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Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education and Early Learning

Employer
Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
Location
Olympia, Washington State
Salary
Annual salary maximum $141,658

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Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education and Early Learning
Recruitment Dates: open until filled, first round of reviews expected by June 11, 2021
 

The Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) seeks a transformative instructional leader to fulfill the new role of Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education and Early Learning to join the OSPI team. We seek an experienced leader with proven success and interest in:

  • long-term change to support actualizing the agency’s anti-racist objectives, who can lead the division in changing systems and delivering proactive guidance in support of equitable outcomes for our state’s earliest learners.
  • leading teams by influencing culture, developing team values and expectations aligned with the organization’s mission, vision, values, and strategy.  

This full-time position is based in Olympia, Washington. Telework may be available within Washington state for a portion of the work week. We encourage interested candidates to visit the OSPI website to gain insight into our agency.

About OSPI and our initiatives
OSPI is the primary agency charged with overseeing public K–12 education in Washington state. Working with the state's 295 public school districts, 15 charter schools and 7 state-tribal education compact schools, OSPI allocates funding and provides tools, resources, and technical assistance so every student in Washington is provided a high-quality public education.

At OSPI, we recognize that our employees are the key to the success of the agency. We are committed to our work but value the balance with our personal lives. We demonstrate our commitment to employees by providing an environment that stimulates professional growth and values them for their expertise. OSPI is a great place to work and has several initiatives to help create a great working environment, including:

We support a healthy work/life balance by offering flexible/alternative work schedules and mobile and telework options. (Depending on job duties and work location.)

We have an Infant at Work Program that is based on long-term values of newborns and infant-parent bonding. Eligible employees who are new parents or legal guardians can bring their infant (six weeks to six months) when returning to work. (Depending on job duties and work location.)

We value and are actively involved in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion within OSPI by a way of cross-divisional, collaborative committees. The focus of the committees includes employee engagement and education; reinforcing OSPI values; and maximizing the value of diversity and identifying strategies for inclusion.

Vision, Mission, and Values
Vision: All students prepared for post-secondary pathways, careers, and civic engagement.

Mission: Transform K-12 education to a system that is centered on closing opportunity gaps and is characterized by high expectations for all students and educators. We achieve this by developing equity-based policies and supports that empower educators, families, and communities.

Values: Ensuring Equity, Collaboration and Service, Achieving Excellence through Continuous Improvement, Focus on the Whole Child

Equity
Each student, family, and community possess strengths and cultural knowledge that benefits their peers, educators, and schools. Ensuring educational equity:

  • Goes beyond equality; it requires education leaders to examine the ways current policies and practices result in disparate outcomes for our students of color, students living in poverty, students receiving special education and English Learner services, students who identify as LGBTQ+, and highly mobile student populations.
  • Requires education leaders to develop an understanding of historical contexts; engage students, families, and community representatives as partners in decision-making; and actively dismantle systemic barriers, replacing them with policies and practices that ensure all students have access to the instruction and support they need to succeed in our schools.

Position Overview

This position reports directly to the Deputy Superintendent and will provide strategic leadership and management to a diverse organizational unit. This position is responsible for all decision-making related to the overall operations of the Elementary Education and Early Learning division of OSPI, including recruiting and hiring, division-level strategic planning, budgeting, awarding grants and implementing or modifying program services; aligning and coordinating work across the division and in unison with other agency divisions to support and enhance the agencies policies and strategic priorities. This division will work closely with the Secondary Education and Pathway Preparation division on all relevant K-12 issues. The coordination and planning across the two divisions will be a key leadership responsibility. In addition, this position will support the implementation of dual language programs led by the Office of System and School Support.

This position will be responsible for developing and applying both state and federal policies and directing the agency’s programs for elementary and early childhood education, supporting school districts and aligning with these key strategic goals for the agency:

  • Equitable Access to Strong Foundations: Increase student access to and participation in high-quality early learning and elementary by amplifying and building on inclusive, asset-based policies and practices.
  • Rigorous Learner-Centered Options in Every Community: Provide all students with access to challenging coursework, culturally responsive and anti-racist curriculum, and pathways to graduation and beyond that meet their unique interests.

