School Improvement Coordinator; Education Program Specialist II

Introduction

The Maryland State Department of Education is dedicated to supporting a world-class educational system that prepares all students for college and career success in the 21st century. With excellent stewardship from our divisions, we oversee State and federal programs that support the needs of a diverse population – students, teachers, principals, and other educators throughout Maryland.

GRADE

State Salary Grade 22 Salary Range: $97,972 - $152,528
• State Salary Guidelines apply for current State employees.

LOCATION OF POSITION

Nancy S. Grasmick Education Building 200 West Baltimore Street Baltimore, MD 21201

The Coordinator for School Improvement supports the implementation of Maryland’s statewide system of support to local education agencies (LEAs) and schools to ensure that all students, particularly those who have been historically underserved, receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education. This position plays a key role in advancing the mission of the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) by providing technical assistance, monitoring, and professional learning to improve outcomes in Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI), Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI), and Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI) schools, in alignment with Maryland’s multi-year strategic plan, the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, and Maryland's Consolidated State ESSA Plan.

This position collaborates with and guides LEA school-improvement teams to strengthen local implementation of evidence-based strategies, policies, and practices that improve teaching and learning and accelerate outcomes for students in identified schools. Also this position partners with other MSDE offices and external partners to align support and provide integrated technical assistance to LEAs, promoting coherence across funding streams, initiatives, and improvement efforts and engages with diverse communities and stakeholders to analyze and communicate the effectiveness of improvement strategies, ensuring culturally responsive and inclusive practices across schools and districts.

Provides Programmatic Lead Technical Support of School Improvement initiatives. Supports LEAs and schools in the development and implementation of school improvement best practices, evidence-based strategies and coordinates professional development for CSI, TSI, ATSI, and other low performing schools. Provides coordination and support to LEAs focused on the process, planning, implementation, and evaluation of an integrated system of academic and social emotional support in service of school improvement.

Collaborates with MSDE’s Office of Research and Accountability in the execution of a Comprehensive Needs Assessment/Root Cause Analysis process for LEAs to identify gaps in student performance and develop evidence-based improvement plans. Provides support for reviewing, approving, implementing and monitoring improvement plans as outlined in federal expectations. Responds to inquiries from LEAs or internal stakeholders by providing timely and accurate information.

Maintains standard operating procedures for school improvement program administration. Supports the allocation, administration, implementation and monitoring of 1003(a) school improvements grants to LEAs. Collaborates with the Division of Financial Policy, Planning, Operations, and Strategy to review CSI and ATSI formula calculation and develop the State’s ESSA Plan to allocate appropriate funding to CSI and ATSI schools. Monitors LEA spend-down plans to ensure that financial and programmatic components of the grant are in alignment with approved grant applications.

Develops and maintains highly effective working relationships with MSDE staff, LEAs, various government agencies, and professional associations.

EDUCATION:

Possession of a Master’s Degree or equivalent 36 credit hours of post-baccalaureate course work in Education, Education Administration/ Supervision, Educational Research, Education Policy or a related field.

EXPERIENCE:

Five years of administrative or teaching experience in, or…