Sandhills Regional Associate Director

Student U is a nonprofit organization committed to creating a more just educational system.

Student U supports students and their families inside and outside of school, helping them overcome challenges to reach college graduation. At the same time, we work to improve the public education system by sharing successful strategies with schools and educators and building a strong community at The W.G. Pearson Center, aiming for a better future for our youth.

Building Leaders in Education to Drive Systemic Change

We collaborate with schools, educators, and other community partners to share successful practices for creating joyful and equitable learning environments. We're leading the adoption of the full-service community school model across central North Carolina, helping more than 2,250 students thrive.

Position Overview

Student U is partnering with leaders across The North Carolina Community Schools Coalition (NCCSC) to expand and implement Full Service Community Schools (FCSCs) in North Carolina over 5 years, from January 2024 - December 2028. Student U is the regional implementation partner tasked with the growth and leadership of community schools in Central North Carolina.

This position will be responsible for enacting the expansion strategy in the Sandhills region of North Carolina, starting in Sampson County. Collaboration with the Sandhills Regional Education Consortium and NC DPI are core responsibilities of this position. They are tasked with hiring, supervising and supporting Community School Coordinators and ensuring quality implementation of the community schools strategy at each partner school. The ideal candidate is an excellent relationship-builder between school leadership, regional leadership, NCCSC, and Student U to further the adoption and sustainability of the community schools strategy across the sandhills region. This position will report to the Senior Director of the Community Schools model.

Job Responsibilities: Team Building and Leadership

• In collaboration with Student U, Sandhills Regional Education Consortium, DPI’s Regional Director, and school leadership, recruit, train and supervise up to 17 coordinators and other support staff to implement the community schools strategy across the Sandhills Region.
• Build relationships across the Sandhills region, starting in Sampson County. Work closely with the Sandhills Regional Education Consortium, DPI’s Regional Director, Student U and NCCSC, Inc. to develop and enact an expansion strategy across the region. Support the sustainability efforts of the project through quality implementation and advocacy with key stakeholders.
• Work closely with the Sandhills Regional Education Consortium and DPI’s Regional Director to facilitate regular meeting spaces with the district liaisons across the Sandhills to learn from each other, mitigate implementation challenges, scale proven practices, and maximize assets.
• In coordination with the Sandhills Regional Education Consortium and DPI’s Regional Director, cultivate regular meeting spaces in which coordinators and district liaisons can learn from:
• each other
• school leaders
• families and students
• Student U core staff and model
• Student U community schools staff
• NCCSC, Inc
• Provide direction, guidance and accountability to Community School Coordinators
• Work with a dynamic multi-disciplinary team with Associate Director of Family Engagement, Director of Community Schools Partnerships and Associate Director of Student Support Services.
• Implement a robust training program that is tailored to each school’s needs
• Ensure quality and fidelity of the Community Schools model in each school. Oversee the learning tours, implementation of the assets and needs assessment (ANA), analysis of ANA by CSC and School Advisory Board, and implementation of services.
• Ensure all data collection is synthesized and reported to the DCRI for analysis. Utilize a data feedback loop to improve implementation of the model. Ensure data is received promptly and assist in reporting to DCRI.
• Translate learning and reflections from school buildings in various districts to the Community Schools Leadership Team and the broader North Carolina Community Schools Coalition.
• Develop and maintain strong working partnerships with principals and other leadership, school advisory boards, and other stakeholders to ensure the model is meeting their needs.
• Educate key stakeholders on the community schools strategy including national best-practices, school and initiative-level standards.
• Represent Student U at various school and community events.
  

Requirements & Key Competencies

• Deep understanding of the Sandhills Region of North Carolina.
• This position is an in-person position, based in and across the 13 districts across the Sandhills. There will be an expectation of travel to Student U’s central office in Durham approximately one time per month.
• Extensive experience and passion for building teams and supervising staff
• Preferred experience with the Community Schools model or similar in-school support models
• Bachelor’s Degree in Education or Social Service field or comparable related experience and training, Masters Degree or Ph.D. preferred
• Understanding of our public education system and youth service organizations and the ability to support equity-centered goals for both student and systems level change
• A commitment to the mission and vision of Student U and the Community Schools model, and ability to articulate to various groups of interest holders.
• A strong training skill-set and proven ability to build and support an effective team.
• Strong people and coalition-building skills to engage a diverse group of interest holders
• High level of integrity, resourcefulness, and optimism.
• Anti-Discrimination Policy & Commitment to Equity & Child Safeguarding Policy
• Student U is committed to fostering an inclusive culture within our organization where people from various backgrounds can participate fully and equitably, as we want to engage all those who can contribute to our mission.
• Student U has a commitment to ensuring the safety of our students. All staff will participate in the Darkness to Light Training, which is a child safeguarding training to help them understand why it is necessary to safeguard and protect children and to be fully aware of the procedure for reporting concerns.
  
  

The starting salary range for this position is $60,000-$65,000 with a competitive and comprehensive benefits package. The ideal start-date is June 2, 2025.