06/01/1982 22140

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT LEADERSHIP SPECIALIST

DEFINITION: This is responsible professional educational and administrative work, of a lead person nature, in directing school improvement activities on a regional basis within the Commonwealth.

An employee in this class is responsible for providing advisory and consultative services to school administrators in order to strengthen the educational programs, services, and management of school districts through the long range planning process. Work includes the identification, coordination, and direction of Department of Education field representatives, and of intermediate unit advisers and higher education coordinators providing direct support to local school districts on both educational program and educational administrative concerns. Employees function as lead workers to Department field representatives in providing assistance and direction to the basic education community in interpreting and following the long range planning process. In addition to regional responsibilities, employees exercise a leadership role in a major component of the overall school improvement process. Employees are responsible for the continued evolutionary development of the concepts and processes of school improvement and participate through consensus management, in the overall development of plans, priorities and goals associated with school improvement. Work involves participating in the development of guidelines and criteria for the long range planning process and the overall research, evaluation, and quality control of school improvement activities. Work is performed with considerable independence, subject to review by the bureau director who reviews work through conferences and the analysis of written reports.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Plans, coordinates and participates in providing advisory and consultative services to local school administrators in order to strengthen the educational programs, services, and management of school districts through the long range planning process.

Functions as a broker in identifying and coordinating educational resource and personnel in order to provide direct support and technical assistance to local school districts.

Serves as lead worker to Department field representatives by assigning, training, coordinating, and monitoring school improvement activities in an assigned region of the state.

Serves as a professional consultant on a major component of school improvement activities such as training, evaluation, special education, vocational education, and school climate, and maintains a leadership role in the development and implementation of these special areas.

Develops and participates in the development of new and revised guidelines, procedures, policies, and goals dealing with school improvement.

Plans and conducts training sessions for Department field representatives, and for school administrators, intermediate unit coordinators and other professionals involved in the school improvement process.

Develops and recommends appropriate procedures to promote coordination of effort between and among the school improvement program and other bureaus and/or Department programs and projects.

Reviews and approves long range plans submitted by school districts in order to ensure adherence to pre-established guidelines.

Develops and recommends appropriate procedures to promote school improvement efforts with professional organizations and community groups.

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of the theoretical and practical objectives, and practices of educational planning and development.

Knowledge of the techniques, procedures, and component parts of a long range educational plan including needs assessment, action planning, implementation, and evaluation.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of both educational program delivery and educational management and administration.

Knowledge of the program and administrative concerns of the public school system.

Ability to plan, train, lead, and coordinate the work of professional employees from diverse skill areas.

Ability to motivate and establish effective working relationships with educators, school administrators, and professional and technical associates.

Ability to analyze educational problems to identify needs and recommend a solution and resources to use.

Ability to plan and conduct training sessions for professional educators and administrators.

Ability to present recommendations clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.

Ability to conceive and expand innovative concepts.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: Five years of professional experience in field of basic education including at least one year of experience in long range educational planning or experience as a school improvement field representative;

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Any equivalent combination of experience and training.