Posted on November 5, 2009

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Executive Director

School2Home is an innovative statewide program to close both the Achievement Gap and the Digital Divide by integrating the use of computing and broadband technologies into teaching and learning at low-performing middle schools throughout California. It addresses the persistent education challenges that disproportionately impact students from low-income socioeconomic backgrounds and students of color in California. It is designed to support school districts, principals, teachers, parents and community leaders who are committed to improving academic performance for all students and ensuring that they have the essential skills to succeed in a digital workplace and economy.

School2Home is based on extensive research and analysis of successful model programs. It has been developed systemically with the input and guidance of the School2Home Leadership Group comprised of employer, education and community leaders, along with an extensive array of experts who serve on the School2Home Design Teams. The School2Home Strategic Business Plan provides the blueprint for launching, implementing and financing a multi-year initiative planned to ultimately reach all students attending the 500+ low-performing middle schools in California. A copy of the complete business plan is available on the following websites: cetfund.org and childrenspartnership.org. School2Home is a joint project of the California Emerging Technology Fund (CETF) and The Children's Partnership.

CETF has committed $1 million to support the launch of School2Home in Los Angeles this fall. Over the next year School2Home will be established as a new 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with continuing leadership from CETF and The Children's Partnership. CETF will serve as the fiscal and administrative agent for the School2Home organization until the non-profit status is obtained. During the fall of 2009, CETF and The Children's Partnership will hire the Executive Director, who will then oversee the hire of the Planning and Operations Director. CETF, The Children's Partnership and the new Executive Director will recruit the School2Home Board of Directors, which will consist of major investors and stakeholders.

School2Home is endorsed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and California Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell. It is a comprehensive program to assist low-performing California middle schools in implementing cost-effective, technology-based strategies to improve student educational outcomes and digital literacy. These strategies center on providing each student with a computing device to use in the classroom and at home with his or her family, and to leverage the power of broadband to deliver educational resources and strengthen school-to-home connections.

The goals of School2Home are to:

• Increase digital literacy and educational performance among targeted middle school students.
• Improve the 21st Century skills of students so they can contribute to a more competitive workforce upon graduation.
• Strengthen the involvement of parents in the education of their child through the use of home-based digital technologies and, in turn, expand the adoption of broadband technology.

To accomplish these goals, School2Home enables schools to equip each student with a computing device for use at school and at home, and works with teachers and parents to ensure these devices are used to transform the classroom and reinforce learning at home. School2Home serves as a resource for school districts and principals. It provides professional development for teachers to help them maximize their use of digital tools for teaching and facilitating learning by students. And, it provides digital literacy training for parents so they can safely guide the online activities of their child and access valuable online resources. School2Home also ensures all families have Internet access at home by offering affordable broadband to underserved families participating in the parental training. School2Home also encourages strong educational relationships by enabling online learning communities, offering teacher and principal learning academies and providing web-based collaboration tools for students, parents and teachers. It also will harness the technology expertise of the students themselves to help their peers, schools and families adopt digital literacy.

School2Home aims to support both the school and home learning environments in a way never undertaken by a school technology program and on a scale never achieved before in California. By capitalizing on economies of scale and model program components, School2Home can be easily replicated and evaluated to provide the kind of evidence-based education transformation that California needs to close the Achievement Gap and the Digital Divide.

School2Home Implementation

The School2Home Executive Director and the Planning and Operations Director will oversee the launch and implementation of the three-year rollout and phase-in to full program operations. They will work under the direction of California Emerging Technology Fund with input from The Children's Partnership until School2Home is incorporated with an operating Board of Directors. The first year is planned to prototype School2Home, working with participating schools in six regions to tailor the program for success. Staff will use the experience and lessons from the prototyping year to refine and expand the program. These regions are Los Angeles, San Diego, San Joaquin Valley, Bay Area, Inland Empire and Sacramento. Beta testing of the key program components (including technology deployment) will be conducted in Los Angeles and in up to two additional regions, depending on the readiness and preferences of school districts. Staff will use the experiences and lessons from the beta testing and the prototyping year to refine the program.

School2Home will work with school districts and the State to seek funds from the U.S. Secretary of Education's Investing in Innovation program to expand into all the identified regions. School2Home also will work with participating schools to help secure funding from other state and federal education technology programs. This will include the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) grant program. The magnitude of this expansion will be determined by the ability to secure government, philanthropic and corporate resources. The scope of rollout and phase-in program ranges from $8.6 million to $43 million depending on funds raised and the number of schools enrolled in the program.

