Director of Academics

Berea Independent School District Position Description

            Requirements stated herein are minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities to qualify for this position. To perform the duties and responsibilities of this position successfully, the employee must possess the abilities and aptitudes to perform each task proficiently. "Ability" means to possess and apply both knowledge and skill.

            The methods of meeting these requirements are sub­ject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabili­ties. Some requirements, however, may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or sig­nificant risk to the health and safety of themselves or others.

Director of Academics

REPORTS TO:  Superintendent

EXEMPT STATUS:  Exempt 240 days                                   APPROVED:  04/27/2020

SUMMARY

Under professional direction, to plan, organize, manage, and direct the student service program; to plan, organize, coordinate, and manage the District pupil record management system; to plan, organize, and direct research and develop­ment processes, including student attendance and welfare, special education, student behavior and discipline, psychological and health related matters, and alternative education issues; to part­icipate and provide leadership in the District master planning activities; and to do other related functions as directed.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This position classification requires subject matter expertise in educational programs, and curriculum and instruction strategies, and pupil personnel services.  Directly related administrative experience is necessary to assure success in a pupil service leadership role.  The job requires the ability to analyze and offer alternative problem solutions.  Decisions are made by the incumbent that have a critical impact on the goals, organization and administration of educational programs and services of the organization.  The position classification has second-line supervisory responsibility for planning, assigning, reviewing, and evaluating the quality and quantity of work of professional, technical and clerical employees.  Frequently meets with teachers, Guidance Counselors, School Psychologists and other educational personnel to influence, motivate and monitor the result objectives of the pupil service operation. This is a sedentary position classification that performs light work, but does require walking and standing for extended periods.  The job also requires the accurate perceiving of sound, near and far vision, depth perception, handling and working with educational materials and objects, and providing oral information and direction.

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable a person with a disability to perform the essential functions of the job.  

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Keep the records and make the reports that are required by law, by regulation of the Kentucky Board of Education and by the superintendent and Board of Education.
• Provide leadership and expertise in ident­ifying, formulating, and imple­menting the District student service goals and objectives in compliance with state and federal legal mandates and guidelines.
• Plan, organize and coordinate the development of processes, strategies, and feasibility planning to ensure that the necessary human and monetary resources are proper­ly and appropriately utilized in order to achieve the student service result expectancies.
• Plan, organize, develop, and conduct a variety of staff development and in-service training programs.
• Provide leader­ship, support, and guidance to members of the District and youth service com­munity groups to ensure thorough and complete com­munication relative to the student service program.
• Plan, organize, and direct research and development activities, including action research and the projecting, plan­ning, and forecasting of future student service programs, func­tions, and activities.
• Plan, organize, and direct the prepar­ation of a variety of management reports.
• Plan, organize, and implement student service budget planning guide­lines and procedures, and expen­diture control strategies.

Serve as the primary contact between the district and the state assessment and accountability program.

