Chief Academic & DEI Officer

POSITION: Chief Academic & DEI Officer
TYPE: District Administrator – Executive Leadership
LOCATION: CEC – Central Office
CONTRACT LENGTH: 260 Days
SALARY: Competitive Salary
Chief Academic & DEI Officer

Job Summary:

Washington Township Schools seeks a visionary and collaborative leader to oversee
PK-12 equitable achievement through the Teaching & Learning and Student Services
Departments from a diversity, equity and inclusion focus. The Chief Academic & DEI
Officer will have expertise in fostering diversity, equity and inclusion in an educational
environment. Additionally, the Chief Academic & DEI Officer will have a proven record
of strong leadership resulting in progress toward equitable achievement through
management and program implementation skills. The Chief Academic & DEI Officer will
have a main focus on the Teaching & Learning Department but will also provide
expertise, leadership, and collaboration in all areas of the school district relating to DEI.
The Chief Academic & DEI Officer will collaborate with district stakeholders (students,
parents, faculty, staff, and community partners) to continually improve the inclusive and
supportive culture of Washington Township Schools.

Occupational Competencies

School Systems: Demonstrate an understanding of the foundational work and
goals of public schools, their structure, and their day to day functioning.
Personnel management: Knowledge of the methodologies and procedures
involved in the hiring and development of employees in order to ensure value for
the organization, as well as personnel needs, benefits, conflict resolution and
ensuring a positive corporate climate.
Human resource management: Familiarity with the function in an organization
concerned with the recruitment of employees and the optimization of employee
performance.
Diversity and Inclusion: A strong understanding of best practices in the fields of
diversity and inclusion, cultural competency, and implicit bias.
Commitment: Understanding the importance of equity, inclusion, and diversity to
the broader educational mission of MSDWT and an unrelenting focus on
achieving results.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or
organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Strategic Planning: Is highly skilled in strategic planning, program development,
and program assessment. Understands and is able to navigate the complex
contexts, cultures, and politics within organizations that impact the
implementation and management of effective diversity and inclusivity change
efforts. Take action on the goals and procedures defined at a strategic level in
order to mobilize resources and pursue equity.

Foundational Competencies

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking
time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and
not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and
weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding
why they react as they do.
Courage: Desire to make change within our organization and to ask the hard
questions that need to be asked.
Commitment: Understanding the importance of equity, inclusion, and diversity to
the broader educational mission of MSDWT and is an unrelenting.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both
current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of
potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Knowledge: Demonstrating expert knowledge in diversity and inclusivity issues,
including state and federal laws, regulations, and policies.
Communication: Utilizing exemplary communication and listening skills.
Interpersonal Relationships: Nurturing a positive relationship and models
principles of respect with super-ordinates, subordinates and peers.
Discretion and Sensitivity: Dealing with sensitive issues in a tactful and
professional manner.
Resiliency: The ability to persevere through difficult circumstances and
setbacks.

Examples of Roles & Responsibilities:

● Oversee the Teaching & Learning and Student Services Departments for the
implementation of the Elevate framework, a systemic district wide program that
ensures equitable achievement and high levels of access for all MSDWT
students through the District Strategic Plan and School Improvement Plans
related strategies.
● Assist district and building administrators with strategies, practices, and policy
development that foster increased recruiting, hiring, and retention of diverse
educators.
● Identify, collect, and analyze appropriate data in order to assess institutional
climate and culture to develop key strategies for improvement and to support
MSDWT personnel in their goals to increase student achievement and decrease
gaps in achievement, participation, and engagement.
● Foster, create, and maintain responsive and welcoming school cultures and
learning environments in MSDWT Schools in collaboration with the Teaching &
Learning Directors.
● Build effective teams in the Teaching & Learning and Student Services
Departments to launch, champion, and maintain DEI initiatives in complex school
environments.
● Educate and train stakeholders on issues regarding access, equity, inclusivity,
and issues of social justice. Participates in and facilitates workshops, meetings,
community events, etc. for collaborating, sharing, and/or presenting information.
● Provides coaching to increase the capacity of educators for the purpose of
leading instructional transformation to better meet the academic learning needs
of historically underrepresented youth.
● Research topics required to maintain the integrity of the equity work (e.g. relevant
policies, new federal and state statutes, financial resources, etc.) for the purpose
of developing new programs/services, ensuring compliance with regulatory
requirements, securing general information and/or responding to requests.
● Seek additional funding opportunities (i.e. grants) that support the District
Strategic Plan equitable achievement goals.
● Serves as a liaison to collaborate with partner organizations focused on diversity,
equity, inclusion and social justice for the purpose of leveraging relevant
curricular and instructional resources.
● Understands and identifies barriers in classroom instructional practices that
contribute to disproportionate outcomes for historically underrepresented youth
for the purpose of providing recommendations and supports to LEAs, site
administrators/instructional coaches, and classroom instructors.
● Assist educators in creating culturally supportive learning environments that
ensure high expectations for the academic achievement of all students.
● Provide timely instructional support when necessitated by local, national, and
global events.
● Support staff sponsors of clubs and student groups whose focus is on diversity,
equity, inclusion and social justice.
● Support review, development and implementation of policy and administrative
guidelines specific to DEI.
● Oversee the MSDWT K-12 High Ability Programs: Facilitation of Committees,
Lead Appeals Process, Grant Development & Execution, Systems Review for
DEI, Handbook Oversight & Coordination with Directors (who lead high ability
identification, placement, curriculum and training)
● Oversee annual review, board approval and implementation of the K-8 Student
Handbook, 9-12 Student Handbook & K-12 Code of Conduct in collaboration with
appropriate administrators.
● Facilitate the District Equity Leadership Team (DELT) with support from School
Directors and the Community Coalition with support from the Coordinator of
Community Partnerships.
● Analyze district data on suspensions and expulsions to identify and disrupt areas
of inequity in collaboration with Directors in the Teaching & Learning Department.
● Facilitate School Based Equity Teams in collaboration with Directors in the Teaching &
Learning and Student Services Departments and appropriate administrators.
● Oversee DEI consultants agreements/contracts, Board approval when necessary,
implementation, budget tracking and their scope of work.
● Develop and implement a communication plan for sharing DEI and equitable
achievement progress and collaborate with the communications team (website,
videos, parent information, staff information, social media, etc.) in partnership
with the Teaching & Learning and Student Services Departments.
● Provide professional development on how to lead and foster DEI work for
administrators and School Board.
● Other duties as assigned.

Job Details: The Chief Academic & DEI Officer leads the Teaching & Learning and
Student Services Departments and reports to the Superintendent. They bring their
experience, expertise, and talent to a wide variety of issues impacting Washington
Township students. This position serves as the primary evaluator for Directors in the
Teaching & Learning and Student Services Departments and can serve as a secondary
evaluator of Coordinators, Assistant Directors and Principals in the Teaching & Learning
and Student Services Departments.

Experience: Minimum of five (5) years of professional experience as an administrator
designing, coaching, delivering high-quality culturally responsive curriculum and
instructional support to educators in an educational setting working with diverse
populations and underrepresented student populations. Experience must include a
minimum of two (2) years supervising administrative staff; or two (2) years experience
as a coordinator in Curriculum and Instruction. Principal experience is required.
Education & License: A Doctoral degree (in education, education administration or
other related field) along with an active Administrator License through IDOE is required.

Timeline:
Job Posting September 18, 2023 – October 20, 2023
Round 1 Interviews Week of October 23, 2023
Round 2 Interviews Week of October 30, 2023
Round 3 Interviews Week of November 6, 2023
Board Approval November or December,

Physical Requirements:
(1) Seldom = Less than 25%
(2) Occasional = 26 to 50%
(3) Often = 51 to 75%
(4) Very Frequent = 76% & above
Ability to stand for extended periods of time. (1)
Ability to lift 25 lbs. (1)
Ability to carry 25 lbs.(2)
Ability to work at a desk, conference table or in meetings of various
configurations. (4)
Ability to see for the purpose of reading laws and codes, rules and policies and
other printed matter. (4)
Ability to hear and understand speech at normal levels. (4)
Ability to communicate so others will be able to clearly understand a normal
conversation. (4)
Ability to operate office equipment. (4)
Ability to reach in all directions. (4)

Reasonable Accommodation: MSDWT is an affirmative action and equal opportunity
employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without
regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity,
national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. MSDWT is committed to providing
access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with
disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities.