Associate Director Of Academic Innovation

Partners for Rural Impact’s (PRI) ultimate goal is for an America where all kids are successful, regardless of zip code, income, background, or ability. At PRI, our focus is on ensuring that all children in rural places achieve success. Partners for Rural Impact was born out of our place-based partnership in Appalachia, where we’ve worked for 25 years to create student opportunity and success.

Position Summary

The Associate Director of Academic Innovation is a key leadership position within Partners for Rural Impact and reports directly to the Director of Integrated Strategies. The Associate Director of Academic Innovation advances inspirational learning through innovative practices and programs that value the whole child in the 21st Century learning environment. The Associate Director provides technical assistance, strategic thought-partnering, vision, and monitoring of initiatives related to math, literacy, academic intervention, curricula research, instructional pedagogy, and case management for Partners for Rural Impact programs and grants. This position is responsible for supporting grant Project Directors, Program Managers, and partners in building robust models and strategies to support student academic outcomes utilizing the whole-child approach to student success in supporting the mission of All Rural Students Succeed. The Associate Director of Academic Innovation is responsible for identifying and vetting programs and practices to meet indicators of student success supported by PRI while implementing a continuous improvement model to ensure high quality initiatives anchored in current research are implemented with fidelity to ensure academic success for all student groups. The Associate Director is responsible for ensuring that risk management is implemented with fidelity within all assigned work and is compliant with all Partners for Rural Impact and funder requirements. The position leads and operates with the goal that All Rural Students Succeed.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each primary duty satisfactorily. The requirements of the position are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required, with regular and predictable attendance essential. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Identify gaps in resources and opportunities for Academic Innovation and share this information with the team
• Collaborate with PLACE teams to develop, train, and measure the fidelity of comprehensive academic strategies to ensure young people thrive in their cradle-to-career journey
• Develop assessment and fidelity tools
• Build capacities of partners to create and implement academic case management and academic strategies related to math, literacy, and the ACT
• Research instructional strategies and curricula best suited for rural implementation
• Oversee Academic Innovation communities of practice and other relevant communities of practice to develop partners and staff
• Develop and communicate a library of best practices for creating a robust academic case management system
• Regular collaboration with the team to develop structures and trainings to integrate academic strategies into best practices across the PLACE Team
• Maintain an expert level of knowledge of evidence-based practices in innovative learning, project-based learning, literacy, math, academic case management, and the whole-child approach to student development and success, ensuring that students are empowered, challenged, supported, engaged, safe, and healthy
• Provide consultation to Project Directors and others to ensure that programmatic and operational performance measures are established and met in the areas of Academics
• Develop the capacity of grant personnel and partners to build a thriving, innovative learning environments
• Lead both formal and informal training opportunities in evidence/research-based and innovative programs and practices
• Develop and continuously improve an academic case management model that promotes academic achievement of students
• Engage in continuous assessment of Academic Innovation services
• Make research-based recommendations for implementation of programs and practices
• Serve on Integrated Strategies Leadership Team and work to achieve the result All rural students succeed
• Implement and model Results Count and Results Based Facilitation processes and systems to achieve Results and reinforce a data-informed culture holding a continuous improvement frame
• Other roles/duties will be assigned as necessary to assist and support in the attainment of our mission, All Rural Students Succeed.

Position Location & Schedule

The Associate Director’s work will be located primarily in Appalachia, Kentucky, East Texas, Mexico, Missouri, and other locations as they are added, with extensive travel to these sites. While listed as remote, this position will require extensive travel to the sites listed above and other locations as they are added to our portfolio of work.

Normal business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET with in-office, hybrid and/or remote work a possibility. Because of the nature of the responsibility to schools, partners, funders, and to the service region, individual offices or departments may have operating hours that extend beyond this period and may include evening and/or weekend hours.

Minimum Qualifications

Education required to ensure success in this position:

• Master’s degree in education or related field

Experience required to ensure success in this position:

• Five years’ experience in education, teaching, consulting, curriculum & instruction, assessment, instructional leadership, or educational research
• At least 1 year of experience in implementing, monitoring, and evaluating federal or state grants

Special skills, knowledge and abilities:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Superior interpersonal and organizational skills
• Ability to develop and implement trainings related to Academic Innovation
• Ability to develop comprehensive models and strategies in math, literacy, and academic case management
• Ability to work in a team environment
• A commitment to students from diverse economic, social, and cultural backgrounds
• Computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite
• Clear understanding of research- and evidence-based instructional strategies, such as inquiry-based learning, project-based learning, and design thinking approach.
• Demonstrated knowledge and leadership in the areas academic case management, curriculum & instruction, literacy, and/or math strategy development
• Demonstrated knowledge of the whole-child approach of creating environments that are supportive, engaging, safe, healthy, challenging, and empowering to help students thrive
• Knowledge of current educational trends, research, reform, and professional development delivery

License, certification, or registration necessary:

• Valid driver’s license
• Ability to successfully complete pre-employment background check

Physical requirements:

• Ability to work within a high energy office
• Ability to travel independently by car and plane to eastern Kentucky, Missouri, Texas, and other locations as PRI expands its service area

Environmental conditions:

• Work in a fast-paced setting with frequent interruptions and shifting priorities
• Position requires significant independent travel via car and airplane

Additional Company Information

PRI offers a wide array of benefit options, to meet the financial, educational, and health needs of you and your family.

• Comprehensive insurance plans including medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage.
• Flexible spending accounts, plus an employee assistance program.
• Life and long-term disability insurance and retirement plan.
• Generous paid time off work options including vacation, sick leave, and annual holidays, in addition to paid parental leave.
• Tuition assistance and professional development for employees.

Partners for Rural Impact is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.