About Allentown School District

Allentown School District (ASD) is one of the largest K-12 districts in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, proudly serving approximately 16,700 students across 25 schools. Founded in 1828, the district is a dynamic, thriving and diverse place where over 25 languages are spoken. With a vision of being a learning community that cultivates positive relationships and offers rigorous and meaningful curricula, and a mission of meeting the unique educational needs of each student by igniting their passion for learning and fostering an academic culture, the 2,500 teachers and staff at ASD take pride in their central role in shaping the future by nurturing the minds of students through an unparalleled educational experience.

About the Chief Outreach Officer for Family and Community Engagement

Under the direction of Superintendent Dr. Carol Birks, the Chief Outreach Officer for Family & Community Engagement (CFCE) is responsible for advancing the district’s vision, mission, and goals. The CFCE improves academic achievement for all students through partnerships and innovative programs. The CFCE is responsible for strategic partnerships, district events, and all aspects of the organization’s outreach work. The CFCE will have a laser focus on accelerating equity and organizational excellence by achievement of the overarching priorities of the Allentown School District.

What You’ll Do (“Key Responsibilities”)

Strategic Planning and Systemic Accountability: Utilizes data-driven continuous improvement processes and practices with clear metrics and performance indicators that report on progress toward improved operational effectiveness, teaching and learning, and student outcomes

• Supports the Allentown School District’s strategic planning process
• Guides the development and execution of a framework to ensure that every school is a community school
• Studies school data and School Improvement Plans and assists with improving schools by building on each school’s strengths
• Works with ASD staff (principals and central office) to plan and implement innovative partnerships and best practices in alignment with school design specifications and improvement plans
• Creates and facilitates the school design partnership audit process to evaluate the effectiveness of the Allentown Public Schools’ partnerships
• Creates a comprehensive program/resources gap analysis and tracks programs and contributions to better coordinate efforts for increasing the capacity of schools
• Collaborates and/or leads the development and implementation of proactive diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, which will support the district’s strategic plan

Family and Community Engagement: Co-creates trusting partnerships that recognize and promote families’ and community’s contributions to student learning.

• Creates and implements annual outreach plan
• Develops alliances with community partners and elected officials to promote the success and opportunities for the school district
• Works with the Office of Communications and staff to develop marketing plans to recruit new volunteers and partners in line with district objectives
• Attends relevant community meetings; participates in relevant councils, roundtables, and committees
• Monitors outreach and community support involvement
• Assists the Superintendent and the Deputy Superintendent in communicating with parents, community members, and organizations
• Builds partnerships with community organizations to connect schools with appropriate services
• Oversees the district’s collaborations with community-based organizations, including but not limited to, after school programming, youth empowerment with community partnerships, and other school supports
• Oversees events which celebrate and publicize student, staff, and district successes

Teaching and Learning: Guarantee that students are provided rigorous instruction and the skills, knowledge, voice, and social-emotional support they need to succeed and thrive in and beyond school.

• Connects schools to network for best practices that support the turnaround principal
• Provides support and informs school leaders on the role partners can play in improving academic achievement
• Creates a culture of engagement and expectations with principals and other administrators

Operational Effectiveness: Ensures that resources and initiatives minimize/eliminate redundancies intensify focus on priorities supporting excellent teaching and learning.

• Provides assistance to schools based on the priority of needs identified in the Model of Excellence Plan
• Develops and oversees youth development and leadership initiatives that support district and school priorities
• Oversees the implementation of School Governance Councils (SGC) and Parent-Teacher Organizations (PTO) at all school sites and works collaboratively with these committees to support school and district priorities
• Serves as a clearinghouse for matching donations and school/program needs
• Supports development functions, including research, prospecting, and grant writing in support of district initiatives
• Supports direct reports and their teams with strategy development, goal setting, fund raising, and policy engagement activities

Communications: Develops clear and coherent messages that are informative and influential in advancing ASD’s priorities

• Develops and implements strategies to educate and inform the community about successes within Allentown Public Schools
• Serves as a spokesperson for the Allentown Public Schools as directed by the Superintendent
• Develops and write speeches and presentations as needed
• Assists the Superintendent and/or the Deputy Superintendent in communicating with constituents
• Works with the Superintendent of Schools and the Deputy Superintendent in advancing their district goals and major public policy issues

Skills You’ll Need to be Successful (“Core Competencies”)

Team Leadership and Management

• Coaches, coordinates, and leads teams.
• Removes barriers or obstacles that make it difficult for principals or Senior Advisory Team to achieve their goals and ensures that leaders have the resources they need to succeed.
• Sets clear agendas and facilitates effective meetings.
• Ability to train, supervise, and evaluate staff from different cultural backgrounds and skill sets.
• Motivates, inspires, and moves other adults to action to achieve ambitious goals.
• Skilled at re- envisioning, building, and managing a team, especially in a time of growth and change; excellent at identifying talent and taking advantage of each person’s skills and contribution to team effort
• Establishes clear expectations, deliverables, and deadlines.

Problem Solving, Systems Thinking and Data-Driven Decision Making

• Makes decisions using data and technological resources.
• Takes initiative to solve problems and create stakeholder buy-in.
• Identifies and prioritizes mission critical issues with alignment of people, time, and resources.
• Offers innovative solutions to seemingly intractable problems.
• Understands how various systems/departments interact to achieve the long-term goal.
• Understands systematic continuous improvement processes.
• Exhibits strong focus on goals and results; sets clear metrics for success.
• Demonstrates excellent execution and project management skills, including attention to detail, organizational skills, ability to balance the big picture with detailed steps to reach the end goal, and ability to balance multiple projects under tight deadlines.

Collaborator and Organizer

• Builds and maintains strong relationships
• Builds consensus and resolves conflicts; exhibits willingness to have difficult conversations.
• Skillfully navigates existing political structures/systems.
• Builds and maintains positive relationships with individuals and groups.
• Moves groups to consensus and resolves conflicts; exhibits willingness to have difficult conversations
• Builds coalitions and works collaboratively with diverse stakeholders at all levels, including but not limited to, district personnel, students, families, communities, and/or advocacy groups.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Tailors’ message for the audience, context and mode of communication.
• Actively listens to others and effectively interprets others’ motivations and perceptions.

Minimum Qualifications

• Masters degree with a major in education leadership, communication, public policy, social work, or a related field. Doctorate preferred.
• Five years or more of progressive experience in education, community organizing, and/or social service, preferably in an urban setting. Supervisory experience preferred.
• Proven track record building positive relationships with families and community.
• Experience in community capacity building and organizational collaboration.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to collect and analyze data to drive improvement.
• Bilingual in Spanish preferred.
• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Salary range for this integral leadership position is competitive and commensurate with prior experience. In addition, a comprehensive benefits package will be included in the ultimate offer for the identified sole finalist. We look forward to discussing details with you as the interview process progresses.