Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 325,000 students in 500+ schools and employing over 45,000 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. Aligned with our transformed philosophy, we are steadfastly focused on ensuring that the District provides resources equitably to support every student, every school, and every community. Six core values guide the work we do every day for our students – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning. Each role in the district supports our vision that every student deserves a rigorous, joyful, and equitable learning experience.

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 325,000 students in 500+ schools and employing over 45,000 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. Aligned with our transformed philosophy, we are steadfastly focused on ensuring that the District provides resources equitably to support every student, every school, and every community. Six core values guide the work we do every day for our students – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning. Each role in the district supports our vision that every student deserves a rigorous, joyful, and equitable learning experience.

The Options Network oversees the CPS Options schools, which are designed to be a unique learning model for students who are not engaged in a traditional high school and seek an alternative pathway to graduation that leads to college and career success. Students with the highest mobility rates are concentrated in the district’s Options Schools. The system of supports for Options schools’ students includes immediate ways to identify students who are mobile, and deploy and monitor outreach and supports for these students. Additionally, related policies, procedures, and resource allocations are continually evaluated and improved to meet the realities of these students as well as the schools that serve them.

• Lead collaboration with Options Schools to develop processes, systems, and structures for implementation, monitoring and accountability of success of transitioning students.
• Lead and coordinate the day-to-day implementation of the Options Transfer policy, including serving as the business owner for the Options Transfer module in Aspen, maintaining all external materials, and CPS website pages and links related to the Options Transfer Process are up to date.
• Design, develop, and deliver comprehensive annual training on the Options Enrollment Policy and Procedures to the five high school Transition Specialists and support the development of network-wide training for non-Options schools.
• Monitor and report on Transition Specialists' adherence to the Options Enrollment Process, ensuring alignment with overall student mobility strategies, providing direct support for challenges that impede the transfer process involving Options Schools.
• Collaboratively develop contingency plans with Networks to ensure the timely processing of all transfer requests during Transition Specialist absences and/or vacancies
• Lead collaboration with Options Schools to develop systems for successful implementation, monitoring, and accountability of transitioning students.
• Lead collaborative data analysis efforts to identify district, network, and school-level mobility trends to be shared regularly with Transition Specialists and Network leaders to inform best practices and strategies for support.
• Facilitate the strategic identification, planning, and design of solutions to identify data trends and address systemic gaps in policies, in mandatory partnership with Network leadership.
• Serve as the project manager for the development and implementation of systems and policies that increase streamlined, cohesive support for highly mobile students and those with enrollment gaps.
• Lead required collaboration with ITS, Policy, and ONS to troubleshoot and modify IT infrastructure tools related to the Options Transfer Process.

• Lead student re-engagement and transition efforts for all previously enrolled, inactive Options students; Utilize mobility data to identify high-potential students, conduct outreach, and provide support for successful re-enrollment at a best-fit Options School.
• Serve as the Network student advocate for all Options-to-Options school transfers. This includes facilitating communication and coordinating next steps between the student, family, and potential receiving Options school(s) to secure a successful fit and enrollment.
• Serve as the Options Network's internal re-engagement and support specialist, proactively partnering with key staff, including the Juvenile Justice Team and SEL Specialists, to ensure that transferring or inactive students are receiving the necessary individualized supports and resources to successfully enroll and thrive in an Options High School.
• Troubleshoot and resolve administrative and systemic challenges related to Options student enrollment and transfers (e.g., release issues, data flags, records disputes) to ensure timely and immediate enrollment into an Options School.

• Other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university is required
• Master’s degree preferred

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience supervising staff and/or implementing complex processes and/or programs is required
• Project management experience is preferred.
• Experience building and scaling systems and structures within an educational environment is preferred.
• Experience working in a high school setting is preferred.

• Ability to lead inclusive decision-making processes with a diverse (age, race, positional power) group of stakeholders
• Knowledge of youth development and/or education best practices
• Relentless commitment to equity; understanding of how systems and structures in our education system have impacted disparities in educational outcomes for students
• Ability to synthesize diverse opinions and viewpoints into a unified vision and plan
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills
• Ability to manage both a big picture vision while also staying aware of details and deadlines
• Understanding of data-driven decision-making
• Ability to facilitate decision-making processes

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions; however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.