Quality Performance Requirements for All School2Home Employees

Each CETF and School2Home employee is expected to: report to work regularly and on time; work cooperatively with team members and others; treat others fairly, honestly and with respect; and adhere to the highest possible code of ethics. In addition, each employee is expected to:

• Achieve the highest possible standards for performance and quality of work products, including clarity, coherence and consistency in articulating an overall vision and direction.
• Produce highest-possible quality written documents to ensure maximum effectiveness in communications. Essential aspects of quality written documents include, but are not limited to:
  • Compliance with the CETF writing style guidelines and universally recognized rules of grammar, punctuation, and spelling, as well as parallel construction of sentences, paragraphs and documents.
  • Precision and accuracy in presentation of data, statistics and conclusions.
  • Consistency in use of concept descriptions and preferred terminology set forth in base program documents.
  • Consistency and logic in formatting and headings.
  • Accuracy and consistency in details, such as names, abbreviations, dates and numbers.
• Perform efficiently under specified timeframes and with the highest-possible standards for quality work, including managing numerous tasks simultaneously.
• Operate a computer proficiently using Word, PowerPoint and Excel (PC/Windows platform).
• Work collaboratively with other staff members as a team, including providing assistance to others to complete tasks not listed in the specific position description but assigned by the CETF President and CEO.
• Comply with all corporate policies adopted by CETF, including but not limited to: Code of Ethical Conduct; Nondiscrimination Policy; Conflict of Interest Policy; Indemnification Agreement; and Drug-Free Workplace Policy.

School2Home Executive Director

The Executive Director will be responsible for the overall executive leadership, development and management of School2Home. Initially, the Executive Director will work under the direction of the CETF President and CEO with policy oversight from the CETF Board of Directors and input from the Leadership Group and in collaboration with The Children's Partnership. Once incorporated with non-profit status, the Executive Director will work for and implement the decisions of the School2Home Board of Directors. The Executive Director will plan and lead the launch and expansion of School2Home and will oversee and manage all staff and consultants. Once School2Home is incorporated, the Executive Director shall have the authority to sign contractual documents legally obligating the organization, consistent with Board of Directors adopted policies and directives. The Executive Director will serve as the primary representative and spokesperson for School2Home. The specific duties will include but are not limited to the following:

• Develop a detailed work plan(s) to implement the School2Home Strategic Business Plan and to launch the initial prototype year and roll out the phase-in years to full program operation, including plan and metrics for evaluation.
• Establish direct working relationships with school districts and school sites participating in School2Home.
• Work with CETF and The Children's Partnership to secure approval of State and IRS non-profit status during 2010.
• Develop and implement a fundraising plan to secure requisite investments to implement the Strategic Business Plan and build and sustain the organization. Work in cooperation with The Children's Partnership (has primary responsibility for securing investors through March 31, 2010) to complete applications to the federal government and foundations for needed funding to launch, prototype and phase-in School2Home.
• Develop and oversee implementation of the plans for principal and teacher academies.
• Provide strategic guidance to staff to develop all other work plans for program implementation.
• Establish and maintain a strong working relationship with:
  • Public, philanthropic and corporate stakeholders to secure ongoing funding and sustained engagement.
  • Education leaders to obtain input and feedback for continuous program improvement and refinement.
  • Key federal and state officials to ensure public policies align with and support a sustained program.
  • Technology equipment companies and broadband service providers to facilitate affordable connectivity.
  • Other education improvement initiatives and organizations to optimize synergy and impact.
• Oversee the financial management of the organization, including preparing yearly budgets and updates to the Strategic Business Plan for approval by the Board of Directors; oversee and manage all grants and expenditures.
• Establish the operations and human resources systems, policies and practices for the School2Home organization.
• Recruit and hire staff as described in the Strategic Business Plan; manage and oversee personnel administration.
• Lead staff development activities to continuously improve organizational performance and ensure staff continues to achieve the highest level of standards for performance and quality of work products as the organization expands.
• Represent School2Home as needed to public agencies, media, Investment partners, and stakeholders.
• Prepare agendas and briefing materials for the School2Home Leadership Group (in cooperation with The Children's Partnership through March 31, 2010) and the Board of Directors once incorporated.
• Prepare annual reports and facilitate annual audits for CETF, the Board of Directors, investors and the public.

The School2Home Executive Director must be an exceptional organizational leader with the following qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to develop, lead and manage major education improvement and transformation initiatives.
• Focused on deliverables and outcomes with demonstrated ability to achieve a program mission with respect, accountability and results for all students, parents and schools.
• Demonstrated ability to motivate and lead others with an inclusive style of management that values input and optimizes staff, Director and stakeholder engagement.
• Committed with passion to close both the Achievement Gap and Digital Divide for all students and families.
• Knowledgeable and experienced about how instructional technology programs can increase academic performance.
• Experienced with parental training and engagement programs to increase academic performance.
• Recognized and respected for achieving cost-effective results in improving student and school performance.
• Successful track record in leading and managing fundraising efforts and securing investment partners.
• Knowledgeable about state, federal and philanthropic education resources and track record in securing funding.
• Excellent public speaking, verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Exceptional writing skills with the ability to expeditiously move an organization forward with quality work products.
• Willingness to work in offices located in Los Angeles and/or San Francisco.

To apply: Please visit http://www.childrenspartnership.org/jobs.

Job Type: Executive
Organization Type: Nonprofit Organizations