Manager, Advanced Placement (AP) Program Support

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 325,000 students in 500 schools and employing over 45,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. Aligned with our transformed philosophy, we are steadfastly focused on ensuring that the District provides resources equitably to support every student, every school, and every community. Six core values guide the work we do every day for our students – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning. Each role in the district supports our vision that every student deserves a rigorous, joyful, and equitable learning experience.

The Department of Advanced Learning and Specialty Programs (ALSP) serves as a catalyst to empower learners to be successful and positive contributors in their school community, post-secondary pathways, and life. Through programmatic support and collaborative partnerships, ALSP provides equitable access to high-quality, student-centered programs (AP, Gifted, IB, Magnet, and PL) that develop the interests, strengths, and talents of our learners.

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Director, Advanced Learning, the Manager, Advanced Placement (AP) Program Support leads the AP team in ensuring that the support provided by the Office of Teaching and Learning improves the student experience and outcomes aligned with the CPS Instructional Core Vision. This is a full-time, exempt position that will be paid for time worked on a salary basis.

The Manager, Advanced Placement Program Support will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Supervise, develop, and manage the performance of a high-functioning and collaborative team that is able to execute effectively and meet deadlines
• Contribute to strategic planning around Advanced Placement initiatives, professional learning, and instructional priorities to support a district-wide vision for teaching and learning and postsecondary success
• Collaborate with other Program Managers through centralized meeting structures to ensure school-facing supports reflect a coherent vision for teaching and learning across program areas
• Facilitate regular meetings with Program Specialists and AP Coordinators to identify priority areas for continuous improvement of equitable access to, and success within, AP courses 
• Engage in regular progress monitoring and feedback cycles to deepen the impact of AP Program Specialists
• Provide subject matter expertise on district-wide initiatives, including cross-departmental programs, RFPs, and resource development
• Maintain program area expertise by staying abreast of current research, practices, and innovations in the field
• Other duties and work streams as assigned.

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Manager, Advanced Placement Program Support must possess the following qualifications: 

Education Required: 

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study from an accredited college or university, required
• Valid teaching certificate/Professional Educator’s License (PEL) issued by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) with appropriate content and grade-level endorsement(s) is required 
• LBSI, ESL, or Bilingual Endorsement preferred 
• Master’s degree preferred

Experience Required: 

• Minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in education, including the following, is required:
• Minimum of five (5) years of classroom teaching experience. (Three (3) years of teaching experience will be considered in combination with two (2) years of experience in an elevated, content specialist-type role.)
• Minimum of three (3) years of teacher leadership experience, such as leading school teams in the development of curriculum and assessments, analyzing student performance data, etc. 
• Minimum of three (3) years working with adult learners, including creating, organizing, and facilitating professional learning experiences that meet participants' needs
• Minimum of two (2) years supporting AP programs or other advanced learning and/or specialty programs at the District level
• Experience leading a high-functioning team within the program area focus, providing professional coaching, or managing others
• Experience with program management, strategic planning, and adult learning to shape the cross-program district-wide professional learning strategy

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Expertise in planning, designing, facilitating, and evaluating professional learning 
• Deep knowledge/understanding of teaching and learning instructional best practices in advanced courses
• Strong leadership and team-building skills, e.g., ability to develop high-performing teams united around a clear vision for serving schools and achieving student success.
• Effective strategic planning capabilities, including the ability to establish and articulate a vision and goals, set high standards, and effectively guide individuals and teams in the realization of expectations set
• Exceptional organizational skills; ability to effectively manage several work streams simultaneously
• Capable of building and sustaining positive, productive relationships with colleagues and stakeholders
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; comfortable collaborating and communicating across a diverse range of audiences, including network teams, principals, teachers, and support staff
• Commitment to CPS Instructional Core Vision and ensuring that all students have access to grade-level, standards-aligned learning opportunities
• Ability to build consensus and leverage expertise with educators across the district
• Excellent technology skills (Student Information Systems, Google Suite, etc.)

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions; however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.