Executive Director- Assoc. for Teaching Black History in Kentucky

The Association for Teaching Black History in Kentucky whose founding member organizations include Berea College, the Muhammad Ali Center, Kentucky State University, and the Thomas D. Clark Foundation) was organized in 2022 to recover the social, historical, and cultural contributions of black Kentuckians and to make these materials readily available to teachers in the Commonwealth, thereby promoting quality K-12 instruction in history. The goal of the Association is to provide an inclusive educational experience for all students that enhances their academic success. Berea College serves as the fiscal agent for the Association.

The Executive Director is the primary administrative officer of the Association for Teaching Black History in Kentucky with responsibility for overseeing all programs and activities of the Association. The Executive Director is responsible for organizing the development of the curricular materials which constitute the main objective of the Associate and devises appropriate means for sharing them digitally with educators in the state. The Executive Director develops programs for and builds relationships with constituent educators from around the State to support adoption and use of the curricular materials. The Executive Director participates in the necessary fundraising to sustain the effort of the Association. The Executive Director supports and guides the advocacy work of the Association in concert with the Association Board of Directors and Advisory Board. The Executive Director serves as liaison for the Association with the Kentucky Department of Education and the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education and advocates on behalf of the Association for Teaching Black History in Kentucky on issues related to state funding and legislation. The Executive Director promotes the sharing of best practices and is responsive to the ongoing and changing needs of member institutions and the state.

The Executive Director is hired by and reports to the Governing Board of the Association and receives compensation and benefits as an employee of Berea College. As such, the Executive Director will receive an annual review from both the Governing Board of the Association and through the Human Resources policies of Berea College.

Primary duties and responsibilities:

Planning

• Develop strategy, operations, and programming trajectory for the Association utilizing input from K-12 stakeholders, member institutions, and the Advisory Board.

• Develop and maintain policy records for the Association;

• In collaboration with the advisory board, establish a strategic plan for the Association that includes programmatic outcomes, fundraising goals, curriculum resource expansion and metrics for evaluating the impact and success of the program.

Operations

• Formulate and implement the Association budget, subject to the approval of the Governing Board.

• Develop templates and instructions for the development of curricular materials;

• Develop a platform on the Berea College network for housing and distributing curricular materials;

• Recruit in-service teachers for the development of curricular materials;

• Develop and maintain data collection processes for stewardship and reporting on program outcomes;

• Oversee continued expansion of Association created educational materials designed to allow a synthesis of traditional as well as modern, research-based tools to facilitate teaching of Black History in the Commonwealth;

• Travel as needed, to ascertain the functions, needs, and impact of the Association on the people and organizations it is designed to support;

• Support all Association boards and working groups;

Outreach and Communications

• Provide ongoing oversight of program delivery and financial accountability in close communication with all stakeholders in the Association, including, funders, school partners, collaborating agencies and organizations, and the Kentucky Department of Education and Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education;

• Advocate on behalf of the Association for Teaching Black History in Kentucky on issues related to state funding and legislation;

• Organize opportunities for mutual learning for in-service teachers and Association partners through events such as Teach the Teachers workshops and symposia;

• Assist other institutions interested in participation in the Association

• Promote the Association through external communications and participation in conferences and meetings of state-wide and national organizations;

Fundraising and stewardship

• Participate in fund raising efforts in association with the Advancement department of Berea College; coordinate fundraising efforts with the member institutions;

• Provide quarterly progress reports to the member organizations of the Association;

• Provide additional reporting as needed to all supporting organizations and individuals for the purpose of stewardship;

Education to ensure success in this position

• Preferred, Ph.D. in field related to this project or Ed.D.

• Master’s Degree in related field

Experience required to ensure success in this position:

• 5-10 years of Administrative/Professional experience in Primary, Secondary, or Higher Education

• Experience in the creation or management of a non-profit

Special skills, knowledge and abilities:

• Knowledge of Black History and willingness to expand that knowledge in regard to the experience of Black Kentuckians

• Ability to develop infrastructure, programming, and assessment/evaluation;

• Coordinate programming consultants and excellent project management skills

• Understanding of and experience in fundraising and development

• Strong communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills, computer proficiency

• Collaborative leadership work style

• Ability to work with a diverse group of institutions and interests.

License, certification, or registration necessary:

• Valid Driver’s License

• Required Background Check

Physical requirements:

• Ability to operate a computer and related equipment

• Ability to navigate campus and public buildings/grounds

• Ability to travel frequently and independently, occasionally for long distances

• Ability to convene/arrange and attend meetings across campus and in the program’s service region

Environmental conditions:

• Professional office environment with interruptions and noise due to frequent visitors, students, staff and faculty

• Regular field travel required for meetings and workshops in Kentucky

Ability to operate the following vehicles or equipment:

• Standard office equipment

• College or personal vans/cars