Primary Purpose:

Oversee and direct the district’s student support service programs. Responsible for the oversight and management of student attendance, health services, student discipline and placement, parent engagement activities, athletics, fine arts, and after school programming.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education/Certification:

• Bachelor’s Degree (in closely related field) 
• Master’s Degree (in closely related field)
• Texas Principal Certification, Superintendent Certification preferred

Required Experience:

• Minimum five years of campus leadership experience, principal experience preferred
• Minimum three years of district-level leadership experience, executive leadership preferred

Knowledge/Skills:

•  Strong communication, public relations and interpersonal skills
• Ability to build positive relationships and collaborate with diverse groups
•  Strong organizational skills 
• Knowledge of state compulsory school attendance laws.
• Ability to interpret laws, policies, and procedures.
• Knowledge of public school systems and family dynamics.
• Ability to provide supportive guidance and counseling during home visits.
• Demonstrates strong problem-solving skills, resourcefulness, and initiative.
•  Knowledge and familiarity of District areas and community resources.
•  Familiarity with local service agencies and their capabilities.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
•  Bilingual, (Spanish, preferred)
• Ability to operate personal computers and peripherals

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

(The following statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned and should not be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions that may be assigned or skills that may be required)

Professionalism 

The Educators' Code of Ethics is set forth in the Texas Administrative Code to provide rules for standard practices and ethical conduct toward students, professional colleagues, school officials, parents, and members of the community.

•       Rule §247.1 Purpose and Scope; Definitions
•       Rule §247.2 Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educators 

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• Direct the work of the Student Services team to ensure that each area of responsibility is managed and effectively meets the needs of the organization and is responsive to all campus, student, and family needs. 
• Be knowledgeable of developments in state, federal and local laws and public policy affecting education. Responsible for following and ensuring compliance with all appropriate local, state, and federal laws affecting education. 
• Ensure that a continuous improvement cycle exists to achieve district goals and produce desired outcomes related to student and family services, including each area of supervision. 
• Ensure programming and service delivery effectively supports students’ growth academically, socially and emotionally. 
• Determine the fiscal needs of programs and make appropriate budgetary recommendations that support the mission of the district. 
• Develop and support a district-wide vision and mission that strategically supports the whole child. Provide continual assessment and identification of student and family needs throughout the district in order to establish community partnerships and utilize grants to expand services to stakeholders. 
• Work collaboratively with other departments to pair community partners and resources to identified needs. 
• Research regularly current practices and studies in order to adapt existing programs and practices related to improving student outcomes. 
• Develop and oversee necessary memorandums of understanding with service and community partners. Participate in community activities to build relationships between the district and the larger community. 
• Articulate the district’s and school’s mission to the community and solicit community input in achieving district goals Serve as a liaison to parent organizations and other community-based organizations.
• Hear and act on district level complaints that may come to the attention of the Chief of Student Services through established appeal processes. 
• Collaboratively lead district-wide strategies and solutions for addressing student behavior concerns and proved support to campus leaders to follow state and local student discipline policies effectively. 
• Investigate cases of unexcused absences and tardies and enforce provisions of compulsory school attendance law.
• Monitor school attendance and work with campuses on follow-up actions
• Prioritize referrals on a daily basis and ensure that student cases receive case management contacts with appropriate documentation.
• Have knowledge of, support, and comply with all District policies and State laws.

Organization Improvement

The Chief Student Services Officer promotes leadership in efforts to improve the school or organization through activities such as the following:

• Use management practices that promote collegiality, teamwork, and collaborative decision making among staff members
• Provide for effective two-way communication channel with staff, district employees, media, community, and the Board
• Encourage and promote effective incentive and recognition programs for employee performance (e.g., administrators, teachers, classified/auxiliary groups, staff)
• Demonstrate high expectations of students and staff
• Cooperatively develops long and short-range objectives and goals for the support operations of the school district
• Ensure all instructional staff supports positive climate on assigned campuses
• Ensure that personnel and service operations contribute to the attainment of district goals and objectives
• Work cooperatively with others to meet personnel needs essential to the success of school improvement efforts
• Serve as a primary communications interface for the maintenance and transportation departments with the schools, administration, the Board and the community
• Contribute to district-wide school improvement efforts and the attainment of academic excellence indicators as a member of the administrative team
• Keep up-to-date on state, federal, and local safety requirements for students and staff
• Conduct work-site observations to remain familiar with the scope and quality of services provided

Interpersonal Responsibilities

The Chief Student Services Officer promoties interpersonal relationships through activities such as the following: 

• Deal fairly and in a sensitive manner with all people, including those from diverse cultural backgrounds. 
• Employ effective interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrate behavior that is professional, ethical, and responsible

 Communication and Community Relations

The Chief Student Services Officer promotes a positive tone for school or community relations through activities such as the following:

• Articulate the District's mission to the community and solicit its support in realizing the mission.
• Demonstrate awareness of district/community needs and initiate activities to meet those identified needs.
• Project a positive image to the school and the community.

Professional Growth and Development

The Chief Student Services Officer provides leadership in professional growth and development through activities such as the following:

• Provide leadership in addressing challenges facing the profession; pursue professional development activities; disseminate ideas and information to other professionals.
• Observe professional ethical standards of behavior in accordance with the Texas Education Agency code of ethics.
• Provide leadership in the use of information and insights provided through assessment instruments, the district appraisal process, evaluative feedback from line supervisors, and professional development programs to improve performance.

Qualities of an Effective Chief of Schools

The Chief Student Services Officer exhibits qualities such as the following:

• Daily attendance and punctuality at work are essential functions of the job.
• Correct unsafe conditions in work area and report any conditions that are not correctable to the appropriate person immediately.
• Shall comply with District policies, as well as state and federal laws and regulations.
• Shall comply with the standards of conduct set out in Board Policy DH (Legal) and (Local) and with any other policies, regulations, and guidelines that impose duties, requirements, or standards.
• Observe professional and ethical standards in accordance with generally accepted community standards and the Texas Education Agency code of ethics.
• Demonstrate and elicit trust and respect from others, recognizes and respects the knowledge, experience and values of others, and demonstrates and secures the confidence of others.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Superintendent.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Supervise and evaluate the performance of district level personnel assigned to the Department of Human Resources. Assist in the supervision and evaluation of other district personnel as assigned by the Superintendent.

Equipment:

Computer, computer software programs and peripherals, scanner, printer, copier, fax and other equipment applicable to position.

Working Conditions:

Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors

• Maintain emotional control under stress.
• Work with frequent interruptions and maintain emotional control under stress.
•  Repetitive hand motions; prolonged sitting and prolonged use of computer.
• May require prolonged use of computer, moderate standing, stooping, bending, and lifting.

• Occasional district wide and statewide travel.
• Frequent exposure to: temperature extremes (hot and cold), humidity extremes, noise, low or intense illumination vibration. Occasional exposure to: biological hazards (communicable diseases, bacteria, insects, mold, fungi, etc.), work outside, work around moving objects or vehicles, work on uneven surfaces.

The foregoing statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.