Director, Higher Education Academics

OFFICE OF SCHOOLS
Traditional 235 work days per year
FTE: 1.0
Salary Range: $103,567 - $126,851
Essential Functions and Objectives:
Oversees all HIGHER EDUCATION initiatives, programs and partnerships to systematize all college in high school programs, preparatory programs, and testing systems in schools. Leads and communicates so that all stakeholders understand and execute upon college strategies that are tied to the graduation requirement competency requirements.
- Develops and strengthens partnerships with external organizations to increase college access for DPS students (e.g., college articulation, college course experiences in business and the community, college credit processes, including HIGHER EDUCATION, College Board, AVID, etc) and improve Credit for Prior Learning outcomes.
- Develops a cohesive portfolio of options across schools (Concurrent Enrollment, Advanced Placement, Career and Technical Education, International Baccalaureate, AVID) and supports schools in marketing, recruiting and policy development to increase access for all students across all schools in the District.
- Identifies and implements strategies to increase the number of college adjunct, AVID trained, Advanced Placement (AP) trained, and International Baccalaureate (IB) trained teachers, thinking critically about strategy with leaders and across schools to increase/incentivize teachers to increase number of rigorous course offerings.
- Provides district and school leadership with resources and professional development to identify and achieve annual data improvement targets and intermittent progress in support of district goals, including strategies to improve implementation and testing, analyze data, diagnose problems, facilitate action steps, support change, and reflect on results.
- Oversees all aspects of assigned budget, including annual allocation of AP and CE mill levy funds, to determine how schools can strategically use CE, AP, and CLEP to provide various degree pathways for students; improve pathway development with postsecondary partners including trade, 2 year and 4 year partners.
- Leads, develops and revises MOUs with HIGHER EDUCATION partners, College Board (AP, IB, CLEP) and AVID.
- Increases access and support for students in the Accelerating Students through Concurrent Enrollment (ASCENT) in line with state changes in funding and legislation.
- Collaborates with middle and high schools to ensure all students have access to concurrent enrollment opportunities, including best practices for equity and access and strategies for how to help students demonstrate proficiency on Accuplacer, PSAT and SAT; ensures that all middle and high schools have effective PSAT/SAT prep programs in place.
- Coordinates cross-functionally with other department directors to provide cohesive strategy and vision and supervision for the team.
- Partners with external partners, including the Attainment Network, Emily Griffith Technical College, Colorado Department of Education, Colorado Department of Higher Education, Colorado Workforce Development Council, etc..
Knowledge, Experience & Other Qualifications:
- Five (5) or more years of related experience with at least three years of experience in a leadership role in education.
- Three (3) or more years of management responsibility.
- Knowledge of applicable laws and regulations.
- Experience in analyzing data, and using this data to for process and program improvements and to inform strategy.
- Outstanding facilitation and communication skills, including ability to inspire others.
- Strong interpersonal and leadership skills, including the ability to lead a high-performing team.
- Superior coaching and mentoring skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with individuals at all different levels in the organization.
- Self-starter/leader who can anticipate department needs in a proactive (versus, reactive) manner.
- Strategic planning and organizational development knowledge and skills.
- Ability to develop, plan, and implement short- and long-range goals, establish priorities, and organize resources.
- Ability to motivate and influence others.
Education Requirements:
- Bachelor's Degree required.
Additional Information:
- Work Year Calendars (including accrued time off): http://thecommons.dpsk12.org/Page/1129
- Benefits (including DPS contributions): http://thecommons.dpsk12.org/Page/1397
- Compensation Structures: http://thecommons.dpsk12.org/Page/244
- Employee must live and work with a permanent home address in Colorado while working for Denver Public Schools
About Denver Public Schools:
Denver Public Schools is committed to meeting the educational needs of every student with great schools in every neighborhood. Our goal is to provide every child in Denver with rigorous, enriching educational opportunities from preschool through high school graduation. DPS is comprised of nearly 200 schools including traditional, magnet, charter and alternative pathways schools, with an enrollment of more than 90,000 students.
DPS has become the fastest-growing school district in the country in terms of enrollment and the fastest-growing large school district in the state in terms of student academic growth. Learn more at dpsk12.org.
Denver Public Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other status protected by law or regulation. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors.