School Advisor

Job Description: School Advisor

Job Title

School Adviser

Job Purpose

The School Advisor has the function of developing and managing the effective delivery of outstanding teaching and learning which enables the highest level of student progress and attainment; providing leadership, assistance, supervision efficiency and effectiveness for curriculum and instruction and pastoral care; leading the professional development of the school community within a nurturing and rigorous environment, and advising/working alongside the school Principal and Senior leadership teams for ongoing development, improvement and efficient and effective running of the school on a day-to-day basis.

School advisers report to the Deputy Director General (DDG)

Job Objectives

1. To develop and implement strategies to raise achievement, attainment, progress, behavior and curricular adaptation standards at Riyadh Schools.
2. To act as a School and Educational Improvement Adviser for a specific school.
3. To provide continuing professional development training to Principals, Vice Principals, Heads of Department and teachers on an ongoing basis.
4. To undertake other ad hoc duties as required and in agreement with the DDG.

Person Specification

Knowledge & Skills

Essential:

1. Demonstrable knowledge of Cognia and other inspection/accreditation regimes.
2. Broad understanding of the education sector and school improvement in particular.
3. Knowledge of Quality Management Systems.
4. Demonstrable knowledge in current best practices in International Education.
5. External measures such as MAP, WIDA, AP & data-driven decision making.
6. Senior Educational leadership.

Desirable:

1. Qualified Teacher Status / Teacher Certification.
2. US Common Core leadership.

Experience

Essential:

1. Integrating required MOE subjects into the US Common Core framework.
2. School improvement.
3. Accreditation/Inspection.
4. Successful school leadership in a school with the same grade levels as those to be advised in.
5. Data-driven instruction and decision making.

Desirable:

1. Experience as a Principal/School Improvement Adviser/Consultant.
2. Experience working in a school with a large percentage of host country nationals.

Key Competencies for the role

Our Values

1. Be aware of and support difference and ensure equal opportunities for all.
2. Contribute to the overall ethos/work/aims of Riyadh Schools.
3. Develop constructive relationships and communicate with other agencies/professionals where appropriate to the role.
4. Share expertise and skills with others.
5. Participate in training and other learning activities and performance development as required.
6. Recognize own strengths and areas of expertise and use these to advise and support others.
7. Demonstrate and promote commitment to equal opportunities and to the elimination of behavior and practices that could be discriminatory.
8. Within a responsibility of a duty of care, comply with all policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.
9. Maintain professional communication, behavior and deportment at all times.

Key Competency 1 - Leadership and management

1. Foster a shared vision and culture of accountability and innovation within the schools.
2. Develop strong partnerships, build relationships, and ensure regular communication with schoolwide leaders, management, staff, teachers, and other learning personnel.
3. Inspire, challenge, align, and develop the instructional leadership teams by providing high quality instructional leadership, best practice, coaching, and mentorship.
4. Maintain a positive, collaborative working relationship with the school leadership, their respective teams, teachers, students, parents, and school staff, and greater community.
5. Advise and lead senior staff members responsible for specific instructional functions, setting performance standards and objectives, providing training and professional development opportunities, and evaluating performance.
6. Attend all School Development Team meetings for schoolwide decision making.
7. Direct the accreditation process to ensure compliance with Cognia and other regulations.
8. In collaboration with the other members of the administrative and supervisory staff, conduct classroom visitations to assess program implementation, instructional effectiveness, and student participation and performance.
9. Evaluate student progress data and program effectiveness.
10. Supervise student achievement programs; work with principals in analyzing results and provide action to address needs; provide student achievement profiles and data; facilitate the ongoing reporting to parents on the educational progress of children.
11. Demonstrate and develop high academic and behavioral expectations, collaborative planning and program development, responsive management, and personal accountability within the assigned department(s) and schools.
12. Monitor, evaluate and improve the quality of curriculum, teaching, learning and assessment.
13. Report regularly and provide Trimester Status Reports on key projects.
14. Provide leadership, support, and assistance to schools and school staff relative to assessment, curriculum, instructional methodology, and the integration of technology.
15. Plan, present, and interpret the instructional program to various stakeholders in the community as needed.
16. Direct the development and attainment of goals for the school’s instructional program.
17. Disseminate and interpret policies, regulations, procedures, and other important information to staff within the assigned department(s) and schools.
18. Recognize student and staff activities, achievements, and accomplishments.
19. Oversee compliance with national and international program regulations in curriculum, instruction, and learning programs.
20. Recommend additions or revisions in policy, regulations, and procedures to the DDG for review or Board of Education adoption.

Key Competency 2: Raising achievement

1. Ensure a coherent approach to literacy development for all students, including those below and above grade level, so that intervention is effective in raising achievement for all.
2. Provide leadership and direction in monitoring and reviewing testing data and using findings to initiate corrective action for the affected group of students or schools.
3. Oversee the development, implementation, and monitoring of long-range instructional goals to improve instructional outcomes.
4. Organize and evaluate testing data and other assessment activities to evaluate student progress and program effectiveness.
5. Analyze and evaluate the reporting of student performance, including, but not limited to: progress reports, report cards, standardized test results, awards, and other accomplishments to parents, the school community, and the general public.

Key Competency 3: Raising achievement

1. Ensure support is provided to guide school leaders in the development of school curriculum.
2. Conduct curriculum reviews, and implement strategic improvements.

Key Competency 4: Professional development & training

1. Develop and oversee professional development programs to continuously improve teacher and leader effectiveness.
2. Assist in the development and coordination of professional development programs for all instructional staff.
3. Develop and implement a professional development plan to provide appropriate orientation, preservice training, in-service training, and other professional growth opportunities for staff.