Director Of Strategic Programs And Research

Agency Overview

As the state's P-20 education agency, the Governor's Office of Student Achievement (GOSA) works to increase academic achievement and school completion across the state. The agency produces Georgia's education report card annually to provide transparent information for the state's Pre-K through college and career programs. GOSA also analyzes and shares trends in education and conducts audits for accountability purposes.

Program Overviews

The Governor's School Leadership Academy was established to provide a high-quality, selective, statewide leadership preparation and support program that ensures the development of high-capacity school leaders across Georgia. The work of the GSLA will help to ensure that every Georgia school is led by a transformational leader who possesses the ability to maximize student achievement. The GSLA incorporates off-site professional development with job embedded, on-site coaching and mentorship to strengthen the leadership practices of its participants and to reinforce the need for an instruction-focused, collaborative model of school leadership.

GOSA's Research and Audits Team supports the agency's charge to serve as the reporting and accountability agency for education in Georgia. As such, it is charged by law (O.C.G.A. §20-14-25) with inspecting academic records of P-16 schools to ensure that education institutions are faithful to performance accountability requirements. Additionally, GOSA works with researchers in the field to conduct more in-depth investigations on education topics. This research investigates questions regarding student achievement from preschool through postsecondary education.

Position Overview

The Director of Strategic Programs and Research will work with GOSA's Executive Director and the other agency directors to oversee and support existing programs and agency mandates. Specifically, this director would support the implantation, budgeting, and evaluation of the Governor's School Leadership Academy Team and the Research Team. The programs within this director's oversight could change depending on current gubernatorial initiatives and priorities, but the duties and responsibilities associated with other programs would align to those described below for the two existing programs.

Oversight of GSLA

The director of GLSA is responsible for the overall management of GSLA to ensure the successful implementation of a high-quality, selective statewide leadership preparation and support program for current and aspiring school leaders. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the Director is responsible for the shared management and supervision of a high-quality staff, facilitation and direction of professional development activities, and communication with appropriate stakeholders through a diverse range of media. The Director is directly responsible for the management and leadership of GSLA Content Leads and Academy Coaches as well as for the fiscal and administrative aspects of the program. Duties for this management include but are not limited to the following:

• Provides oversight and review of all professional learning materials and resources for participants and team members;

• Schedules in-person meetings (site review and contracting);

• Participates in GSLA Leadership Coach training activities;

• Participates in GSLA content sessions (in-person and virtual)

• Ensures consistency and quality of coaching activities in the field;

• Manages and approves records for content leads and coaching staff (travel, leave, etc.).

• Schedules and plans for GSLA full team events and planning sessions;

• Manages contracts and budgets for all aspects of GSLA;

• Establishes and maintains scopes of work for associated teams or partners in order to successfully implement all aspects of GSLA;

• Interviews and selects GSLA staff; and

• Performs recruitment and public relations tasks for GSLA programs and partnerships.

In addition, this position requires a great deal of communication with program partners, internal and external stakeholders and state and national educational leaders. It is critical that the Director possess strong and effective communication skills and be adept in traditional means of communication as well as through a variety of social media outlets.

Oversight of GOSA's Research and Audits Team

The director of GOSA's Research and Audits Team is responsible for the overall management of research and auditing to ensure the successful research, implementation, and publication of high-quality, grammatically correct, and engaging educational materials that are easily accessed and understood by Georgia's education stakeholders. Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the Director is responsible for the shared management and supervision of a high-quality staff, design, drafting, and editing of research and auditing artifacts, and communication with appropriate stakeholders through a diverse range of media. Duties for this management include but are not limited to the following:

• Coordinates with Executive Director and other agency heads to plan, design, and execute research projects as directed.

• Provides guidance and support for the full research process including environmental scans, review and analysis of technical and historical documents, drafting, and editing.

• Provides leadership and coordination in developing, revising, and/or executing the Agency's annual Statewide Audit Plan. This plan would include existing statutorily required audits (assessment, enrollment, and withdrawal audits) and would include any audits that became required in the future.

• Works effectively with assessment experts to design and conduct analyses of standardized tests for academic auditing purposes.

• Manages contracts and agreements with other state agencies and assessment contractors for academic auditing purposes.

• Provides effective staff development and technical assistance to support State Monitors for Georgia's Standardized Assessments in schools throughout Georgia.

• Effectively communicates with Local Education Agencies, Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE), and other groups as appropriate relative to research and auditing processes, requirements, and findings.

• Drafts and finalizes public facing documents relative to auditing processes, requirements, and findings including but not limited to audit process overviews, audit reports, and referral forms.

• Assesses a school's or Local Education Agency's internal control process related to data collection and test administration based on protocols and requirements established by GaDOE's Assessment Division.

• Conducts on-site evaluations of a school or Local Education Agency that involves reviewing assessment data and other school records reported to the GaDOE.

• Provides data support to local school system personnel.

• Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works cooperatively with others to achieve goals.

• Works and communicates effectively with Local Education Agencies, Georgia Department of Education, Professional Standards Commission, state personnel, legislatures, and all stakeholders as needed.

Qualifications

• Ph.D., Ed.D., or Master's Degree in education or a related field from an accredited college or university;

• Experience in the supervision of administrators in a K-12 setting;

• Experience as an administrator in a K-12 setting;

• Thorough knowledge of current literature related to educational leadership;

• Thorough knowledge of public K-12 education, curriculum and instructional practices;

• Extensive knowledge of Georgia education policies;

• Demonstrated ability to work well with individuals at all organizational levels;

• Demonstrated initiative in prioritizing responsibilities amidst complex needs and strategically planning to attain results;

• Demonstrated communication skills and follow-through with diverse stakeholders, including the ability to make clear and compelling presentations concerning the program's work;

• Demonstrated ability to effectively create and execute against project timelines based on priorities, resource availability, and other project requirements (e.g., budget);

• Self-directed and self-motivated with a strong work ethic;

• Strong computer skills including intermediate to advanced proficiency in Microsoft applications; and

• Knowledge of state and federal spending regulations and guidelines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Ed.D., Educational Leadership;

• Five or more years of experience working in a setting for School Improvement, Leadership Development or School Turnaround;

• Demonstrated, effective experience in coaching principals;

• Demonstrated, effective experience in working with adult learners; and

• Demonstrated, effective experience in working with school and district leaders with a focus on leadership and/or instruction.

Master's degree in education, administration, public administration or a related administrative field in the area of assignment from an accredited college or university AND L-5 certification AND Seven years of program management experience in an educational setting.

Additional Information

• Agency Logo: Requisition ID: EDU07UH

• Number of Openings: 1

• Advertised Salary: $105,000 -$120,000

• Shift: Day Job

• Posting End Date: Mar 18, 2024