Reports to:  Deputy Director, Engagement

Salary:         Competitive and commensurate with experience

Location:     New Haven, with significant in-state travel


Overview:

The Connecticut RISE Network (RISE) is a Connecticut-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to ensure all RISE high school students graduate with a plan and the skills and confidence to achieve college and career success. Founded in 2016, RISE partners with Connecticut public high schools to lead statewide networks where school communities work together to use data to learn and improve. We partner with school communities across the state to understand complex challenges, unpack data, pilot new innovations, and scale effective practices.

Today, the RISE Network represents a collaboration between nine high schools and eight public school districts that form our core partnership network, reaching over 13,000 students; the majority of RISE students identify as Black, Latinx, and/or low-income. RISE high schools work together to ensure all students experience success as they transition to, through, and beyond high school.  Starting with a strong foundation in Grade 9, RISE high schools pursue school-wide improvements in Grades 9 through 12 that support college and career readiness, access, and success.

 

Position Summary and Essential Job Functions:


As part of the RISE Network’s Engagement Team, the Engagement Specialist will design and facilitate exceptional professional learning experiences and coaching engagements for select high schools in Connecticut.  Reporting to the Deputy Director of Engagement, the Engagement Specialist will work collaboratively with the Engagement Team to develop innovative pilot programs to increase the number of school partners that participate in professional learning and coaching engagements facilitated by RISE. This will involve leading improvement coaching with educators and planning and delivering other contracted work with high schools and districts interested in partnering with RISE.  The work of the Engagement Specialist will be central to RISE’s revenue diversification and sustainability efforts in years to come. 

   

This is an extraordinary opportunity for a highly motivated or entrepreneurial individual who is skilled in developing, launching and managing new programs, is energized by cultivating relationships with diverse stakeholders in and around public schools, and excels at coaching and building the capacity of educators.

 

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:


Educator professional learning 

  • Facilitate collaborative processes to set the vision for educator gatherings

  • Co-lead school and district outreach and the marketing of professional learning opportunities 

  • Plan professional learning gatherings and conference sessions, including the design of highly engaging and impactful content with high-quality materials 

  • Develop and maintain organized and transparent project management systems

  • Facilitate professional learning sessions and deliver presentations 


Coaching and facilitation of cross-school collaboration

  • Develop a leadership development vision for ongoing multi-school, goal-specific networks of high schools

  • Provide strategic coaching to high school educators and teams 

  • Share coaching resources and promising practices across schools


Management of relationships and stakeholder communication

  • Build strong relationships with school and district leadership and networks of peer organizations

  • Develop organized toolkits of resources and project planning tools 

  • Prepare well-written agendas, session descriptions, and other professional learning materials


Required Knowledge and Skills:


  • Deep understanding of urban schools and strong belief that all students can achieve at high levels.

  • Demonstrated commitment to equity and ability to lead and develop others through a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

  • Demonstrated skill as a dynamic facilitator of adult learning and an effective manager of professional development and/or consulting engagements.

  • Ability to build strong relationships with diverse stakeholders and to motivate school and district staff.

  • Knowledge of best practices in secondary education, school leadership, and/or team formation.

  • Understanding of principles of continuous improvement and the use of data to drive improvement.

  • Strong organizational and project management skills.

  • Ability to work effectively under pressure and to meet competing demands.

  • Excellent written communication skills.

  • Excellent computer skills; ability to use Google apps (Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc.) and the Internet.


Required Education and Experience:


  • Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field required; master’s degree in a relevant field preferred.

  • Minimum of five years of professional experience in education with at least two years of experience facilitating improvement in urban schools and/or districts.

  • Prior experience working as a coach, consultant, or in another capacity supporting educators and/or administrators in reflection on and improvement in their practice.

  • Prior experience in program development/management and account/client management preferred.


RISE is an Equal Opportunity Employer 



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