Title of Position:                      Director of Assessment

Reports To:                               Secretary of Education

Date of Employment:             Approximately April 1, 2013

Closing Date for Application:   March 15, 2013

Description of Position:

We are an exceptional team in search of an exceptional leader.  Delaware is at the forefront of cutting-edge education reform and uniquely positioned to be a model for the nation.  We are committed to transforming Delaware into the best education system in the country and we need world-class leaders to pull it off.

As the leader of the Assessment Workgroup, the Director plays a significant part in many of Delaware’s most critical reform efforts including the transition to Smarter Balanced Assessments.  The core of your work as Director of Assessments is to develop and implement a system of state assessments that drives toward college and career readiness for all of Delaware’s students.  We need your leadership to ensure that our assessment system sets the national standard in clarifying a college and career readiness trajectory for our children, while illuminating where they stand on that continuum for our students, parents, and educators.    

As a core member of the Department’s management team you will report directly to the Secretary of Education and represent the Department on a number of key state-level and national efforts.  You will be looked to for solutions and guidance on a range of student assessment and system accountability challenges, from coordinating Delaware’s transition to the Smarter Balanced Assessment, to addressing technical issues associated with measuring and analyzing assessment data, as well as integrating new standards with existing assessment-related services and activities.

We are looking for a natural motivator capable of building relationships with key stakeholders across departmental, state, national, public and private spheres of influence.  We seek a dynamic thinker willing to challenge convention and tackle difficult problems objectively and creatively.  You will need a strong background in leading and developing state and/or district-wide assessment systems, as well as strong organizational, analytical, writing and interpersonal skills to be successful.  Above all, you need to share our sense of urgency as we look to the coming few years to deliver on the ambitious goals that put Delaware at the forefront of education reform in the United States.

Major responsibilities include:

• Supervise the Assessment workgroup.
• Lead the development and implementation of a system of assessments that lead to college and career readiness for our students.
• Lead the development of a data reporting framework that illuminates for our students, parents, and educators where our students stand on a continuum toward college and career readiness.
• Lead the transition to the Smarter Balanced Assessment.
• Coordinate the Department’s efforts to develop alternative assessments for students with disabilities and ensure that these assessments are rigorous, valid, and reliable.
• Direct the planning and integration of standards and assessments related to in-service and outreach activities for teachers, other educators, parents and the general public.
• Direct the coordination of assessment development and assessment-linked activities with cross-state initiatives.
• Performs other duties as required by the Secretary of Education.

Essential Qualifications and Skills:

Education:  Master’s degree (Doctorate preferred) with a concentration in educational research, assessment, measurement, developmental psychology or a related field.

Experience:

• A minimum of five (5) year’s experience working with assessment development teams.
• Experience with the planning, development, and implementation of student assessment programs in large districts or states is desired.
• Experience with assessment systems in the context of high-stakes accountability is strongly desired.
• Experience with curriculum and/or instruction in at least one content area (English-language arts, mathematics, social studies and/or science) is preferred.
• Knowledge of data privacy practices and laws especially with its application to detailed student information.
• Experience managing multiple projects while ensuring that goals and priorities are met. Specifically, experience in managing large scale assessment projects with demonstrated success.

Skills:

• Interpersonal and communication skills; the ability to communicate technical subjects to both technical and non-technical staff is essential.
• Ability to work effectively in a team-oriented environment and relay complex information about assessment data to the public.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Perform responsibilities with minimal supervision.
• Be able to demonstrate effective leadership in establishing collaborative relationships in pursuit of goals common to both the Department and Delaware schools.
• Ability to proactively problem-solve with professionalism.

Salary:

Salary will be computed in accordance with the experience and training of the individual selected and in accordance with the salary schedules for employees of the Delaware Department of Education.  Direct deposit of payroll checks is mandatory for state employment, and employees are paid on a lag pay schedule with the first payment made after approximately one month of employment.

Notes

A criminal background check is required. The candidate must demonstrate in the interview process an understanding of diversity issues as related to student achievement and the ability to apply the principles of multicultural education.  The successful candidate must meet Delaware’s PRAXIS I test of basic skills in reading, writing and mathematics requirements.   This job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. The Director should expect to perform any other related activities needed to deliver the position’s key duties and responsibilities and follow any other instructions as defined by his/her supervisor.

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Apply To:
Mary L. Cooke, Esq.
Human Resource Office
Delaware Department of Education
401 Federal Street
Dover, Delaware 19901
Phone:(302) 735-4030
Fax:(302) 739-7768
Email:doehr@doe.k12.de.us

• Application for Employment [PDF] [Word]
• Other Job Vacancies

The Delaware Department of Education is an equal opportunity employer. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age or Vietnam Era veteran’s status in employment or its programs and activities.