Director of School Improvement, Research and Accountability

General Statement of Job: 

The Director of School Improvement, Research and Accountability is responsible for providing leadership to the school district’s school improvement processes, testing & accountability, research and PowerSchool programs.  The director manages and supervises all facets of the school improvement process, district research initiatives, achievement testing and the PowerSchool application.  

The Director of School Improvement, Research and Accountability provides leadership to the school district’s school improvement processes.  The director will work with the Chief Academic Officer and School Principals to provide oversight, direction, coaching and accountability to the school improvement process.  The Director will have intimate knowledge of the North Carolina School Improvement process, including the Indistar platform.  The Director will be well-versed in data disaggregation, and helps to drive decisions that are informed by data. 

The Director of School Improvement, Research and Accountability also prepares reports reflecting school and district-wide profiles for academic areas measured by testing and accountability, academic performance data from PowerSchool, attendance and discipline data in PowerSchool, as well as reports requested from various faculty and staff.  The data covered in these reports include, but are not limited to, EVAAS data, state testing data results, ACT and SAT data results, graduation rate data, Teacher Working Conditions Survey data, school demographic data, student academic performance data, student attendance data, school-based surveys, etc.  These reports are presented to appropriate audiences (school board, Superintendent, Senior Leadership Team, central office staff, principals, teachers, etc.) in usable formats. The Director is also responsible for conducting special evaluations regarding issues identified for research.  

Additionally, the director will assist with providing appropriate and comprehensive training to school staff and administration regarding standardized testing as prescribed the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, ensuring testing sessions are conducted in a secure manner in accordance with the Testing Code of Ethics, the applicable Test Administrator Manuals for each assessment, the Testing Students with Disabilities Manual, and the Testing Students with Limited English Proficiency Manual, as well as providing interpretation of the results to school audiences and curriculum staff.  The Director monitors and supervises all testing and test-related activities that are a part of the district-wide testing program, ensures test security is maintained, and participates in the establishment of testing guidelines and restrictions related to the utilization of appropriate data.  The Director is responsible for conducting investigations into testing misadministration and violations of the Testing Code of Ethics, reporting the results to appropriate district and NCDPI staff, and taking appropriate administrative action in collaboration with the Chief Academic Officer and the Executive Director of Human Resources.

The Director also works to ensure all state and federal guidelines are followed regarding reporting of student information including, but not limited to, demographics, incident management, attendance, and student academic performance found within PowerSchool.  The Director also works to troubleshoot issues associated with the PowerSchool application, verify data associated with state and federal reports, and create new reports within the PowerSchool application for various stakeholders.  The Director manages and supervises all facets of budgeting to include purchasing supplies, technological equipment, and all other items necessary to support the Testing and Accountability/PowerSchool program.

Essential Job Functions: 

• Provide leadership to the school improvement process
• Provide feedback, guidance and coaching to principals on the school improvement process
• Manage and supervise all facets of testing
• Manage and supervise use of the PowerSchool application
• Prepare reports/presentations on academic performance data to be presented to various stakeholder groups 
• Lead the district’s research approval process
• Lead the district’s grant writing initiatives
• Assist with transcript evaluations
• Complete state and federal reports as required
• Conduct investigations concerning issues associated with testing and violations of the Testing Code of Ethics
• Collaborate with district and school staff to provide data analysis training/support
• Conduct data analysis meetings with principals and school staff
• Troubleshoot issues associated with testing situations
• Troubleshoot issues associated with the PowerSchool application
• Create/code reports within the PowerSchool application 
• Summarizing local, district and state survey data (TWC, stakeholder surveys, etc)
• Other duties as assigned by Chief Academic Officer and Superintendent

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree with teaching license required, preferably in a relevant field of work
• Masters degree in preferred area required
• School leadership (Principal) required; district leadership preferred
• Possess driver’s license
• Proven relationship building skills with ability to collaborate within and across the district
• Demonstrated ability to handle multiple projects concurrently
• Proficient computer and technology skills
• Professional appearance, communication, organization, and attitude

Preferred Qualifications:

• Three (3) to five (5) years of data analysis experience
• Three (3) to five (5) years of PowerSchool Administrative experience
• Successful school principal experience
• Demonstrated growth in a school or district setting (EVAAS, School Growth Data, etc)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 

• Knowledge of the PowerSchool application
• Knowledge of Standardized Testing
• Ability to analyze data for trends 
• Ability to develop meaningful annual budgets 
• Ability to effectively express ideas orally and in writing 
• Ability to make effective oral presentations before large groups of people 
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments. 
• General knowledge of the principles of organization and administration.
• Ability to maintain basic files and records.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work

DISCLAIMER:

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to this job.

Updated 03/2024