Manager, OSD Instructional Support & Resourcing

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 Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) supports networks, schools, and families with all issues related to special education including instruction, interventions, policies, and procedures. OSD provides the tools and resources to ensure that all students with disabilities receive a high-quality public education that prepares students for success.

Job Summary :

Reporting directly to the Director of OSD Instructional Support, the Manager plays a critical role in advancing instructional practices and ensuring equitable access to quality education for students with disabilities across Chicago Public Schools. The Manager leads professional learning initiatives, manages key instructional priorities, oversees school position appeals, and collaborates across departments to enhance outcomes for students with disabilities.

The Manager is responsible for setting a strategic vision for professional learning within the OSD, ensuring alignment with district goals, and addressing the unique needs of students with disabilities. This includes designing and delivering impactful professional development for Special Education Administrators (SEAs), fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and ensuring that evidence-based instructional models are effectively implemented across all schools.

In addition to instructional leadership, the Manager oversees the school position appeals process, ensuring that resources are allocated equitably and in alignment with student needs. This role requires a deep commitment to equity and inclusion, data-driven decision-making, and collaboration with stakeholders to dismantle systemic barriers and create inclusive educational environments.

The Manager’s key focus areas include :

• Leading and coordinating professional learning initiatives that support the instructional growth of SEAs and special education staff.
• Driving improvements in instructional practices through observation, coaching, and feedback.
• Managing the school position appeals process to ensure equitable staffing allocations.
• Building cross-departmental relationships to align OSD’s efforts with district-wide priorities.
• Championing equity and inclusion for students with disabilities, with a focus on achieving Rightful Presence in all academic settings.

This position requires an individual who can navigate complex systems, foster collaboration among diverse teams, and ensure that all initiatives are grounded in data and best practices. The Manager will serve as a key liaison between the OSD and schools, ensuring that students with disabilities receive the support they need to thrive academically and socially.

The Manager of OSD Instructional Support & Resourcing will be held accountable for the following responsibilities :

Analyze schedules and collaborate with relevant departments to ensure transparent, equitable processes aligned with OSD’s equity goals and compliance requirements.

Champion equitable access to resources, professional learning, and staffing while leading teams to dismantle systemic barriers for students with disabilities. Partner with schools and network-facing teams to observe instructional practices, provide feedback, and validate the impact of professional learning. Ensure all initiatives prioritize the needs of historically underserved students and schools.

Align initiatives with OSD’s mission, vision, Theory of Action (TOA), principles of Rightful Presence, and CPS’s Five-Year Strategic Plan. Collaborate across departments to integrate professional learning into broader district priorities, addressing instructional gaps and supporting measurable student outcomes.

Lead efforts to enhance instructional expertise across the District by fostering a high-performing, collaborative team of subject matter experts. Guide the design, scheduling, and promotion of professional learning sessions that are research-based and practical, while managing accessibility via the Learning Hub.

Develop frameworks for observing and evaluating professional learning implementation in schools and networks. Conduct visits with OSD leaders to assess fidelity, provide targeted coaching, and use data from observations, teacher feedback, and student outcomes to validate effectiveness and refine strategies.

Establish systems for collecting and analyzing data related to professional learning outcomes, instructional improvements, and appeals processes. Use insights to identify trends, refine strategies, and improve outcomes for students with disabilities while ensuring alignment with the principles of Rightful Presence.

Build strong relationships with CPS departments, including Teaching and Learning, Early Childhood, and Social Emotional Learning, while leading teams to align professional learning with district initiatives. Act as a central communication point between OSD teams to streamline professional learning, appeals processes, and support services.

Lead the SEA team to analyze metrics and achievement of desired outcomes, and devise methods of improved instruction based on analysis and the needs of individual schools and networks.

Observe instructional practices extensively in the field and deliver on-site support to SEAs and special education staff within schools.

Lead efforts to develop consistent standards of interventions for the Citywide Assessment Team within the MTSS framework. Coordinate best practices and standards for instruction tailored to dually identified students (English Learners and Special Education).

Provide leadership in developing frameworks, including quality indicators, to support rigorous instruction in inclusion, co-teaching, and cluster programs. Coordinate with District staff to provide tools, services, and differentiated strategies for principals, instructional leadership teams, and special education staff that drive school improvement.

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Manager of OSD Instructional Support & Resourcing must possess the following qualifications :

Education Required :

Experience Required :

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to :