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Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over330,000students in 600+ schools and employing nearly 36,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity. Six core values are embedded within these commitments – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning. 

The Community Schools Initiative (CSI) is a part of The Office of College and Career Success (OCCS).  The office supports the district's commitments to engage families, communities, and partners in every neighborhood to shape and support the CPS mission. CSI envisions schools as central, neighborhood locations where students receive an education and schools work with community groups to connect children and families to a range of services that foster individual and economic well-being. The CSI also extends the hours that schools are open so buildings may stay in use up to seven days a week and during the summer, creating a vibrant community meeting place.  

Job Summary: 

Reporting to the Community Schools Initiative (CSI) Manager in the Office of Student Support and Engagement, the Program Coordinator, Community Schools Initiative (CSI) will support the administration of Community Schools funded through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program.

The Program Coordinator, Community Schools Initiative will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Support CSI grants implementation and activities 
• • Implement the CSI grants, track all activities offered, monitor funding allocations for a portfolio of participating schools. Assist with grant writing and document collection during the grant writing process.
  • Generate data reports from Cityspan to complete mandated audit and reporting processes (i.e. APR, continuation applications)
  • Work with key stakeholders, including principals and school leaders, parents, students, vendors, and community-based organizations
• Provide training and technical assistance to program participants and partners 
• • Provide program support and guidance to participating schools by planning and implementing professional development activities, trainings, and other resources to address needs that may arise
  • Provide ongoing training to school-based and external partner staff in the use of required program tools, such as systems (ex: Cityspan, CQIP, etc.) and required documents for compliance and implementation

• Participate in program quality improvement initiatives
• • Become  trained and certified in the Program Quality Checklist tool and use this tool to observe programs, provide feedback and make improvements based on outcomes
  • Work with other departments in OCCS as well as the Office of Equity to ensure alignment with re-engagement strategies, SEL supports, school-based interventions, and other best practices
• Support CSI service delivery and program analysis
• • Review, approve and oversee service delivery plans and budgets, monitor service plan compliance and data entry for all CSI activities on a school by school basis; collect essential program data and generate reports as needed.
  • Oversee monthly deliverables on students and adults served, programs hours, and grant requirements. Review and monitor data in Cityspan for accuracy and completion
  • Respond to all internal and external audit and monitoring requests; support schools in compiling annual compliance binders.                                                                      
• Develop strong, collaborative relationships with program participants and partners 

o Develop and maintain strong, empathetic relationships with school leaders and staff (including counselors and teachers at CPS schools), partners, and students and their families.Work closely with CSI team and CPS departments to solve problems on behalf of schools, and broker relationships between school and community partners; mediate partner issues as needed 

o Meet with Lead Partner Agency on a bi-monthly basis to provide hands-on coaching to the school Resource Coordinators

o Ensure the development of a school-based leadership team 

o Regularly meet with school principals to ensure program delivery meets the needs of the school communities

• Other duties and workstreams as assigned

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Program Coordinator, Community Schools Initiative must possess the following qualifications: 

Education Required: 

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university required
• Master’s degree preferred 

Experience Required: 

• Minimum of four (4) years of experience in education and grants management, including experience writing and obtaining grants, is required
• Experience working with community-based organizations serving youth in Chicago is preferred 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Demonstrated high degree of attention to detail, flexibility, and professional dedication
• Excellent self-direction, organization, prioritization and strategic planning skills
• Outstanding problem-solving and data analysis capabilities, including the ability to define problems, analyze data, and outline valid conclusions and action steps   
• Familiarity with non-profit organizations and school-community partnerships  
• Exceptional communication skills (written and verbal) 
• Ability to build collaborative relationships with a variety of constituent groups, including all levels of CPS staff/leadership and external partners, to ensure the entire system operates in the most effective manner possible to support schools and principals
• Familiarity with Google Suite, specifically Google Docs, Google Slides, Google Sheets, and Google Meet  

Conditions of Employment:As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency- Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.
• Be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19- Unless approved for a medical or religious exemption, all employees are required to be up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, including boosters, and to submit proof of vaccination to the district within 30 days of hire. “Up-to-date” on vaccination is defined as being at least two weeks past all primary vaccine doses and any applicable boosters.