Arizona Department of Education

School Support and Improvement Section

Phoenix/ Location

Salary: $80, - $82,500 

Grade: 22

Closing Date: 11/03/2024

• The School Improvement unit is charged with implementing ARS 15-241 and Every Student Succeeds Act 2015 (ESSA) with regard to providing supports for Local Education Agencies (LEAs) and their schools in improvement. ADE's School Improvement section is responsible to improve LEA and school systems in order to significantly increase and sustain quality outcomes for Arizona students; building the capacity of under-performing LEAs and schools through a comprehensive, differentiated system of support that ensures effective and sustainable teaching and learning environments that result in high academic achievement.
• This position coordinates supports, including professional learning for schools identified for Comprehensive (CSI) and Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI) under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). It provides and coordinates differentiated technical assistance and support for schools, LEAs and educators including performance management, collaborative monitoring, and grants management activities; ensures that grant funds are appropriately budgeted and expended in accordance with all applicable program requirements, and that all expenditures are aligned to school Comprehensive Needs Assessments (CNAs) and Integrated Action Plans (IAPs) and help ensure that CSI and TSI schools are leveraging resources effectively and efficiently to meet local needs and improve local capacities to support student learning outcomes; prepares and completes administrative and monitoring reports.
• Additionally, this position coordinates supports for state identified "D" schools pursuant to ARS15-241. The Director is responsible for supervising assigned Education Program Specialists in the School Improvement unit ensuring LEAs and schools receive high quality customer service, support, monitoring, and training.
• Occasional in-state and out-of-state travel is required for this position.

• Develop and coordinate technical assistance, monitoring and professional development in accordance with state and federal requirements for LEAs with CSI and TSI schools in accordance with ESSA as well as schools in improvement status under the A-F Accountability System
• Supervise Education Program Specialists (EPSs) to ensure high quality technical assistance and monitoring are provided to LEAs and schools in improvement utilizing the Project Momentum framework
• Lead, develop, and supervise professional learning activities for LEAs and schools in improvement including but not limited to conducting CNA and developing and implementing IAP and leadership development
• Support on-site visits with LEA and school leadership in developing, implementing, and monitoring Integrated Action Plans and processes that are systematic, systemic and sustainable and will lead to increases in student achievement
• Support and monitor school improvement related grant activities in accordance with state and federal requirements
• Collaborate with other units and divisions to support and ensure high quality coordinated service to LEAs and schools
• Serve as an EPS for a list of schools to provide on-site visits, leadership development, and other school improvement activities utilizing the Project Momentum framework

Knowledge in:
• Deep knowledge of school improvement and turnaround as well as underlying research and best practices, particularly in improving curriculum, instruction, assessment, and facilitating solutions and breakthroughs
• Arizona Department of Education structure and inter-agency responsibilities
• State and federal laws, including funding regulations pertaining to ESSA and the A-F Accountability System
• Title I practices, particularly in improving curriculum, instruction, assessment, and facilitating solutions and breakthroughs
• Arizona Department of Education structure and inter-capacity necessary in districts to support system-wide infrastructure for sustainable improvement in LEAs with schools in improvement
• Current trends in school improvement and turnaround
• Systemic school reform, including the alignment of curriculum, instruction, and assessment
• Collecting, analyzing, validating, interpreting and reporting data
• A Bachelor’s degree in Education, Educational Leadership, and/or Special Education, or equivalent experience to substitute for the degree, is required.

Skills in:
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Experience in facilitating and presenting to large groups
• Effectively managing multiple projects at the same time
• Building collaborative teams
• Developing strategic plans
• Analytical problem-solving and decision-making
• Organizational skills
• Supervisory skills
• Strong technological skills

Ability to:
• Complete assignments accurately and timely
• Set clear expectations and hold self and others accountable
• Evaluate situations and respond quickly and tactfully
• Take initiative
• Instill trust and confidence
• Lead by example
• Develop others
• Impact and influence others
• Develop rapport with a variety of stakeholders
• Develop and maintain professional relationships
• Negotiate; and the ability to communicate effectively with administrators, staff, parents, students and community

Preference will be given to those applicants with:
• Master’s Degree in Education and/or Educational Leadership and/or Special Education
• Superintendent and/or Principal Certification
• Experience in evaluating programs-data collection, analysis, interpretation and reporting
• Experience working in collaborative settings
• Instructional and/or leadership training(s)
• Experience working as a principal

• Offers are contingent upon successful completion of all background and reference checks, required documents and, if applicable, a post-offer medical/physical evaluation.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The State of Arizona provides an excellent comprehensive benefits package including:

• Affordable medical, dental, life, and short-term disability insurance plans
• Top-ranked retirement and long-term disability plans
• Ten paid holidays per year
• Vacation time accrued at 4.00 hours bi-weekly for the first 3 years
• Sick time accrued at 3.70 hours bi-weekly
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
• Deferred compensation plan
• Wellness plans

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

You will be required to participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) upon your 27th week of employment, subject to waiting period. On or shortly after, your first day of employment you will be provided with enrollment instructions and effective date.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by calling (602) 542-3186 or emailing Human.Resources@azed.gov. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.