OVERVIEW

Memphis-Shelby County Schools is seeking dynamic educational champions ready to position our district as a national exemplar of education transformation. We need leaders with a fierce commitment to actualizing a bold vision that yields ambitious outcomes for more than 110,000 students and families across the Memphis-Shelby County area. The reality is that we can do better for kids, and we will with the right leaders in place. The most successful candidates believe that more is possible for Memphis and are:

• Courageous Thinkers & Doers: Prepared to navigate and thrive in a complex and ambiguous environment on day one, present innovative ideas to address systemwide issues, and execute sustainable plans toward transformation.
• Solutions-Oriented: See the possibilities, demonstrate the capacity to synthesize information and adjust short and long-term goals, and consistently find a window when doors close to deliver measurable results for kids and families.
• High-Performing Gamechangers: Leader of leaders with the capacity to mobilize and empower an outstanding team, make people-centered data-informed decisions, and operate with a relentless hyperfocus on removing stubborn barriers that destroy the hopes and dreams of too many of our students.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION:

Delivers at a high level of competency in maintaining standards of excellence in the Honors Program.  Provides leadership, compliance monitoring, and professional development in honors programs, so that students benefit from an accelerated, academically rigorous environment. This involves working on unusually complex problems and providing solutions that are highly innovative and ingenious, achieving quality and work process improvement.

1. Provides leadership in developing, monitoring and ensuring academic fidelity in the Honors Program to meet the identified needs of the system, including defining issues, identifying options and recommending equitable process improvements based on research findings. This requires a high degree of ingenuity, creativity, resourcefulness, and competence as well as a thorough understanding of the framework of standards for honors courses.

2. Advises principals, instructional facilitators, and other school-based personnel on the appropriate identification of students for honors courses and ways to strengthen the Honors Program; Works collaboratively with other professionals in the development of effective research-based instructional methodologies. May lead a team in the effort.

3. Serves as liaison between the Department of Optional Schools and Advanced Academics and teachers, counselors, and principals to provide expertise and practical guidance regarding the framework of standards for honors courses and make recommendations pertaining thereto.

4. Develops/Coordinates programs, workshops, and other in-service activities, and provides professional development for teachers, instructional facilitators, and other school personnel to advance knowledge of honors pedagogy and state requirements. May lead a team effort to ensure that honors teachers are in compliance with state and district requirements regarding advanced courses. Coaches individual teachers who require assistance.

5. Collaborates with other professionals and management to achieve a system-wide result. Researches, analyzes, and evaluates data regarding admission practices, curriculums, operational procedures and programs of various school districts throughout the country as related to honors programs; compiles data and prepares reports for schools, the District, funding agencies and others as requested.

6. Deals with unusually complex problems and provides solutions that are highly innovative and ingenious, achieving quality and work process improvements. Ensures that the workgroup’s goals and activities are in sync with and support the broader goals and objectives of the organization; and that the execution of responsibilities is in accordance to lawful and ethical standards.

7. Coordinates or assists in planning, organizing, and coordinating various special events, academic and marketing workshops for optional schools and in the community including site management, scheduling, internal and external facility logistics, etc.; works with outside vendors regarding event needs and requirements.

8. Directs the preparation and maintenance of a variety of narrative and statistical reports, records, correspondence, and files related to assigned service, activities, and operations; identifies, analyzes, and interprets trends or patterns in complex data sets, provides for appropriate research, and compiles reports, as needed.

9. Assists with the development and support of the Honors Program and Optional Programs, providing guidance to school personnel and prospective families regarding program admission.

10. Manages the Honors Program budget.

11. Performs other related duties as assigned or directed.

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's Degree in Educational Administration or other educational area plus an additional 5 years related experience, or equivalent for a total education/experience of 9 years. Tennessee teaching license with Administrative Certification preferred. Successful honors teaching and/or administrative experience preferred.  Proficient in the use of technology to include video presentation, word processing, database and spreadsheet applications.   (PROOF OF EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND/OR EXPERIENCE IS REQUIRED).

Degree Equivalency Formula:

Bachelor’s Degree= 4 years plus required years of experience.

Master’s Degree= 2 years plus required years of experience.