Executive Director, Sustainable Community Schools

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 320,000 students in 500 schools and employing over 44,000 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

The Department of Sustainable Community Schools (SCS) is located in the Office of College and Career Success (OCCS). OCCS champions postsecondary success connectedness and well-being across CPS.

The SCS model emerged from decades-long struggles of Black and Brown communities to secure racial and educational justice in Chicago. After years of top-down reforms, a coalition of justice-centered organizations formed various coalitions, eventually the Grassroots Education Movement (GEM), and put forth a vision for fully funded, neighborhood schools rooted in 7 principles: Racial Justice and Equity; Community Self-Determination; Valuing Community Wisdom/Knowledge; Shared Leadership and Collaboration; Authentic Community Engagement; Transparency and Trusting Relationships; and a Whole Child, Whole Community Approach to Education. SCS embodies these principles through 6 pillars: Critical, culturally relevant curriculum; an emphasis on high-quality teaching rather than on high-stakes testing; student-centered, restorative school culture; wraparound support; authentic parent engagement; and shared leadership. In 2016, CPS and the CTU established 20 SCS through their collective bargaining agreement. In 2023-24, the expansion of SCS was articulated in the Mayor’s educational plan and in CPS’ 5-Year Strategic Plan with expansion set to begin in SY 2024-25.

Job Summary:

Reporting to the Deputy Chief of College and Career Success (Readiness), the Executive Director of Sustainable Community Schools will serve as a visionary and strategic leader within the school district, overseeing the expansion of the SCS model. Using the SCS principles to guide their work, the Executive Director will lead and support multiple teams, including but not limited to Sustainable Community Schools and 21st Century Community Schools, and will work to align and streamline all community school initiatives within the department to the SCS model. This is a full-time exempt position that will be paid for time worked on a salary basis.

The Executive Director of Sustainable Community Schools will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Lead the co-creation and implementation of a district-wide strategy that promotes the sustainable community school model, focusing on racial justice and equity.
• Lead, develop, and manage the performance of multiple teams.
• Support all SCS school communities (school, LPA, and community) in more fully integrating the principles and pillars in daily practice.
• Champion a culture of equity, diversity, and social justice by implementing strategies that address systemic barriers and promote inclusive practices that intentionally enhance student success, particularly for the most marginalized students.
• Facilitate cross-departmental collaboration by orienting and engaging CPS departments on the principles and pillars of Sustainable Community Schools (SCS) to ensure alignment and integration across district initiatives.
• Build and maintain partnerships with parents, community organizations, administrators, students, and educators within SCS communities to gain firsthand insight into challenges, successes, and opportunities for program growth and improvement.
• Lead the continuous improvement initiatives within the Department of Sustainable Community Schools, ensuring the implementation of strategies to enhance program effectiveness and impact.
• Provide strategic leadership and organizational oversight by maintaining strong working relationships with CPS leadership and ensuring long-term sustainability through effective internal operations, financial management, and resource development.
• Foster collaborative partnerships by establishing and maintaining positive, productive relationships with school leaders, lead partner agencies, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), funding partners, and CPS leadership to advance shared goals.
• Lead budget development, manage progress reports, assess staffing and organizational needs, and drive program development and strategic planning.
• Ensure compliance with grant requirements by monitoring and enforcing all regulations associated with 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) and Full-Service Community Schools grants.
• Other duties and work streams as assigned.

To be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Executive Director of Sustainable Community Schools must possess the following qualifications:

Education Required:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university required
• Master’s degree preferred

Experience Required:

• Minimum of eight (8) years of educational leadership experience leading a team with a balance of strategic management and staff development, fostering growth and accountability
• Minimum of five (5) years in leadership through the lens and process of guiding community, partners, teachers, students, and parents to achieve community-driven goals, including inspiring and motivating people to work together towards a common vision
• Minimum of four (4) years of experience leading diversity initiatives, advocating for underrepresented groups, or volunteering with organizations focused on social justice issues
• Experience in large-scale grants, funding management, and partner coordination, ensuring financial sustainability and program effectiveness
• School administrator experience is strongly preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Commitment to the Sustainable Community Schools (SCS) vision, values, principles, and pillars, ensuring alignment with both CPS’s broader mission and the unique goals of SCS
• Knowledge and understanding of the social, political, and economic origins of the U.S. and the ways these impact education and schooling
• Knowledge of Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods, including an understanding of the unique strengths, challenges, and community assets that impact schools and families
• Values and honors the knowledge, wisdom, and contributions of community members, including elders, youth, parents, and working people
• Ability to organize and engage youth, parents, and educators to foster collective action, build leadership capacity, and advance community-centered initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to learn from and collaborate with those they supervise, recognizing that leadership is strengthened through collective participation and shared decision-making.
• Strong coaching, mentorship, and professional development skills, with experience guiding individuals and teams in their growth across various settings
• Demonstrates a commitment to the collective well-being by prioritizing the needs of the community over individual interests
• Open to learning, new ideas, and feedback; willing to listen, self-reflect, acknowledge mistakes, and grow from experiences
• Ability to study and interpret policies, documents, budgets, and reports to inform and advance community-led initiatives
• Ability to quickly learn and leverage CPS policies, procedures, and internal systems, including but not limited to budget and finance.

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.