Program Coordinator, Professional Development

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over 320,000 students in 600+ schools and employing approximately 40,000 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.

In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans : academic progress, financial stability, and integrity.

Six core values are embedded within these commitments student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.

Job Summary :

The Sustainable Community Schools (SCS) Program Coordinator will plan, implement and maintain the SCS professional development for the SCS initiative for District personnel as it is aligned to the 6 pillars of a Sustainable Community School.

This position will serve as a resource to other school and partner personnel and will report to the Program Manager, Sustainable Community Schools Initiative.

The Program Coordinator will be held accountable for the following responsibilities :

• Plan, Coordinate and Convene Professional Developments with an educator cohort at Sustainable Community Schools around the Sustainable Community Schools Pillars and Principles.
• Collaborate with CPS departments and community partners around professional development alignment.
• Assist with planning, coordinating and logistics for the SCS Full Cohort Professional Developments during the school year and at the Summer Institute.
• Provide support and planning between SCS Full Cohort PD’s and share additional PD opportunities with lead partner agencies, educators, youth and families.
• Co-lead with SCS Coordinators the SCS Capacity Building Subcommittee meetings.
• Open purchase orders and facilitate stipend payments to SCS teacher cohorts.
• Report stipend expenses to SCS Project Manager.
• Act as a liaison between cohort educators, CPS, CTU and SCS Task Force.
• Build strong relationships with SCS cohort educators as well as SCS cohort Principals.
• Keep current on new culturally relevant pedagogy and curriculum implementation.Convene and attend monthly / bi-monthly SCS Curriculum Subcommittee.
• Attend occasional SCS Leadership Team meetings at SCS cohort schools along with SCS Program Coordinators.
• Support educators in the curriculum development around culturally relevant pedagogy.
• Provide coordination between SCS school day educators and curriculum experts to train and execute culturally relevant lesson planning and integration to the out of school time programs.
• Work with educators to ensure accurate and timely data around curriculum implementation, ie., student and staff surveys.
• Maintain a record of all SCS Professional Developments, materials and evaluations.
• Compile and manage a record of curriculum materials for the SCS Cohort schools.
• Leverage train-the-trainer model and other team development models to engage the broader program team in delivering content that aligns with their own strengths, skills and knowledge.

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Program Coordinator must possess the following qualifications :

Education Required :

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university

Experience Required :

• Minimum of three (3) years of relevant work experience planning and / or coordinating professional development and / or trainings
• Experience with public speaking and facilitation of professional development, and familiarity with non-profit organizations and school-community partnerships required.
• Bilingual Skills Preferred (Spanish)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

• High level of attention to detail and ability to work well under deadlines
• Flexible and adaptable to changing priorities
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent data entry, analysis skills, and customer service skills
• Ability to work in a fast paced environment with competing priorities and meet continuous critical deadlines, sometimes with little notice

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.

Be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 - Unless approved for a medical or religious exemption, all employees are required to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, and to submit proof of vaccination to the district within 30 days of hire.

Up-to-date on vaccination is defined as being at least two weeks past all primary vaccine doses and any applicable boosters.