Position: Deputy Officer, Talent Strategy & Educator Engagement Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Unit (TLEU)

Location: Delaware DOE - DOVER

Reports to: Chief Officer, Teacher Leader Effectiveness Unit

Workgroups(s): Race to the Top Project Management Office

Date of Employment: November 18, 2012

Closing Date for Application: October 15, 2012
                       
Description of Position:
With its 2010 Race to the Top win, the State of Delaware is working towards an ambitious goal – becoming the best state education system in the country. In a few short years, Delaware plans to become the first state to provide public education that prepares all students for success in the global economy. 

To ensure that improvements in student outcomes are rapid and significant, the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) continues to recruit a small number of talented professionals to help lead this reform effort. 

The Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Unit’s (TLEU) Deputy Officer for Talent Strategy & Educator Engagement will have an unmatched opportunity to impact education reform not only in Delaware, but across the nation. 

The individual in this position will develop a track record of influencing and collaborating with senior leaders, principals, and teachers.  He/She will also have exceptional interpersonal and communication skills to work effectively within the DDOE, in districts, charters and in schools throughout the State. This critical role will report directly to the Chief Officer of the Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Unit.

POSITION OVERVIEW: 

The Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Unit (TLEU) is developing and implementing a leading-edge strategy for recruiting, selecting, training, developing, distributing, and retaining exceptional teachers and school leaders statewide.  The work of the TLEU in Delaware is building upon the state’s existing teacher and leader evaluation (DPAS-II) and robust existing data systems to create a world class, innovative human capital strategy that will drive results at the state, project, district, school, and classroom level—thus serving as model system for the nation.

Within the TLEU, the Deputy Officer, Talent Strategy & Educator Engagement will oversee statewide efforts to strengthen the state’s educator evaluation system through professional training, process improvement and technical assistance, co-develop strategies, models and solutions for educator career pathways and Teacher-Leadership roles, and collaborate with state officials and educators statewide in developing the proper legislative/regulatory conditions for successful implementation of all RTTT human capital requirements.  The position will also play a role in implementing the state’s leadership coaching programs and New Teacher Mentoring.  This Deputy Officer serves as a project manager for several critical RTTT initiatives, as a driver of institutional change in human capital policies and practices, and a thought-partner to the state’s districts and charters in their human capital strategies.

Responsibilities:

• Manage the following critical RTTT human capital initiatives towards measurable outcomes:
• The Vision Network
• School Leadership Coaches
• Engage educators (teachers & administrators) in the co-creation of strategies, models and solutions to strengthen the state’s educator evaluation policies and practices (DPAS-II System).  Develop professional trainings for school administrators who work on educator evaluation in Delaware’s schools.  Provide coaching and technical assistance to educators in the delivery of DPAS-II. 
• Collaborate with key stakeholders in developing relevant regulation/legislation to support RTTT initiatives involving human capital reforms—notably the state’s pledged work around educator career pathways, teacher leadership roles, and the strengthening of New Teacher Mentoring.
• Facilitate the overall improvement of talent strategy and educator pathway programs for teachers and school leaders within the State of Delaware through collaboration with institutes of higher education, non-profit organizations, DSEA, DASA and local school districts. 
• Work across DDOE branches and units to support the implementation of the state’s education reform agenda.  This includes, but is not limited to:

• Collaborating with  DDOE’s Delivery Unit to identify best practices to be replicated and ineffective practices to be discontinued, to ensure that the state is on track to meet its goals
• Supporting DDOE’s Charter School Office regarding human capital practices
• Supporting DDOE’s work with the state’s Common Core State Standards implementation
• Build institutional memory within the TLEU by leveraging the work being done with RTTT partners to develop internal capacity to deliver within the Department of Education.   
• Serve as a thought-partner to the Chief Officer of the TLEU in developing talent strategy.  Develop relationships with national organizations working in educator evaluation, talent strategy and educator pathways in order to best leverage Delaware’s RTTT opportunity.
• These responsibilities are not exhaustive of what the role may entail, as the TLEU will continue to be innovative in developing strategies with the state’s teachers and school leaders.

Essential Qualifications and Skills:

          Education:  Master’s degree preferred, preferably in Education and/or Education Policy

          Experience:

• At least 4 years of progressive career experience, preferably in education
• Experience developing and implementing human capital strategies
• Project management or management consulting experience; Contract management experience preferred
• Demonstrated commitment to eliminating the educational achievement gap

Skills:

• Superior project management skills, including a demonstrated ability to problem solve effectively
• Ability to analyze complex human capital challenges at the state, district, and school level
• Results-oriented, with demonstrated ability to self-motivate and to work independently
• Entrepreneurial spirit, with a demonstrated ability to start and lead new ventures in the education space
• Outstanding oral and written skills
• Team orientation and willingness to contribute at all levels to ensure successful implementation

Salary:

Salary will be computed in accordance with classification, educational level and work experience of the individual selected in accordance with Delaware Code.  Direct deposit of payroll check is a condition of employment for state employees, and employees are paid on a lag pay schedule with first payment made after approximately one month employment.

Notes:
This is a position at DDOE and is funded with proceeds to be received through the RTTT award between 2010 and 2014.  On March 30, 2010, Delaware was named as one of two states selected for Phase 1 funding of a RTTT competitive federal grant to improve education in public schools.  The person hired will be responsible for implementing the proposals outlined in Delaware’s winning RTTT application.  The continuation of this position beyond 2014 is expressly contingent in each succeeding fiscal year upon the availability of sufficient funds from state, federal, and/or appropriated special funds, and further contingent upon state allocated full-time equivalent (F.T.E.) authorizations in succeeding fiscal year budgets of the State of Delaware.   

A criminal background check is required. The successful candidate must demonstrate during the interview process an understanding of diversity, educational equity and multicultural education. This job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. The employee 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.

Application submissions should include (1) a DDOE Application for employment, (2) a detailed letter describing experience and skills as related to the position description, (3) curriculum vitae/resume, and (4) an email address for further communications.  Please submit your application packet to the Delaware Department of Education Human Resource Office at doehr@doe.k12.de.us.  In addition, please request three letters of reference be sent directly to doehr@doe.k12.de.us.  Review of applications will begin upon receipt.

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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

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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.