Great Prairie Area Education Agency has an opening for a

Director of District Services

Position Overview: To lead, budget, plan, coordinate, supervise, and evaluate the educational service area staff and activities which assist local educational agencies to develop, modify, continue, or enhance ongoing educational programs and services of GPAEA and the local school districts serviced by the AEA.

Contract Length: 241-day (full time) contract beginning on July 1 2023.

Salary: Determined by education and experience.

Location: GPAEA Offices of Albia, Ottumwa, or Burlington. Must be willing to travel to agency meetings and support districts as directed by the Chief Administrator.

Hiring Timeline: Applications accepted through TeachIowa through March 1, 2023.
Virtual Zoom Screening with selected applicants: March 6, 2023.
Finalist interviews at GPAEA Offices in Ottumwa, IA: March 9, 2023.

Position will serve All Districts in All Regions.

Region 1: Albia, Centerville, Chariton, Moravia, Seymour, Wayne.

Region 2: Eddyville Blakesburg Fremont, Keota, North Mahaska, Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa Christian, Pekin, Sigourney, Tri-County.

Region 3: Cardinal, Davis County, Moulton-Udell, Ottumwa, Ottumwa Christian and Seton Catholic.

Region 4: Fairfield, Maharishi, Mediapolis, Morning Sun, Mt. Pleasant, WACO, Wapello and Winfield-Mt. Union.

Region 5: Burlington, Burlington Notre-Dame, Danville, New London, and West Burlington.

Region 6: Central Lee, Fort Madison, Holy Trinity Catholic, Keokuk, Keokuk Catholic, and Van Buren County.

Qualifications:

• Meets Iowa Standards of Licensure for Professional Administrator and Evaluator Approval.
• Master’s degree required; Specialist or Doctorate in Educational Leadership or equivalent preferred
• Demonstrated success in providing educational leadership at the local, state or national level with experience in both general and special education

Essential Job Functions:

• Work collaboratively with the Chief Administrator and executive team.
• Serve as the agency’s representative to the state Education Services group.
• Work with agency directors on the development and support of ESSA.
• Work with the agency executive team in the development of district service areas ensuring alignment to district needs and agency goals.
• Coordination of agency networks such as Curriculum network, counseling network, etc.
• Work with the agency Leadership Team to implement the agency action plan and ESSA supports across the grade-level continuum and content areas.
• Work with regional directors to support improvement efforts in general education and special education.
• Support the delivery of district services through a deep knowledge of the needs of public and accredited nonpublic schools within Great Prairie AEA.

General Functions:

• Provide oversight and assistance with matters related to federal/state accountability.
• Maintain a budget, including appropriate alignment of resources to high priority work.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Must be familiar with content standards, including content trends and evidence-based instructional practices.
• Ability to work collaboratively and cooperatively with other agency leaders, other area education agencies, the Iowa Department of Education, and other partners as needed.
• Must possess excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to demonstrate team building, problem solving and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to demonstrate an attitude of service and a commitment to shared leadership and decision-making.
• Ability to demonstrate a commitment to ongoing development of professional knowledge and skills.
• Ability to demonstrate experience in professional development and leadership of staff.
• Ability to ensure cultural competency and sensitivity to diversity is developed, demonstrated, and supported.
• Accuracy, confidentiality, dependability, attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and a positive, collaborative attitude are required.
• Strong orientation towards customer service, quality, and a high performance workplace.

Professional Experience:

• Experience in leading change to improve instruction, leading to improved outcomes for children.
• Experience coaching at the leadership level.
• Five or more years of administrative experience in a school district or AEA, including experience as a building level, or central office leader and/or AEA regional administrator.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to travel between schools/sites served and outside of service area.
• Normal, routine levels of bending, carrying, climbing, reaching, sitting, standing, and walking.

Working Conditions:

Work is primarily performed in an office and school setting. Occasionally exposed to dust, noise, odors, and other irritants. Stress associated with work pace and pressure. Work involves irregular hours and days. Exposed to hazards and inclement weather when traveling.

Specific questions may be directed to Nathan Wood; nathan.wood@gpaea.org or 800-622-0027 EXT 5512