Job Description
PLEASE NOTE THAT PURSUANT TO MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL LAW, CONTRACTED EMPLOYEES ARE NOT PAID FOR THE TWELVE SCHEDULED HOLIDAYS, DO NOT RECEIVE ANY PAID, VACATION, PERSONAL LEAVE BENEFITS, OR CONTRIBUTE TO THE STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM OR SOCIAL SECURITY. AS A STATE CONTRACTED EMPLOYEE, YOU MUST PARTICIPATE IN DIRECT DEPOSIT AND CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS STATE ALTERNATE RETIREMENT PLAN, ("OBRA PLAN").
The Education Secretariat is committed to equity and valuing the unique and diverse characteristics and experiences of every member of its workforce. We encourage an authentic workplace where colleagues show up as their full selves, where collaboration, innovation, and connections are key to realizing our mission that all children, youth, and families thrive socially, academically, and economically. We seek teammates who are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive work environment, where everyone is valued and engaged. We encourage you to apply and identify your strengths in these areas.
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The Department of Elementary & Secondary Education's Office of Charter Schools and School Redesign (OCSSR) is seeking a contracted employee to perform the following essential duties:
The Contracted School Redesign Specialist will support OCSSR staff in its oversight of existing charter and virtual schools and will support the development of support structures for charter school developers.
The experienced specialist will provide support in three primary areas:
Support the Accountability Team in implementing the charter school and virtual school accountability process:
o Participate in accountability site visits to charter schools that assess charter school performance in terms of the Massachusetts Charter School Performance Criteria, contribute to resulting written site visit reports that become part of each school's body of evidence for charter renewal
o Review and analyze charter school and virtual school accountability data
o Contribute to the ongoing improvement of the Massachusetts charter school and virtual school accountability systems
o Review all site visit materials; participate in review processes of site visit materials; and draft suggestions to update site visit materials
o Review annual reports to ensure alignment with expectations
o Assist the Coordinator of Accountability Monitoring in disseminating best practices, aligned to the Department's strategic objectives.
Support the School Redesign and Virtual School Manager with new virtual school procedures and virtual school applications:
o Assist in developing an opening procedures handbook for Commonwealth of Massachusetts Virtual Schools and help in reviewing submissions for new virtual school(s).
o Assist in renewal of the virtual school certificates, by reading applications for renewal, preparing for upcoming renewal inspections, and writing summaries of the virtual schools' performance.
o Contribute to the ongoing improvement of Massachusetts virtual school application materials and review processes.
Support in developing a pipeline of prospective charter developers:
o This contractor will develop and implement an applicant pipeline development plan to assess, engage, and support the readiness of qualified "developers." Developers are applicants and existing high quality charter schools with the potential to apply for and implement a new charter school, innovation school, virtual school, or significant expansion of an existing charter school. The plan will effectively identify individuals, groups, or schools for participation in development support. The applicant pipeline development plan will assess, engage, and support the readiness of developers to apply for and implement innovative schools or programs, including qualified charter applicants and existing high quality charter schools who will be best positioned to apply for and implement a new charter school or significant expansion. The plan will effectively identify individuals, groups, or schools for participation in development support. This pipeline development plan will:
• Include a landscape analysis of potential developers taking into context the unique needs of historically resilient student populations, potential demand for innovative school models, the developers' experience and success serving their community, and the developers' capacity to implement a high- quality innovative school; and
• Include the development of specific tools for use by developers to assess their readiness to apply and implement the proposed new charter or expansion or different innovative school model or program.
• Include curated resources related to specialized expertise in specific areas of charter school development, including but not limited to governance, finance, student recruitment and retention, community stakeholder engagement, special education, English learner education, curriculum and instruction, assessment systems and program evaluation, family engagement, school culture and climate, human resources, and operations
Perform other related duties as assigned.
Minimum qualifications required at hire:
• Knowledge of the Massachusetts K-12 educational environment (including legal requirements, policy, etc.)
• Deep understanding of and experience with the operations of charter schools and virtual schools, particularly in Massachusetts or similar charter authorizing contexts
• Familiarity with charter and virtual school authorizing, including accountability, oversight, applications, and new or expanding schools.
• Experience effectively engaging a diverse array of stakeholders (including staff, school or district leaders; non-profit/community-based organization leaders; community members, members of charter/virtual school boards of trustees, etc.) across multiple lines of differences
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing educational equity, including racial equity, in current and previous roles
• Ability to travel to sites or schools across the Commonwealth
Preferred qualifications:
• Extensive experience and expertise with key areas of charter development, including but not limited to community engagement; diversity, equity, and inclusion practices within school settings; educational program development; school operations; governance; and finance
• Ability to work with stakeholders in a culturally affirming manner
• Experience creating user-friendly content and training materials using Office suite and multiple forms of media
• Implementing and maintaining systems and tools for gathering, mining, integrating, and reporting data
• Excellent writing and verbal communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize across multiple areas of responsibility.
Please be sure to include a cover letter and resume with your online submission.
Questions regarding this posting or the application process should be referred to Maureen O'Brien @ maureen.t.o'brien@mass.gov
This is a part-time contracted position, 35 hours per week, 2/2025 - 2/2026. This position will follow our hybrid schedule of at least 2 days in the office.
Qualifications
Comprehensive Benefits
When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.
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An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.