Student Voice & Leadership Specialist

Chicago Public Schools•Chicago, IL

11d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Chicago Public School’s Instructional Core Vision centers identity, community, and relationships, which is called the “Inner Core.” Located within the Office of Teaching and Learning, the Department of Student Voice & Engagement (DSVE) leads the district's inclusive and responsive education strategy that aims to ensure all aspects of schooling in CPS are inclusive of and responsive to the lived experiences of students, and includes young people as key stakeholders in making decisions that impact them. Job Summary: The primary objective of the Student Voice and Leadership Specialist will be to support the strategic expansion and improvement of Student Voice Committees in CPS. The Student Voice and Leadership Specialist will work directly with adult stakeholders advancing the Student Voice Committee program at their schools as a coach and professional learning provider. The Student Voice and Leadership Specialist will also support the district’s student voice infrastructure initiative, and help identify and advance opportunities for expanding youth-adult partnerships in decision-making across CPS. In order to ensure a coherent vision for a student voice infrastructure scaled throughout CPS, this role will be responsible for training teachers, principals, as well as youth in nurturing productive relationships that foster inclusive youth adult partnerships. The Student Voice and Leadership Specialist will report to the Manager of Student Voice & Leadership and will collaborate closely with colleagues within the department as well as across central office to support strategic efforts to strengthen student voice and decision making. This is a full-time, exempt position that will be paid for time worked on a salary basis.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study from an accredited college or university, required
Minimum of four (4) years of relevant professional experience, including the following, is required:
Minimum of three (3) years working with educators and students in a school setting
Minimum of three (3) years working with youth in school improvement and/or civic engagement contexts
Minimum of three (3) years of education or youth leadership experience.
Minimum of three (3) years working with adult learners including creating, organizing, and facilitating professional learning experiences to meet the needs of participants.
Knowledge of anti-bias, anti-racist, and anti-adultist pedagogy; commitment to providing an educational environment free of discrimination and bias that uplifts Black and Brown students, celebrating their impact on our communities and world
Capable of creating high-quality opportunities for teachers and students in youth voice, civic education, and democratic learning
Act collaboratively and with integrity to build bridges and consensus within socially, racially, and politically diverse groups
Expertise in planning, designing, facilitating, and evaluating professional learning
Exceptional organizational skills; ability to effectively manage several work streams simultaneously; able to work in a fast-paced environment and handle multiple tasks as well as adapt to priorities that change quickly.
Superior analytical and critical thinking skills - analyze data to inform daily decisions, define problems, and take action
Capable of building and sustaining positive, productive relationships with colleagues and stakeholders
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; comfortable collaborating and communicating across a diverse range of audiences
Solution-oriented - ability to address and solve challenges collaboratively with multiple interests/parties involved
Demonstrates a sense of urgency in accomplishing goals and objectives.
Excellent technology skills (Google Suite)

Nice To Haves

Valid teaching certificate issued by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) is preferred. (Candidates with a valid out-of-state, reciprocal license will be considered.)
Master’s degree in a relevant field of study preferred
Experience working with or within Chicago Public Schools, and/or working with schools and community groups on Chicago’s south and west sides, preferred.
Experience working within school improvement systems and structures in CPS such as CIWP, preferred
Spanish language proficiency preferred

Responsibilities

Supervise and support Student Voice Committees (SVCs) across CPS
Expand opportunities for Student Voice Committees across schools
Co-design and facilitate varied professional learning opportunities for SVC students, facilitators, and administrators that provide technical, curricular, and consulting support that strengthens the quality of SVC programming and inclusive youth adult partnerships
Ensure professional learning for SVC facilitators and relevant stakeholders successfully achieves the following: Builds their capacity to develop intergenerational spaces at their school that promote shared decision-making between adults and students. Supports SVCs in developing a collaborative spirit amongst adults, and between adults and young people in service of intergenerational approaches to school improvement. Prepares SVCs to act as representatives of the student body that deepen and enrich student representation and decision-making at their school.
Lead continuous improvement in SVC strategy, ensuring SVCs are well supported and have the guidance and parameters conducive to a productive and trusting school community. Ongoing efforts include, but are not limited to, the following tasks: Analyze, audit, and improve guidance and resources; Solicit regular feedback around priority areas of the SVC program; conduct observations, school visits, interviews, and focus groups to learn from and provide support based on the evolving needs and challenges SVC facilitators, students, and administrators face; Pilot new tools aligned to SVC quality criteria and SVC program evaluation findings; Evaluate professional learning outcome data, and use that data to improve professional learning offerings; Identify, document, and offer solutions around barriers to successful implementation of the SVC program
Plan and deliver student and educator-facing events that model inclusive partnerships and elevate student perspectives on topics and issues relevant to CPS students
Advance District-wide student voice and leadership initiatives that: inform district policy development, revision, and policy implementation; are responsive to the current social-political moment, emerging, and persistent student needs; develop student leaders by providing opportunities to lead, present, and engage peers and adults in inclusive partnership
Manage the recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and development of students serving as members of the Districtwide Student Voice Committee (DSVC)
Represent Chicago Public Schools and the Department of Student Voice & Engagement through internal and external collaborative relationships
Other duties as assigned