Please Note: This Position only open to internal NYC Public Schools (NYCPS) employees.
Executive Director for the Humanities, CI
Position Summary: The New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) system is the largest in the country, composed of approximately 1 million students and 75,000+ teachers in over 1,600+ schools.
Reporting to the Chief of Curriculum and Instruction, the Executive Director of Humanities is responsible for leading the development, selection, and implementation of high quality curricula, instructional resources, guidance, and programs across the humanities disciplines, including Social Studies, Libraries, Literacy, and Civics for All. This role ensures coherence and alignment of curriculum and instruction through research based practices and professional learning opportunities that connect New York State Learning Standards to content and skills.
The Executive Director supports educators across the system, including superintendents and their teams, principals, and teachers by building capacity, deepening content knowledge, and strengthening pedagogy. A key goal of the Office of Academics and Instruction is to align NYCPS’ curricula, resources, and professional learning to the New York State Learning Standards. In addition, the Office aims to strengthen literacy practices across the humanities so that students experience consistent, high quality reading and writing instruction in service of the goal that all students are proficient readers and writers. The Executive Director works to ensure these resources are integrated and implemented at the district and school levels through coaching and collaboration in service of students and families.
The Executive Director manages multiple content teams and initiatives to support the design, implementation, assessment, and scale up of High Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM), evidence based instructional practices, and Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS) across NYCPS. This role promotes coherence across work streams within Curriculum & Instruction and collaborates broadly within and across divisions, including the Division of Inclusive and Accessible Learning (DIAL) and other NYCPS offices, as well as with the New York State Education Department (NYSED).
The Executive Director develops and promotes cross division scope and sequences that inform professional development plans for superintendents, principals, district staff, and school staff. The Executive Director makes program and policy decisions, develops strategies, and designs systems that create coherence across the work of the division and office. This role aligns the work of Curriculum & Instruction with the Chancellor’s vision and priorities. Performs related work.
Reports to: Chief of Curriculum and Instruction
Direct Reports: Senior Director of AIS, Directors of Literacy K-12, Director, CI, Senior Director, ILF, Middle/High School Literacy Coach, Director of Library Services, Secretary of Library Services, Social Studies and Civics for All Team members, Director of Program Operations Literacy, Social Studies Support Coordinator and Senior Program Analyst, NYC Reads.
Key Relationships: Work closely with Chancellor’s Office, Chief Academic Officer, First Deputy Chancellor, DIAL and other divisions in NYCPS, District Teams, Superintendents, Principals, NYSED, and external organizations and partners.
Responsibilities
Programs and Teams Management
- Direct the Libraries & Literacy team in advancing NYC Reads and other literacy initiatives to ensure equitable access to high quality reading instruction.
- Oversee implementation of research based literacy curricula and professional development for educators.
- Expand access to culturally relevant texts and strengthen collaboration with public libraries and community organizations.
- Promote family and community engagement in literacy development to close achievement gaps.
- Provide strategic leadership for K–12 Social Studies curriculum and instruction, ensuring alignment with state standards and NYCPS priorities.
- Oversee development and implementation of Passport to Social Studies and related resources, emphasizing inquiry based learning and culturally responsive practices.
- Support initiatives like Hidden Voices to amplify historically underrepresented perspectives in classroom instruction.
- Collaborate with educators and district leaders to strengthen disciplinary literacy and historical thinking skills across grade levels.
- Lead the citywide Civics for All initiative to promote civic knowledge, skills, and engagement for all students.
- Guide programs such as Civics Week, SoapboxNYC, Participatory Budgeting, and the Seal of Civic Readiness to foster student voice and democratic participation.
- Ensure curriculum and resources are culturally responsive and integrate real world civic experiences.
- Build partnerships with community organizations and advocacy groups to expand civic learning opportunities.
Collaboration/Communication
- In collaboration with leadership, direct the design, planning, and execution of office wide meetings and professional development opportunities, ensuring coherence across the office.
- In collaboration with leadership, direct the setting of office wide and team goals, overseeing and engaging in the instructional strategy, cohesion, and performance management processes and project planning across the office.
- Design, direct, and implement structures and practices that advance a professional learning culture designed to assist schools in improving student achievement, accelerating student progress, and advancing professional learning.
- Coordinate and lead literacy resource strategy with support and guidance from content experts and Curriculum & Instruction Leadership.
- Develop and coordinate relationships with a variety of external partners to support core content and the arts.
- Design systems for and direct all teams to ensure coherence across the office.
- Lead and direct collaboration with other central NYCPS teams to align instructional and policy efforts to the work of the Academics & Instructions and bring coherence to department wide initiatives.
Program Planning and Analysis
- Design, direct, and manage Literacy and Social Studies and Civics evaluation program to track stakeholder and audience satisfaction and use feedback on program effectiveness to inform program changes/recommendations.
- Offer critical instructional and pedagogical insight to refine goals and the learning trajectories of individual audiences.
- Direct and lead innovative professional learning models, e.g., the collaborative action research process; create a system for sharing and learning system wide.
- Direct the office and division teams in the implementation of newly developed professional learning models, school’s programs, resources, and tools.
- Guide the formative and summative evaluation of school programs and new professional learning models; evaluate their alignment to division and office priorities.
- Develop and direct the strategic plan to increase coherence around the sharing of instructional work via technology platforms.
Policy Oversight and Staff Supervision
- Design and direct translation of research and policy to the work of the office. Guide policy implementation work across the office.
- Oversee the development of key leadership initiatives, act with significant discretion as an advisor to the Chief.
- Liaise with several organizations within NYCPS and affiliated external partners to ensure quality instructional cohesion regarding professional learning programs and instruction; make recommendations to senior leadership for short and long-term program development, integration, and evaluation.
- Collaborate and assist the finance team on budget and operations; set budget priorities and strategy.
Qualification Requirements:
Minimum
Must currently possess or will possess by date of hire, New York State certification as a school district administrator (SDA) or school district leader (SDL); or the Administrator Certificate plus Superintendent extension. Please Note: We do not accept internship certificates.
For more information regarding the DOE’s supervisory certification requirements, as well as a link to the New York State Education Department’s website to apply for certification, please visit our website at https://www.schools.nyc.gov/careers/principals-and-assistant-principals/school-leader-and-supervisory-certification.
Plus
- Deep knowledge of curriculum, curriculum theory, instruction, and evidence based practices.
- Deep knowledge of literacy instruction and its application across content areas.
- Strong foundation in research and evaluation.
- Knowledge regarding collaborative action research and improvement science theories.
- Substantial knowledge of the New York State Learning Standards and experience working from a policy perspective to implement the standards.
- Strong analytical skills and ability to understand, analyze, and address complex educational issues.
- Ability to develop, plan, and implement short and long range goals, establish priorities, organize resources, interpret needs, identify and address risks, and develop integrated, creative solutions.
- Proficient in NYCPS web based programs.
- Highly developed research, writing, and editing skills.
Preferred
- 5-10 years’ experience as a school principal of a large elementary, middle, or high school.
- 3-5 years’ experience as a systems leader, specifically supporting the implementation of instructional leadership.
- Experience in multiple team management of large and diverse teams.
- Exceptional facilitation skills with the ability to troubleshoot, problem solve, and anticipate issues needing resolution.
- Outstanding presentation skills, including strong spoken and written communication skills.
- Experience guiding school professionals to improve achievement.
- Strong attention to detail and extremely well organized with the ability to meet frequent and changing deadlines.
- Strong interpersonal leadership skills and an exceptional ability to manage complex relationships.
- Ability to manage many projects and prioritize well.
- Knowledge of collaborative inquiry theory and process.
- Knowledge of curriculum design and experience leading cross functional projects.
Salary: $152-070 - $194,863
NOTE: The filling of all positions is subject to budget availability and/or grant funding.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
It is the policy of the Department of Education of the City of New York to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to actual or perceived race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity, national origin, alienage, citizenship status, age, marital status, partnership status, disability, sexual orientation, gender (sex), military status, unemployment status, caregiver status, consumer credit history, prior record of arrest or conviction (except as permitted by law), predisposing genetic characteristics, or status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual offenses and stalking, and to maintain an environment free of harassment on any of the above-noted grounds, including sexual harassment or retaliation. For more information, please refer to the DOE Non-Discrimination Policy. |
