What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Federal Programs and Public Relations position at Lee County?
Director of Federal Programs and Public Relations
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Must comply with all employment criteria established by the Lee County Board of Education.
- Possession of a valid and appropriate Alabama Leadership certificate.
- Master’s Degree or higher from an accredited college or university in Educational or Instructional Leadership.
- Three or more years of successful teaching experience.
- Three or more years of educational leadership experience in a public school is preferred.
- Working knowledge of the Lee County School System and the attendance areas.
- Valid Alabama driver license, reliable transportation, and evidence of insurance.
- Demonstrated aptitude for successful completion of the assigned task.
- Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable.
Background Check Required: (HB 402 ACT 99-361 Alabama Legislature) Upon offer of employment, employees will be required to submit legible fingerprints for a background review by the Alabama Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau Investigation.
FLSA STATUS: Exempt
REPORTS TO: Superintendent
SUPERVISES: Federal Program Staff
JOB GOAL: To provide leadership, coordination, implementation, and evaluation of federal programs and to provide students, parents, community members and the media with timely, concise information on special events and news stories related to the Lee County School System.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES:
- Knowledge of the law as pertaining to schools
- Knowledge of the law as pertaining to federal programs and the Alabama Administrative Code
- Ability to handle to multiple projects simultaneously
- Ability to maintain composure under stressful conditions
- Ability to work in a collaborative manner to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, students, parents, and community services providers.
- Ability to supervise implementation of a sound budgeting process
- Ability to communicate effectively to a variety of audiences in both oral and written form
- Ability to facilitate groups to consensus
- Knowledge of statutory and regulatory requirements in the areas of responsibility
Essential Duties and Responsibilities Applicable to All Employees:
- Attend on a regular and predictable basis.
- Complete assigned tasks by immediate supervisors and/or superintendent in a safe manner and in a constant state of alertness.
- Uphold Board policies, including the anti-harassment program.
- Work in a cooperative manner with students, teachers, staff, supervisors, and the public.
- Work effectively and efficiently under time and productivity standards.
Essential Job Functions:
These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.
Federal Programs
- Oversee the District’s Title I, Title II-A, Title III, and any other applicable federal programs which includes serving as EL Coordinator.
- Update the District’s Federal Compliance Manual and the Title I Inventory Procedures and Policies Manual annually.
- Assume responsibility for the writing of project proposals, the Consolidated Application, and District’s needs assessment to be submitted to the State Department of Education or other designated agencies for approval.
- Serve on the Superintendent’s Leadership Team.
- Attend required federal programs’ professional development conferences and sessions.
- Stay abreast of new federal guidelines, information, and changes to inform district and school staff of the effects of current and impending federal legislation.
- Analyze all federal legislation, projects, and programs for possibilities and opportunities offered relevant to the needs of the district.
- Maximize federal funding opportunities to benefit the educational excellence of the district’s and schools’ programs, students, and personnel
- Work with the Assistant Superintendents of Curriculum to assist others in completing both schools and district improvement plans based on school and district data
- Assist school administrators and staff in the effective utilization of funds available to their schools through various federal programs
- Works with designated committees of teachers, principals, and community members regarding specific programs, projects, or courses of action
- Consider and evaluate all requests from school personnel for projects and programs requiring federal funds
- Establish standard practices and procedures for receiving and processing federal funds
- Serve as liaison between the school, other agencies, and the community on all projects that are expected to involve federal Title funds.
- Work with the professional staff in analyzing and evaluating the effect of all federal programs in operation in the district.
- Prepare and administer federal program budgets for assigned schools and departments.
- Maintain proper documentation as required by law for each specific federal program.
Public Relation Program
- Serves as information liaison between the school system and the community.
- Collaborates with the Technology Department to maintain the district's website and social media accounts such as X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
- Develops and implements a dynamic and flexible communication plan for the district, including broadcast, website, social media integration and crisis communications.
- Develops innovative communication and marketing strategies to promote the goals and initiatives of the Lee County Schools to internal and external constituencies.
- Trains and assists school personnel in media relations and other forms of internal and external communication.
- Serve as an active and readily accessible resource for school personnel in all areas of communication.
- Trains and assists schools in developing school-based strategic communications plans based on continuous improvement goals.
- Assist with recruiting initiatives by attending career fairs and distributing marketing materials.
- Develops and produces innovative written and electronic communication (brochures, print and email newsletters, video productions, web content and related components) for internal and external audiences.
- Serves as the spokesperson for the Lee County Board of Education as needed at the direction of the Superintendent.
- Prepares news releases, reports, speeches and advertising materials.
- Reviews all advertising and public messages prior to release.
- Attends appropriate committee and Board meetings, follow up with awards, presentations, communications, etc. for school district recognition activities.
- Disseminates appropriate information for school district personnel and families through bulletins, newspapers, electronic communication, rapid notification systems and other means.
- Plans and executes professional development activities for school personnel relating to communication and media relations.
- Plans and executes special events on behalf of the Lee County Board of Education for the purpose of ensuring the programs are run according to district expectations and guidelines as directed.
- Speaks to civic groups and other audiences as needed; coordinates speakers’ bureau on issues related to the Lee County Schools.
- Maintains and updates database of community organizations/contacts; mailing lists of citizens and support groups and others for use in disseminating messages about the city school system and related issues.
- Liaises with athletic directors in providing communications assistance to athletic programs.
- Visits schools and work sites.
- Attends community events and Board of Education meetings.
- Adheres to federal, state, local and board rules and regulations.
- Assumes other reasonable and equitable job-related duties assigned by the immediate supervisor.
- Attend staff meetings and serve on staff committees as required.
- Responds to information requests in a cooperative, courteous, and timely manner.
- Perform any other pertinent assignment deemed necessary by the superintendent to assist in the efficiency and effectiveness of the district.
Essential Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee must frequently lift and/or move a minimum of 40 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move a minimum of 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS:
The environmental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential responsibilities and functions of the job and are not meant to be all inclusive. Exposure to a variety of childhood and adult diseases and illnesses.
Occasional exposure to a variety of weather conditions. Exposure to heated/air conditioned and ventilated facilities. Exposure to a building in which a variety of chemical substances are used for cleaning, instruction, and/or operation of equipment. Function in a workplace that is usually moderately quiet but that can be noisy at times.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: This is a twelve-month contract (242 days). Salary is based on board approved salary schedule.
EVALUATION: Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the Board’s policy on evaluation of Professional Personnel.
