Director of Teaching & Learning - Fall 2026/2027

Muscatine Community School District • Muscatine, IA

1d

About The Position

The Director of Teaching and Learning serves as a member of the collaborative and integrated executive leadership team (cabinet) which plans, directs, and coordinates action to achieve the mission and strategic objectives of the district. The Director of Teaching and Learning provides system leadership and support to the building principals, information management, district technology, and PreK-12 schools and program sites with the vision, design, and implementation of an exemplary educational program. Specifically, the Director of Teaching and Learning will serve as a catalyst for ensuring the continuous improvement of existing educational programs while working in cooperation with other educators in the district, to seek and implement difference-making innovations and interventions that will help the district maximize student learning. The Director of Teaching and Learning, working in close partnership with the superintendent, will have the overall responsibility for the leadership, talent development, and supervision of the principals, the teaching and learning team members, and district teachers.

Requirements

• Knowledge of: Effective school research Effective instructional practice to include the integration of technology Educational standards Organizational change and systems theory Data driven decision making Laws, state mandates, regulations and procedures related to areas of responsibility Programmatic improvement processes including research, development, and evaluation PreK-12 school operations and site leadership Research based professional development Collaborative learning teams (PLC)
• Ability to: Evaluate and develop leaders Develop, implement, and manage complex system-wide projects Interpret, analyze and communicate in writing and orally about technical journals, financial reports and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from parents, students, teachers, regulatory agencies, members of the community and general public, and the school board. Ability to effectively present information to district staff members and leadership groups, the community and general public, and the school board. Prepare, monitor and stay within the parameters of the budget. Ability to project, with accuracy, the approximate costs of future programs. Ability to interpret data and utilize mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference to make recommendations about educational programs. Define problems, collect and analyze data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Deal with conflict or problem situations with staff and members of the community, Creatively solve problems or propose new approaches to traditional practices. Use basic computer utility programs. Work well with others demonstrating exemplary interpersonal skills. Maintain regular attendance.
• Ph.D., Ed.D, or Specialist preferred, Master’s degree required, major in educational administration with emphasis in instructional programming PreK-12.
• Professional Administrator License
• Successful teaching and principal experience is required.
• Professional experiences consistent with the responsibilities of the position.
• A clear and demonstrated commitment to the District’s mission, which is developing a community of successful learners and leaders.
• Performing assigned responsibilities in a manner consistent with the District’s established Core Values.
• Advancing the District’s mission and values through careful attention to the key issues of Learning, Environment and Resources.

Nice To Haves

• Preference candidates hold or be eligible for licensure as a superintendent in Iowa.
• Successful experience in a district level position is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Achieves strategic objectives by Supporting the superintendent as a member of the cabinet, in coordinating action to achieve the district's mission. Representing the perspectives, needs and interests for leadership and teaching and learning. Building community within the teaching and learning team and with all district educators through a strong focus on teamwork, service, and relationships. Engaging the principals, the teaching and learning team, and teachers in discussions resulting in actionable, measurable, challenging, and personalized academic objectives intended to maximize student learning and achievement. Designing and implementing activities that enrich the talent and grow the leadership of the principals and assistant principals, the teaching and learning team, teachers, and other aspiring leaders in the district. Providing vision, guidance, and direction, based on a fundamental knowledge and understanding of curriculum and best instructional practices to the teaching and learning supervisors regarding the design and delivery of the ideal educational program. Knowing what matters regarding student learning and achievement, and engages principals, the teaching and learning team, and teachers in planning activities to ensure the district does what matters to make a difference in the lives of students and to prepare them for their future. Ensuring that the principals, the teaching and learning team, and teachers understand the concepts of instructional best practices and continuous improvement. Designing and leading activities to ensure these concepts permeate the schools and resonate with staff members. Demonstrating a professional demeanor, setting standards for professional interactions, and holding others accountable to those standards.
• Ensures effective organizational management by Plans and facilitates meetings with appropriate subgroups of the teaching and learning team and teachers. Plans and facilitates meetings with secondary and elementary principals to engage in general planning and ensuring operational excellence in all administrative functions. Working in cooperation with principals to resolve parent and student issues/concerns. Responding to concerns and inquiries from parents/guardians, staff, and community members. Making recommendations to the superintendent for the development of, or revisions to board policies and regulations that pertain to the teaching and learning and district technology department. Working in cooperation with other administrators to develop staffing, enrollment, facility use plans, and district student attendance boundaries. Visiting schools regularly. Works in cooperation with the teaching and learning team and student services to oversee local, state, and federal grant programs related to teaching and learning. Maintaining current understanding of laws, policies, and employment contracts which impact schools. Providing support, direction and evaluation of principals and other direct reports Collaborating with staff and local law enforcement officials to maintain a safe and healthy learning environment. Setting standards for effective operational practice and effectively communicating operational management procedures. Serving on committees as needed. Providing leadership in developing and maintaining all budgets within the teaching and learning department.
• Ensures improved student achievement by Providing leadership for the development, implementation, and evaluation of an articulated data driven PreK-12 standards based curriculum. The curriculum should be inclusive of all applicable state and national standards focused on the development of the whole student and academic rigor for all students. Providing vision, guidance, and direction to the principals and teachers to implement the curriculum content review cycle and material adoption for the K-12 instructional program. Attending board meetings and working in cooperation with the principals and teaching and learning team to create and present improvement plans to the Board of Education. Determining and responding to staff development needs of the principals, the teaching and learning team, and teachers. Working in cooperation with the teaching and learning team and principals to conduct educational program reviews that include, but are not limited to, the following programs: Elementary School, Middle School, High School, Gifted & Talented, and English Language Learners. Convening community curriculum groups as required by law, co-facilitates with the Director of Student Services, and the District Leadership Team. Representing the district on local, state, regional and/or national committees. Working in close cooperation with district staff to ensure that principals, the teaching and learning team, and teachers have access to and understand technology and technology systems. Working in close cooperation with the director of student services to ensure that principals, the teaching and learning team and teachers understand and respond to the unique learning needs of students requiring special services. Ensuring effective instruction by providing leadership for the development and implementation of district standards of effective instruction. Ensuring compliance with local, state, and/or any federal curriculum standards, program evaluations, and accountability reports.
• Completing other duties as assigned by Performing other comparable duties of a like or similar nature as assigned or apparent.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree