EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The National Center on Time & Learning (NCTL), the nation’s leader on the frontline of urban K-12 education reform dedicated to expanding learning time to improve student achievement and enable a well-rounded education, seeks nominations and applications for the position of Senior Advisor, State & District Engagement and School Transformation (Senior Advisor). Currently in a period of rapid growth, NCTL is leading the nation’s most ambitious effort through research, public policy and technical assistance to support national, state, and local initiatives that add significantly more school time for academic and enrichment opportunities to help children meet the demands of the 21st century.

Reporting to the Vice President of State & District Engagement and working closely with NCTL’s State & District Engagement and School Transformation teams, the Senior Advisor will be a sophisticated education leader with the expertise to develop and implement expanded learning time initiatives at state, district, and school levels. The Senior Advisor will consult on the design and delivery of technical assistance sessions and will serve as the primary coach, technical assistance advisor, and expert presenter to school and district-level leaders in a variety of states. In addition, s/he will develop a broad network of support for the creation of state movement in the use of expanded learning time, working closely with a diverse range of stakeholders including policymakers, union officials, foundation leaders, superintendents, parent groups, community organizations, and political, business, and education leaders.

The successful candidate will have extensive experience leading school and district-level change efforts including demonstrated success in implementing initiatives and using data to drive school improvement. S/he will have deep knowledge of current school turnaround efforts and significant expertise in designing and delivering trainings and presentations; coaching teachers and school leaders; using adaptive technologies to advance reform; and scheduling at K-12 levels. Equally important, s/he will have exceptional analytic and oral/written communication skills including the ability to synthesize, translate, and disseminate information to broad and diverse audiences. S/he will have a minimum of 8-10 years of relevant school and/or district leadership experience with a track record of improving academic results, and will hold a bachelor’s degree with an advanced degree in education, or a related field preferred. A willingness to travel is a requirement for this position. Ability to be active in one or more of the following states is helpful: Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, or Colorado.

This search is being assisted by Katherine Jacobs and Lisa Catapano of the Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group.

HISTORY AND MISSION

NCTL is dedicated to promoting the simple but powerful notion that time matters for learning and that expanded learning time, well used, allows schools serving high concentrations of poor children to reach much higher academic achievement outcomes and enjoy a truly well-rounded education. Founded on the basic premise that the century-old school schedule is out of date in a highly competitive global society, NCTL uses high-level research and policy and provides ground-level technical assistance to schools, to create a new and more effective school day and year – one that dramatically expands learning opportunities for all students, offering a rigorous, engaging and well-rounded education that better prepares students for success in the 21st century global economy. Through this work, NCTL has emerged as the sole organization in the country focused on practical approaches to supporting public schools across America to expand learning time.

Nationally recognized as a pioneer in education reform, NCTL evolved from a highly successful, competitive grant program in Massachusetts, the Expanded Learning Time Initiative (ELT). First launched by NCTL’s Massachusetts-based operation, Massachusetts 2020, ELT served as a first-of-its-kind, statewide effort to expand learning time in order to improve academic achievement, strengthen instruction, provide a more well-rounded education, and serve as a future, national school model. ELT now funds 19 schools in Massachusetts to add 300 hours to the year, building in more time for academics, enrichment, and teacher collaboration. Since its inception, ELT has vastly impacted educational outcomes for participating students. Due to the initiative’s rapid success, in 2007 NCTL championed its ongoing nationwide expansion and implementation efforts.

With expanded time a core strategy of the national education reform agenda, NCTL is actively responding to the call for reform through the national implementation of its model. Working side-by-side with governors, legislators, district and school administrators, union leaders, teachers, parents, and community organizations, NCTL builds a better school day and year with more time. This includes supporting state leaders in developing policy efforts and building statewide momentum to expand learning time; helping district leaders create comprehensive planning processes that redesign the school day and year, from the ground up; working with districts to support funding for teacher time; and assisting schools with existing expanded schedules, in order to support the most effective use of learning time.

NCTL’s vision is that in 10 years at least one million children in high poverty communities will attend schools that have redesigned their school day to expand learning time in support academic improvement and offer a well-rounded education. In combination with other education improvement efforts, such as those targeting teacher effectiveness and the use of data, these expanded-time schools will cut the achievement gap, reduce dropout rates, and build beliefs and habits key to long-term educational and employment success. Furthermore, in 10 years expanded learning time schools will be well on their way to becoming the norm in American education. The new Senior Advisor, State & District Engagement and School Transformation will be a key team member in strategically and collaboratively guiding strategies, implementing efforts, and providing technical assistance in order advance NCTL’s mission and national education reform through the increased use of expanded learn time across the country.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SENIOR ADVISOR, STATE & DISTRICT ENGAGMENT AND SCHOOL TRANSFORMATION

The Senior Advisor, State & District Engagement and School Transformation may be based in a major metropolitan area (within the states of Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, or Colorado are preferred). Reporting to the Vice President of State & District Engagement, the Senior Advisor will work with NCTL’s State & District Engagement and School Transformation teams to support the development of expanded learning time initiatives at state, district, and school levels to ensure improved academic achievement, enhanced quality of instruction, and more effective and flexible use of resources to drive desired outcomes.

This important and exciting role will present challenges and opportunities each key to the success of NCTL’s work including:

• Drive skillful development and implementation of expanded learning time initiatives and provide expert technical support. 
  The Senior Advisor will support the creation and advancement of school and district-level change efforts through effective guidance and technical assistance to schools, districts, state and district leaders, and state-wide and/or regional networks in planning and implementing expanded learning time. S/he will serve as a key coach, technical advisor, and ambassador to schools and school districts and will consult on the design and delivery of technical assistance sessions with special focus on project and logistics management, K-12 scheduling, use of adaptive technologies; and flexibility and resourcefulness in budgeting.

• Collect, manage, and share data and knowledge to drive quality instruction and enhance academic achievement.
  The Senior Advisor will share information and educate stakeholders, partners, and school and district educators on critical activities and developments in the use of expanded learning time. S/he will be an active and engaged member NCTL’s School Transformation team and work closely and collaboratively with Knowledge Management team members to strategically guide implementation efforts that advance NCTL’s education reform efforts through: proactive reporting on planning and implementation efforts; skillful and thorough documentation of best practices; and in-depth collection and use of data to drive instructional improvement and advance academic results.

• Forge and sustain relationships with key stakeholders and education leaders in the education reform movement in order to deepen NCTL’s reach and impact.
  The Senior Advisor will work strategically and collaboratively with NCTL leaders, managers, and staff to cultivate, steward, and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, partners, and leaders in the education reform movement in order to develop and uphold the strategic networks needed to drive and support the creation of a state movement in use of expanded learning. S/he will serve as a dynamic and deeply knowledgeable representative of NCTL, working closely and effectively with a wide and diverse range of stakeholders including policymakers, union officials, foundation leaders, superintendents, parent groups, community organizations, and political, business, and education leaders to advance NCTL’s reach and impact.

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The successful candidate will be a highly motivated professional with the significant experience championing school and district-level education transformation to effectively advance implementation of NCTL’s expanded learning time initiative across the United States. S/he will be highly motivated, articulate, and diplomatic, and able to implement expanded learning time strategies and activities in a highly collaborative and mission-driven environment.

The ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:

• Substantive knowledge of the education reform movement including deep understanding of existing school turnaround efforts.

• Significant expertise and demonstrated success in advising education professionals, improving academic results, using data to enhance instruction, implementing initiatives to drive school improvement including considerable knowledge and skill in K-12 scheduling and in creative and effective budgeting practices and leveraging of financial resources.

• A minimum of 8-10 years of relevant school and/or district leadership experience with a track record of improving academic results. A Bachelors Degree is a must with an advanced degree in education, or a related field is preferred.

• Willingness to travel is a requirement for this position. Ability to be active in one or more of the following states is helpful: Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, or Colorado.

• Exceptional oral and written communications skills with the capacity to move ideas from concept to implementation and the ability to synthesize, translate, and disseminate complex data into clear and understandable forms to broad and diverse audiences.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and a management style combining respectful collaboration with disciplined productivity. The ability to communicate and work effectively with the many NCTL constituents including senior leadership, managers, staff, consultants, funding partners, education reform partners, state and district educators and education leaders, and the community-at-large.

• Strong organizational skills teamed with a flexible and adaptable style. The ability to work both independently without close oversight and as a team player who will productively engage with others.

• The ability to connect and align initiative priorities with NCTL’s strategic goals and mission.

• Strong fact-based analytic skills including the ability to collect, manage, and use data in order to inform and measure instructional improvement and academic outcomes. A results-driven approach to setting goals and celebrating accomplishments.

• The ability to multitask and meet deadlines often within very tight timeframes, demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities, and the ability to communicate proactively.

• An entrepreneurial nature that is combined with commitment to and demonstrated interest in the social sector and an ability to act creatively and nimbly in response to the unexpected.

• The integrity, wisdom, persistence, and humor necessary to address the practicalities of a dynamic nonprofit moving through significant growth and continued national expansion. The respect and team orientation to diplomatically support partners, constituents, and NCTL team members and the ability to support the continued growth and direction of the organization.

• Passion for the mission, vision, and values of NCTL. Experience working in an education reform and/or social change driven, entrepreneurial organization that has scaled nationally is preferred.

APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS

Additional information about NCTL may be found at www.timeandlearning.org. 

Due to the pace of this, candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Applications including a cover letter describing your interest and qualifications, your resume (in Word format), salary history, and where you learned of the position should be sent to: nctl-sa@nonprofitprofessionals.com. In order to expedite the internal sorting and review process, please type your name (Last, First) as the only contents in the subject line of your e-mail.

The National Center on Time & Learning is an equal opportunity employer.
NCTL offers a flexible work environment affording high capacity work with focus on work/life balance.