Senior School Support Officer

*NOLA Public Schools Vision* The vision of the NOLA Public Schools is that every student receives a high-quality education that fosters his or her individual capabilities, while ensuring that they thrive, achieve physical and mental wellness, and are prepared for civic, social, and economic success.
*Position Summary* Under the guidance of the Chief of School Support and Improvement, the Senior School Support Officer will play a leading role in supporting and creating conditions to foster continual improvement among charter schools in New Orleans.
This position requires one to consistently work across a diverse group of stakeholders, inside and outside OPSB, in order to identify, analyze, and execute solutions best suited to ensure maximum impact at both the district and school level.
Areas of policy and practice development are constantly emerging, but current priority areas include: literacy, supporting schools through Covid-19 impacts i.
e.
, learning loss), school partnerships, teacher and school leader talent pipelines, and policy implementation.
The Senior Officer will be expected to manage the School Support and Improvement team and implement initiatives and activities aligned to the district’s Strategic Plan that are focused on school support.
Additionally, the Senior Officer will serve as the lead coordinator for supports to schools in the OPSB Local Education Agency, oversee support to struggling schools that are not meeting Charter School Accountability Framework (CSAF) expectations and provide direct support to charter school leaders and their teams when challenges arise that may impact schools short and long-term operations to improve student outcomes.
This role will also serve as the primary lead for school transitions.
Given that OPSB is emerging as a premier portfolio school district and presented with governance and policy development challenges unique to such a system, a successful candidate will be an entrepreneurial critical-thinker with a deep commitment to uncovering challenges and developing innovative solutions and strategies to increase the efficacy of NOLA Public Schools.
*Essential Duties and Responsibilities* * Directly manage members of the School Support and Improvement team as they support and engage school leaders on their needs to increase organizational effectiveness and increase student achievement and meet expectations outlined in the Charter School Accountability Framework (CSAF); * Ensure annual progress towards priorities and strategies outlined in the NOLA Public Schools Strategic Plan; *School Support and Improvement* * Support schools in the development and implementation of school improvement plans to implement best practices in improving student achievement, specific to the local public charter school context, including both instructional practices and school culture/climate; * Identify factors that contribute to school renewal/non-renewal and develop school improvement plans to assist schools in achieving their growth and performance goals; * Provide schools with access to resources and tools in identified areas of need to improve progress toward school-level priorities and goals; * Lead the coordination of the school transition process; and, * Evaluate and report the impact of school support in the areas listed above.
*Local Education Agency (LEA) Coordination* * Oversee the coordination of support services and policy requirements for schools that are in the NOLA-PS Local Education Agency (LEA) to ensure schools and the district are meeting obligations outlined in the LEA agreement ,including but not limited to federal, state, and local policies.
*Strategy Development and Data Analysis* * Evaluate and manipulate a variety of data on school performance, including but not limited to state testing data, and Charter School Accountability Framework requirements (academic, financial, and organizational performance metrics) to inform school support and improvement strategies, policy, practice discussions, and development; * Independently generate and propose solutions to address specific school needs that arise by engaging with a diverse set of stakeholders such as training and professional development, partnerships, etc.
; and, * Research, develop and plan for implementation of subset policies and practices that directly impacts OPSB meeting its organizational goals and strategic priorities related to school operations and improvement.
*Communication and Coordination* * Represent NOLA Public Schools across a variety of internal and external discussions with school leaders, community members, non-profit leaders and other governmental agencies; * Regularly communicate, coordinate and liaise with the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE), state and local experts and partners that have experience and knowledge related to topics and issues that impact schools; * Participate in meetings, working groups and workshops to convey and/or gather information required to perform essential job functions, provide thought partnership, or support the strategic communication of information to schools; * Stay abreast of information schools need and determine the best and most efficient way to relay information to schools, that is in line with state, local, and federal policy and provides opportunities for additional supports and resources (e.
g.
, scholarships, partnerships, etc.
); * Consistently engage with NOLA Public School staff across divisions to increase effectiveness and efficiency when supporting and engaging schools (e.
g.
, Diverse Learners, Enrollment); and, Other * Perform other related duties, as assigned.
*Education and Experience* * Bachelor’s degree in education or related field required.
Master’s degree preferred; * Minimum of ten years of professional experience required in education or related field, with experience in school support, school improvement and/or school turnaround; * Work with or in charter schools strongly preferred; * Experience in school and/or leadership (Instructional leadership, administration or principal) preferred; * Knowledge of and familiarity with Louisiana Charter School policy and law strongly preferred; * Knowledge of state and national best practices in charter school authorization strongly preferred.
*Other Knowledge, Skills or Abilities Required* * Strong interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to work cooperatively and courteously with others and communicate with a variety of personalities in a tactful, pleasant, and professional manner; * Ability to use basic office procedures and equipment.
Expertise in the use of personal computers, literacy in the following software packages: Windows, Microsoft Office Programs with proficiency in Word and Excel, and financial management software; * Excellent organizational, planning, and multitasking skills; * Ability to take initiative and complete projects successfully without supervision; * Attention to detail and accuracy; * Strong written and oral communication skills; * Excellent information-gathering and information-monitoring skills; * Problem analysis and problem-solving skills; * Ability to collaborate and partner with various stakeholders; * Ability to use good judgment and strong decision-making skills; * Capacity to work well under pressure in a rapidly changing start-up environment; * Ability to work well under pressure, while projecting high motivation, maintaining strict confidentiality and handling clients with tact and diplomacy; * Ability to follow-up/follow-through on assignments.
*Work Environment* Listed below are key points regarding environmental demands and the work environment of the job.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
* Required to use motor coordination with finger dexterity (such as keyboarding, machine operation, etc.
) part of the work day; * Required to exert physical effort in handling objects more than 30 pounds rarely; * Required to be exposed to physical occupational risks (such as cuts, burns, exposure to toxic chemicals) rarely; * Required to be exposed to physical environment which involves dirt, odors, noise, weather extremes or similar elements rarely; and * Normal setting for this job is an office setting or a school site; reliable transportation is needed in order to travel to external meetings and schools throughout the week.
Job Type: Full-time Pay: $80,400.
00 - $122,235.
00 per year Benefits: * 401(k) * Dental insurance * Flexible schedule * Health insurance * Life insurance * Paid time off * Referral program * Vision insurance Schedule: * Monday to Friday Work Location: Hybrid remote in New Orleans, LA 70114