Director for Philadelphia-based K-12 School Work, Drexel University

Posted by Drexel University on December 14, 2015

Title: Director for Philadelphia-based K-12 School Work
Department: School of Education, Drexel University
Reports To: Dean Nancy Songer

Job Summary
This individual will serve as the Director for Philadelphia-based preK-12 school work. This is a senior staff position. The individual will also serve as the Co-Director of the School Work Studio, an office within the School of Education that coordinates research and practices for all K-12-based school work. The office will be located at Drexel’s School of Education (SoE) but be closely affiliated with three West Philadelphia neighborhood schools, Morton McMichael (K-8), Powel Elementary (K-4) and SLA-Middle School (5-8) and, consequently, the School District of Philadelphia (SDP).

This individual will serve as the Director of school-based activities and initiatives within the School of Education and be the liaison between Drexel University, local schools, civic, community and district leaders. As such, this position is essential to articulating and realizing the School of Education’s role in helping Drexel University achieve a key goal of its Strategic Plan-to become a modern urban university serving its city and working collaboratively with its school-based neighborhood partners to develop and sustain strong schools for the community. This individual also will Co-Direct with the Dean a new School Work Studio office in the School of Education. The Studio will coordinate and advance school-based research and practice initiatives of School of Education personnel and Drexel personnel, both in Philadelphia and regionally.

Essential Functions
• Serve as the main Drexel liaison for Morton McMichael, Powel and the new SLA-Middle School practitioners, students, and families. This includes coordinating, and in some cases, directing the University’s school-based work in those schools, and supervising Drexel faculty, students and staff engaged in research and practice initiatives in these West Philadelphia schools.
• Serve as the correspondent for Drexel School of Education’s vision for Philadelphia-based preK-12 school work.
• Serve as a leader for strategic planning, expansion and development of the Powel-SLA-MS schools in West Philadelphia.
• Supervise School Work Studio staff, including postdoctoral researchers, classroom teachers, graduate students and/or undergraduate students.
• Manage and/or organize research and development activities of SoE faculty in Philadelphia schools. This includes supervision of a database of projects, as well as work with our Communications Director to develop and distribute a suite of products and marketing materials.
• Direct data collection and analysis associated with School Work Studio research and development work, particularly in essential areas such as literacy and STEM.
• Lead efforts to write grants and secure funds for SoE school-based initiatives.
• Develop strategies to measurably and continuously improve the SoE’s school-based work in West Philadelphia and share data with leadership. This will include efforts to plan, organize, coordinate, assess and evaluate SoE initiatives in West Philadelphia.
• Represent the SoE at local and national meetings and conferences focused on school – community development and related concerns.
• Help coordinate and align the School of Education’s work in West Philadelphia schools with other Drexel academic units.

Requirements
• A minimum of three years’ experience focused on school-based efforts in urban schools/districts. Experiences could include conceptualization, strategic planning, coaching and/or fundraising.
• A minimum of three years classroom teaching in urban settings.
• A graduate degree, Doctoral degree preferred, in a related area of Education, such as Urban Education, Early Childhood Education, English Education, Curriculum and Instruction or STEM Education.
• Excellent teamwork and collaboration skills.
• Excellent instructional, writing, and editing skills.
• Deep knowledge of the academic literature and best practices related to strategic planning, school-community partnerships, and urban education.

Desirable Experience
Work and prior experience in Philadelphia schools or organizations working directly with Philadelphia schools

To Apply
Drexel University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and encourages applications from women, members of minority groups, disabled individuals, and veterans. All applicants should provide a cover letter describing their relevant experience, resume/curriculum vitae, and a list of three references.

Online applications are required. The School of Education seeks to make an appointment by 1 January 2016 to begin shortly thereafter.

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