiatives.
Strong capabilities in establishing trust and effective communication channels among teachers, staff, students, and the community.

Educational Research and Best Practices:

Knowledge of current curriculum standards, teaching methodologies, and innovations in education.
Proficiency in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting educational data to assess program effectiveness and student outcomes.

Professionalism:

Strong work ethic, problem-solving skills, organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to motivate people.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively, maintaining high ethical standards.
Adaptability to change, with skills in adjusting strategies based on situational needs and feedback.
Excellent organizational skills Ability to coordinate, plan, meet deadlines, and accomplish specific tasks.
Sensitivity and awareness to diverse cultural backgrounds and the ability to engage effectively across cultural boundaries.

Performance Responsibilities:

Provide individualized support (both on-site and virtual) to schools in Chicago Public Schools (CPS), focusing on specific needs and challenges in implementing their School Improvement Plan (SIP) and effective school improvement processes and practices.
Review and interpret local and state data regularly to monitor progress on key performance indicators and the effectiveness of the SIP.
Ensure compliance with all relevant ISBE requirements and deadlines.
Create and present evidence-based resources and professional learning opportunities, including coaching, webinars, workshops, academies, and conferences.
Monitor and evaluate the impact of improvement initiatives on student achievement and school performance.
Work closely with school leadership teams (SLT) to align improvement initiatives with the school's overall vision and SIP goals.
Develop and communicate timelines for all SLT meetings and coaching sessions.
Attend weekly meetings with the IARSS CPS School Improvement Team.
Provide direct coaching to SLTs in the development, implementation, and ongoing monitoring of the SIP Lead job-embedded leadership coaching to build the capacity of leaders to sustain continuous improvement initiatives (both on-site and virtual).
Prepare and submit detailed monthly progress reports and expenditure reports.
Stay informed about the latest educational research and best practices, and implement innovative strategies to enhance school outcomes.
Additional duties as assigned.

Empowering students, educators, and communities. Join our team!

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