Key Responsibilities

This position will lead a division of elementary education and early learning staff, Program Supervisors and Directors. Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Manage and direct the operations of the elementary and early learning teams whose focus areas include curriculum, instruction and implementation support, early learning, elementary school supports, resource development and operations support.
  • Effectively manage all available state and federal fiscal and personnel resources allocated to elementary education, aligned to the agency’s strategic priorities, including, but not limited to Dual Language, Early Literacy, and Early Learning.
  • Ensure collaboration and coordination with the secondary education division, the Office of System and School Improvement and all other divisions of the agency.
  • Ensure the implementation of all applicable state and federal rules and regulations pursuant to the delivery of elementary education, early learning, elementary dual language programs and related services for school districts statewide.
  • Establish, monitor, and evaluate divisional and individual performance goals and performance management activities.
  • Maintain and facilitate internal and external communications for effective working relationships with the state legislature, the agency, educational service districts (ESDs) and local school districts.
  • Maintain the highest standards of personal, professional, and ethical conduct; and support the organization's goals for workforce diversity and inclusion.
  • Research, develop, recommend, and execute creative strategies to evaluate and improve systems and processes through an equity lens, aligned with the organization’s diversity, equity and inclusion goals and antiracist objectives.
  • Cultivate partnerships between both internal and external stakeholders to further the development of the K-12 education systems to enable continuous improvement.
  • Lead and manage the division team including: staff and team professional development, aligning their responsibilities and accountability to goals; building a satisfied and effective team, evaluating and coaching team members, monitoring progress and addressing performance.
  • Recruit and hire employees with skills and behaviors aligned to agency mission, vision, values and strategy.
  • Oversee administrative aspects of division including budget, contracts and records management.
  • Manage a complex set of initiatives from policy creation to implementation in a timely manner. Develop policy, budget proposals and analysis of proposed legislation.
  • Ensure staff are well informed and connected with agency mission, vision, values and strategic goals.
  • Perform other duties as assigned and consistent with the goals and objectives of this position.

Required Qualifications:

  • A Master’s degree in education, social service, or public administration or National Board Certification and;
  • A minimum five years of public education leadership and teaching experience with a focus on elementary education, early learning and/or dual language.
  • Experience with and knowledge of creating culturally responsive and anti-racist learning environments.
  • Strong commitment to Washington state public education and the principles of trust, teamwork, collaboration, and customer service
  • Commitment to provide leadership in support of the agency’s anti-racist objectives and overall responsibility to close persistent opportunity gaps as the state education department.
  • Broad knowledge of research related to educational leadership, child and adolescent development, and education practice from early learning programs through elementary education.
  • Comprehensive post-graduate training and broad practical experience in leadership, personnel management, collaborative problem solving and conflict management, strategic planning, program development, and grants management.
  • Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally, including the ability to conduct both formal and informal presentations to both large and small groups, including in public forums, to district and school leaders and the media, and before the legislature and its committees regarding all programs and service of the unit. 
  • Ability to provide support and guidance on analysis of budgetary, fiscal, and administrative matters.

Desired Qualifications

  • A Doctorate degree in education, or principal certification.
  • Five years of instructional leadership experience.
  • Dual language program leadership.

Compensation
The maximum annual compensation for the position is $141,658 per year and depends upon experience, educational background and qualifications. Geographic differentials may be applied based on work location of successful candidate. Washington State offers a generous benefit package including health, dental and life insurance, retirement and an optional deferred compensation program. Please visit Health Care Authority for information regarding health benefits and the Department of Retirement Systems for retirement plan information. This position serves at the pleasure of the Superintendent, and is Civil Service Exempt. This position is not represented by a bargaining unit.

Application Process

Those interested in this position must apply through Careers.wa.gov. Applications must include the following documents in MS Word and PDF format only:

  • A letter of interest specifically addressing the qualifications listed in this announcement;
  • A current résumé, and;
  • A list of three or more professional references. 

Please address any questions to:

Theresa Ellsworth, Human Resources

Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
600 Washington Street Southeast
Olympia, Washington 98504-7200
(360) 725-6066; Theresa.ellsworth@k12.wa.us  

Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may contact the Human Resources Office at (360) 725-6270 or (360) 725-6066, or e-mail hroffice@k12.wa.us.

New Jobs Alert Service

OSPI offers a subscription service, which regularly notifies subscribers of new OSPI employment opportunities on careers.wa.gov. Subscribers are notified via text or email alert. If you are interested in this service, then please subscribe at this location.

OSPI is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from job seekers who will contribute to our diversity. OSPI provides equal access to all programs and services without discrimination based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. If you would like, please include your name and gender pronouns in your application, to ensure we address you appropriately throughout the application process. Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may contact the human resource consultant listed in “Application Process.”

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