Director Of International Baccalaureate And Advanced Placement (IB/AP) (SY21-22)

Reports to: Secondary School Superintendent

Location: BPS Office of Secondary Schools, Bolling Building, 2300 Washington St. Roxbury, MA

OVERVIEW:

Founded in 1647, Boston Public Schools (BPS) is the country’s oldest public school district. With approximately 53,000 students from over 114 different countries, nearly 10,000 employees (including 4,800 teachers), BPS is the largest school district in Massachusetts with a diverse portfolio of schools. With 35 diploma-granting high schools and programs, the BPS Office of Secondary Schools coordinates central support at the district level in Educational Options, Postsecondary Initiatives, Career and Technical Education (CTE), and School Counseling. Among our 15,814 high school students, we have enrolled 3,797 students in AP courses for the school year 2020-21. Currently IB exists in only two of our high schools, Quincy Upper and Snowden International. Our goal is to increase participation in AP and IB across all district Secondary Schools. It is our commitment that every Boston Public School student graduates with a rigorous education that prepares them for college, career, life readiness and places them on a path to success.

OBJECTIVE

The Director of International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP) is a leadership position responsible for the district systemic implementation of IB/AP in order to ensure all students at BPS are ready for the rigors of post-secondary education, career, and life readiness. This position is responsible for the supervision of IB Coordinators in the schools, for providing expertise, marketing activities/campaigns, guidance, training, and support around organizational design, and developing strategies to support all aspects of the IB Programme and Advanced Placement program for all the district high schools in order to increase MCAS achievement in all subject areas and increase graduation rates. In addition, this position will support school leaders, Guidance counselors and AP Program Coordinators at the school level, as well as supervise IB Coordinators in the schools. This position will also engage in partnerships with institutions like Mass Insight, College Board and the IB Organization. Finally, this position will be in great support and alignment of our Pre-AP Initiative.

Specifically, this initiative’s goals are to increase student access to IB and AP courses, ensure student retention in AP and IB courses, and achievement within IB and AP program, develop a pipeline to prepare students for IB and AP coursework rigors in order to close student’s academic and opportunity gaps. The IB/AP Director and the Secondary Schools Superintendent’s team, will oversee critical components of the High School Redesign Core-4 (IB and AP) initiative for BPS seven comprehensive high schools. Currently these high schools have a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students (67.7%) as well as students with disabilities and English Learners.

The person leading this position must have a strong commitment to racial equity and eliminating racial disparities in access and achievement. The Director must be prepared to support school leaders in developing and implementing both programs in our secondary schools and growing the IB program K-12 to include a target focus on increasing participation of Black, Latinx and low socioeconomic students as a result of disproportionate access. In addressing this goal, the Director will be responsible for building a system of change to include Visioning, Skill Development, Incentives, Resources and a well defined Action Plan. This is to ensure that inclusive opportunities are made available to all and that support will be provided as a means of achieving success in content and in assessment.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

General:

District-Wide Coordination & School Support

• 
  Convene key district stakeholders including but not limited to School Administrators, Schools AP/IB Coordinators, Guidance Counselor, Teachers, and Office of Data and Accountability to review that district practices for school IB/AP programs are implemented according to district expectations, and ensure effective alignment with IB-Organization and College Board requirements.
• Supervise district schools IB coordinators in their efforts to foster and implement school based programs and resources, with emphasis on schools in the High School Redesign initiative in order to close the opportunity and achievement gap.
• Partner with schools in achieving the access, persistence and achievement goals for students through developing support partnerships with business, community, and area colleges and universities.
• Partner with the Office of Academics, Office of Family Advancement, Office of Data Accountability to create systems and processes to improve access and opportunities and track outcomes in alignment with the District Strategic Plan commitments and priorities.
• Oversee IB and Pre-AP/AP summer bridge programs while extracting best practices in order to build additional similar opportunities for students.
• Plan and partner with secondary schools in conducting IB and AP information sessions for students, families, school communities, and implement strategies to increase the diversity of students accessing and succeeding in IB and AP courses. Engage students and their families so that more students better understand the benefits, logistics, and supports related to IB/AP course participation.
• Develop and market the IB program to the Boston Public Schools community and other stakeholders.
• Participate in district-level decision making to establish and review policies, goals, objectives, and the development of varied and evolving IB and Pre-AP/AP initiatives.
• Work in collaboration with the BPS Academic Team and Office of Accountability and other Central Office teams to ensure alignment for 7th - 12th course curriculum (as well as K-12th) so that a pipeline is developed that leads to success in the culminating Pre-AP/AP and IB course.
• Focus on how the Pre-AP, AP, Pre-IB, and IB programs adequately prepare students for the rigors of collegiate study so that students are familiar and prepared with the curriculum and instructional practices of higher education.
• Develop a robust model for implementing effective district-wide Pre-AP and Pre-IB programs and support the implementation of Pre-AP and Pre-IB programming in schools.
• Improve the content, sequence, and outcomes of the teaching-learning process by applying recommendations based on national research and district studies.
• Support best classroom instruction practices by collaborating with partnerships, such as IB Org., College Board, businesses, etc. Local, national, and internationally.
• Work with Director of Guidance to determine academic counseling needed for student success in AP and IB
• Maintain a commitment to anti-racist leadership and culturally proficient practices.

Training & Development

• Supervise and Coordinate the IB and AP Institute and implement high-quality professional development workshops to improve instruction in IB, AP, and Pre-AP, Pre-IB courses.
• Convene IB and AP teachers, school administrators, and guidance staff annually to analyze data to identify trends, opportunities for improvement, and other ways to strengthen the IB/AP programs in schools.
• Create and implement consistent training and development for schools and teachers in alignment with IB and AP guidelines as a foundation for Pre-IB and Pre-AP instruction.
• Plan and work with the Office of Family Advancement to host, support, and train parents regarding IB/AP access & partnership to rigorous programming as well as personal and community projects.
• Develop, implement and support professional development for all members of the AP and IB community.
• Integrate the pathways into each secondary school community.

Supervision and Evaluation

• The IB/AP Program Director will evaluate all school based IB Coordinators in collaboration with Heads of Schools/Principals
• This position is designed to work collectively with Guidance Programs that include Dual Enrollment and early College and Career Pathway Programs

DELIVERABLES

• Develop a 5-year IB-AP strategic plan for BPS with emphasis on open enrollment/comprehensive high schools in the High School Redesign in order to increase rigor in all subjects, and increase graduation rates.
• Expand the following strategies across schools:
• IB and AP course opportunities embedded in career pathways
• Virtual IB - AP course opportunities
• Pre-AP and IB vertical alignment
• Produce written reports, with supporting evidence, submitted monthly to the Equity & Strategy division on implementing strategic plan priorities related to IB-AP

Qualifications - Required:

The AP/IB Program Manager must possess a significant aptitude, leadership, and management capability for success in a multi-faceted role to ensure full and optimal implementation.

• Master’s degree in Education
• At least 5 years of experience in project management of IB, AP, or comparable education work
• Evidence of an ability to articulate a commitment to equity-focused work and the role rigorous coursework plays in closing opportunity and achievement gaps.
• The ability to examine programs, policies, and systems through a racial equity lens.
• Experience in leading instructional and curriculum development and implementation to meet students’ needs.
• Direct experience instructing IB and/or AP courses and familiarity with IB/AP programming.
• Strong management capabilities evidenced by successful experience in program planning and implementation, marketing, budgeting, or program evaluation.
• Demonstrated leadership qualities and interpersonal attributes necessary to work effectively with diverse groups of students, families, teachers, administrators, and external partners.
• Understanding of and experience with meeting the needs of students and families of varying socio-economic backgrounds and historically marginalized populations to support post-secondary opportunities.
• Demonstrated skills in the development and implementation of effective professional development modules.
• Familiarity with curriculum alignment between college and high school subject matter
• Demonstrated commitment and leadership in eliminating racial and achievement disparities.
• Ability to examine programs, policies, and systems through a racial equity lens.
• Excellent technological skills to create efficient systems for communications
• Experience analyzing data and using data to drive change
• Strong organizational, oral facilitation & written communication skills.
• Familiarity with the IB Organization and College Board.

Qualifications - Preferred:

• Educational Leadership, Curriculum & Instruction or Secondary School Certification
• Experience as an IB teacher, manager,
• District level or managerial experience

TERMS: Managerial, C52. City of Boston Residency is Required.

The Boston Public Schools, in accordance with its nondiscrimination policies, does not discriminate in its programs, facilities, or employment or educational opportunities on the basis of race, color, age, criminal record (inquiries only), disability, homelessness, sex/gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, genetics or military status, and does not tolerate any form of retaliation, or bias-based intimidation, threat or harassment that demeans individuals’ dignity or interferes with their ability to learn or work.