• Create policies and procedures to ensure maximum security of testing materials throughout the district in accordance with requirements described by the Kentucky Department of Education and the test vendors.
• Ensure the secure transfer of testing materials and resulting data from KDE or test vendor to the district office and to the schools and testing facilities.
• Ensure the training of all school personnel who will have access to secure test materials.
• Ensure that timelines, policies and procedures are communicated to the schools.
• Distribute test results to the Superintendent, Principals and Building Assessment Coordinators.
• Attend assessment and accountability meetings and trainings.
• Promote appropriate and ethical assessment practices within the district.
• Facilitate the dissemination of all data and information to all stakeholders.
• Directs and interprets district student assessment program as related to the Kentucky accountability system, serves as the district contact on questions related to assessment data, communication, etc.
• Directs assessment for student identification purposes and assists program coordinators with data analysis, interpretation, and communication.
• Assists schools with identification of innovative assessment programs, manages purchasing/order process as schools implement assessment programs.
• Communicates assessment progress, needs, and changes to key stakeholders in the district.
• Coordinates and facilitates the implementation of School and District Report Cards.
• Assists/coaches teachers in integrating formative assessment practices in schools and individual classrooms. This includes assisting teachers as they develop assessment items, analyze student work, and making instructional decisions based on the results of those assessments.
• Actively participate in appropriate state-level organizations that will keep the district informed and prepared for assessment innovations as they emerge.
• Assists with the coordination of state and federal grants
• Monitor compliance with federal policies and federal laws
• Participate in professional organizations, workshops and staff development activities and applies learned knowledge to job; accepts new challenges in a professional manner.
• Reports to immediate supervisor about status of programs, changes in rules and regulations
• Reports to immediate supervisor program and budget recommendations concerning area of responsibility
• Demonstrates knowledge and proficiency in the use of internet, email and other computer applications as applicable to job responsibilities
• Coordinates and oversees the Districts Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) plan by providing strategic leadership that promotes a culture of equality for all students, families, faculty, staff, and the Berea Independent community.
• Provides instructional support to the schools by reviewing best practices, providing information, and facilitating PD sessions for district and school personnel as appropriate in curriculum, instruction, assessment, and standards. Provides specialized and intensive support for focus and/or priority schools.
• Provides modeling of specific best practices including curricular alignment activities, digital integration, culturally responsive teaching, and learning, differentiated instruction, co-teaching, and other strategies to support Professional Growth of teachers and Principals.
• Collaborates directly with and supports the principals with the implementation, ongoing activities, evaluation, monitoring, and fidelity checks of a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) process at assigned schools.
• Assist Principals and teachers with ongoing implementation of the Professional Growth and Effectiveness System (PGES) 50-50 Committee.
• Provide data driven strategies that address equitable practices for improving student experiences and achievements and to actively close opportunity gaps.
• Support the engagement of family and community partners in various academic, instructional, social, and emotional supportive services.
• Assists in development, implementation, and continued application of personnel policies, practices, and procedures including but not limited to recruitment, training, and retention of certified and non-certified staff, as related to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Performs other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

Principles, practices, trends, goals, and objectives of public education;

Philosophical, educational, fiscal, and legal aspects affecting a student service operational program;

Organization, management, planning, and evaluation strategies, techniques, and procedures;

Student service design and delivery systems, including audit and evaluation processes which determine process effectiveness;

Research and development strategies, processes, and techniques;

Human relationships, conflict resolution strategies and procedures, and team management building methods and techniques.

Ability to:

Plan, organize, coordinate, and direct the District student service program;

Plan, organize, develop, and implement budget planning, and expenditure control processes and procedures;

Demonstrate leadership qualities and utilize motivational techniques and strategies in the development of an operational mode that is cost effective and cost beneficial;

Evaluate and analyze complex problems, issues, and concerns, recommend appro­priate alternative solutions, and make effective and timely decisions;

Communicate effectively in oral and written form, utilizing a simplistic communica­tion mode in ensuring understandable and thorough communication;

Establish and maintain cooperative organizational, public, and educational community relationships.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Strictly adheres to the Kentucky Certified Code of Ethics (704 KAR 20:680)
• Work is performed while standing, sitting and/or walking.
• Requires the ability to communicate effectively using speech, vision, written language, and hearing.
• Requires the use of hands for simple grasping and fine manipulations.
• Requires the ability to lift, carry, push, or pull light objects and students up to 25 lbs.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and skill is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and skill would be:

Experience:

Experience in a responsible administrative position performing student service supervision and related functions.

Education:

Equivalent to the completion of a Master of Arts or higher degree in supervision, counseling and guidance, instructional technology, or closely related fields.

Certification Requirement

Possession of certification as required by Kentucky law.

Condition of Employment

Insurability by the District's liability insurance carrier.

FOR THIS TYPE OF EMPLOYMENT, STATE LAW REQUIRES A NATIONAL AND STATE CRIMINAL HISTORY BACKGROUND CHECK AND A LETTER, PROVIDED BY THE INDIVIDUAL, FROM THE CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES STATING THE APPLICANT HAS NO ADMINISTRATIVE FINDINGS OF CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT FOUND THROUGH A BACKGROUND CHECK OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT RECORDS MAINTAINED BY THE CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES.

DISCLAIMERS AND OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION • The work environment described is representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. • The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned. • This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise.