Assistant Director of Fellow Experience

About City Teaching Alliance

Our mission is to improve educational and life outcomes of children in urban schools by preparing culturally responsive, effective career educators who accelerate student achievement and disrupt systems of racial and socioeconomic inequity. City Teaching Alliance accomplishes this by recruiting outstanding candidates, equipping them with state-of-the-art training, and linking their certification to their demonstration of effective teaching practices and skills. Our residents and teachers will provide the necessary proof points to make a national case for educator effectiveness and accountability. Learn more about City Teaching Alliance on our website: https://www.cityteachingalliance.org/

Overview

• The Assistant Director of Fellow Experience is a critical member of the Fellow Team who will report to the Senior Director of Fellow Experience.
• The Assistant Director of Fellow Experience will lead professional development for first and second year fellows (FY1’s and FY2’s) in addition to executing culture engagements that support teacher wellness.
• The Assistant Director of Fellow Experience will be skilled at effectively communicating to current and former practitioners, initiating and managing partnerships that positively impact DC fellows, and collecting, synthesizing and utilizing data to drive fellow engagement and retention.

Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Managing and Maintaining Healthy Partnerships

• Develop and maintain productive working relationships with school staff and other key stakeholders;
• Attend weekly/biweekly meetings with DCPS central office to ensure programmatic alignment for fellows in regards to program expectations and hiring status;
• Identify opportunities with our partners for City Teaching Alliance to provide strategic support linked to our core vision beyond programmatic goals that directly support all fellows;
• Serve as the primary point person for school-based staff including, but not limited to, principals, administrative leadership teams, and instructional coaches for fellows;
• Communicate proactively to ensure that external partners are fully aware and supportive of fellow expectations; anticipate and address field based issues;
• Serve as primary point of contact for a designated fellow cohort;
• Conduct informal school visits across all fellow years.
  

Strategy and Vision

• Work closely with the Senior Director of Fellow Experience and program staff to collect and synthesize data from the field in support of all accountability gates supporting and increasing fellow retention;
• Design and execute, with fellow voices at the center, strategies to increase program pride, connection, and retention, measuring efficacy along the way
• Evaluate and improve the processes that impact fellows as necessary, to programmatic alignment and bias
  

AmeriCorps

• Support Data and Certification Officer to collect data from the field in support of all Americorps needs for Fellows;
• Support Data and Certification Officer in the planning and facilitation of AmeriCorps enrollment/re-enrollment and mid-year sessions with fellows
• Support fellow outreach (inclusive of phone calls, emails, texts and in person connections) to meet organizational goals for member enrollment, mid-year requirement completion, and member exits;
• Manage end-of-year member evaluation communication to and withLead for document dissemination to School Leaders and fellows;
• Support member suspensions and mid-term exits for fellows who take temporary or extended leave from the program;
• Coordinate mid-term and end-of-year evaluation conversations with fellows that are not meeting expectations as needed;
• Work with Assistant Director of AmeriCorps (and respective national team and site members) for regular check ins, and analytics in strategy planning for communication support and outreach
  

Direct Fellow Support

• Engage with active DC fellows to provide strategic support linked to our core vision, beyond programmatic goals;
• Serve as primary point person for a subgroup of fellows in DC region;
• Identify and integrate at least 2 professional development opportunities aligned to fellow needs in order to counter burnout in the education sector;
• Work alongside Director of Senior Director to build and execute at least one cross cohort and cross site event (in person and/or virtual);
• Lead quarterly focus groups to gather data that leads to increased fellow retention strategies;
• Develop and implement 1-2 collaboration opportunities in order to strengthen the City Teaching Alliance DC cross cohort community for active fellow cohorts including but not limited to: 1) Facilitating professional development, as needed; 2) Forming and facilitating a social committee that will assist with leading engagement efforts across cohorts and 3) Developing an outline of events and opportunities to engage fellows annually;
• Develop structured observation system for school based visits at least twice a week;
• Support on sight at American University for fellows at least once a week and 1 virtual option
  

Communications

• Design, draft and edit monthly Fellow Community Message for all active fellows that should include but not limited to, an address to our participants, a collection of all recent communications, job postings, resources for teachers, shout-outs and all programmatic updates;
• Manage Fellow-wide email communications for major programmatic updates and rapid response incidents;
• Develop appropriate communications regarding program expectations, special initiatives, programmatic changes, etc. to the appropriate stakeholders throughout the year;
• Draft and manage external communication to school leaders, site team and external partners, as needed
  

Program Execution and Efficacy

• Collaborate with colleagues to address organizational changes needed to support successful implementation of new initiatives (including structures, processes, and systems );
• Participate fully in at least 2 resident selection final interview days;
• Participate in speaking engagements and other opportunities to expand City Teaching Alliance's presence in the region, as needed
  

Special Projects

• Redesign and lead the implementation of the DC Fellow Advisory Council to allow engage and allow fellows to advise on program improvements that will increase fellow retention and community;
• In collaboration with Senior Director of Fellow Experience, recruit and implement a Social Committee comprised of active program fellows that will assist in creating and hosting at least two culture-building social events throughout the year;
• Support emerging alumni outreach and work, as needed.

Target Start Date: September 2023

Location: Washington, DC office. Flexible/hybrid work available, but must be physically based in the DC region by the start date. We do not provide relocation costs.

Compensation: $82,877 -$89,597 & is subject to a geographic differential which could increase or decrease it by 4% or 8% depending on city of residence. We are an anti-racist organization that prioritizes equity so we do not negotiate salaries.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years teaching/school-based experience, preferably in DC
• Demonstrated success in strong collaboration, community building and networking, with a strong history of meeting and exceeding goals
• Excellence in organizational management with the ability to build relationships and set and achieve strategic objectives
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders and cultures, comfortable with interaction and problem-solving with external stakeholders
• Takes initiative and is data-driven;
• Mission-driven and self-directed, possessing passion, idealism, integrity, and a positive attitude
• Possess a working knowledge of the DC education landscape across DCPS and DC Public Charter Schools Possess effective written and verbal communication
• Thinks creatively about new initiatives and existing structures
• Familiarity navigating Microsoft Excel, Asana, BOX, and Canva (Plus)

We strongly believe that diversity of identity and experience is an asset to our team and our work. We also know that research shows women/candidates of color are less likely to apply to positions where they do not meet 100% of the qualification criteria. Therefore, if you are excited about this role but are unsure if you have the requisite qualifications, we strongly encourage you to apply!

Interview Process

• Step 1: Initial Application. Given the volume of initial applications, we will only contact those advancing to the second round of the process.
• Step 2: Virtual Interview. Candidates advancing from initial application will participate in a 30 min virtual interview.
• Step 3: Performance Task. Candidates moving forward from virtual interview will receive the performance task. This will take approximately 45-60 minutes. You will be notified if you do not advance to the next round.
• Step 4: Final Interviews. Candidates moving forward from Performance Task round will participate in a virtual final interview with a panel of team members. This will take approximately 90-120 minutes.
• Step 5: Hiring Offer. (if applicable) after reference check

City Teaching Alliance Values

WE SERVE CHILDREN.

Children are the center of our work. We rely on the communities we serve to guide and inform the decisions we make about our curriculum, program and practice.

WE ARE AN ANTI-RACIST ORGANIZATION.

We are committed to ongoing knowledge seeking, reflection, and action to deliberately oppose racism. We are an inclusive organization that values the diversity of people, backgrounds and perspectives. We are active allies who pursue justice in the communities in which we live and work.

WE ARE LIFE-LONG LEARNERS.

We are dedicated to continuous improvement, innovation and excellence. We strive to be on the forefront of what is best for teacher education and students based on research and practice.

WE VALUE EACH OTHER.

We value each other as whole people. We are servant leaders who foster a supportive working environment that is empathetic and caring, and values direct, constructive feedback.

EOE Statement: We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.