Job Description

ABOUT US

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is one of the leading school systems in Maryland and the nation. To learn more about us and our 2024 -2029 Strategic Plan, please visit our website and our careers page Join our award-winning workforce and make a difference in the lives of our students!

ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS

Before you begin, please read the job posting below carefully including the Application Requirements specific to this position. Be sure your application reflects experience and education required to meet the minimum and any preferred qualifications listed. Our application guide includes detailed instructions to assist you. Once your application has been submitted, you will not be able to add documentation or make any changes.

Please note that application submission will be available only through 11:59 PM on the date prior to the indicated end date. If no end date is indicated, the posting will remain open indefinitely

Job Posting End Date:

Reminder: Current permanent and temporary employees must apply through the Jobs Hub in Workday, not the external career site.

This position will be posted until filled. Initial review of applications will begin on June 1, 2026. First consideration will be given to applications submitted by May 31, 2026. Applications submitted after this date may be considered based on the needs of the school system.

Under the direction of the Superintendent, the Chief Equity and Innovation Officer will oversee the design, coordination, and implementation of programs, policies, and practices aimed at addressing disparities in academic outcomes among student groups. This work will focus on mitigating the effects of historically inequitable resource allocation and advancing equitable outcomes across race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, service designation, and other factors. The Chief will establish and monitor systemwide metrics, using data to assess progress, ensure accountability, and inform continuous improvement. The Chief Equity and Innovation Officer serves as a Cabinet-level leader responsible for advancing districtwide systems transformation to eliminate opportunity gaps and embed equity across all academic, operational, and organizational systems. 

The Chief will oversee the development and implementation of programs, professional development, and technical assistance aligned to the HCPSS Equity Framework toupliftbelonging,instructional excellence,opportunity and access, andinspired and engaged learners This role will strengthen the system’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging by building staff capacity, fostering internal and external partnerships, and supporting affinity groups to promote belonging and success for all students. The Chief will also lead the review of policies, procedures, and practices to ensure alignment with equity goalsoutlined in Policy 1080, Educational Equity,and remove systemic barriers. Additionally, the Chief will advance student voice by engaging students in system-level decision-making and ensure professional learning supports staff in leading and acting in alignment with these priorities. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants must meet allqualifications belowto be considered for the vacancy

Education:

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university with an emphasis on education,policy, psychology, sociology, educational advocacy,educational leadership, public administration, organizational development, or a related field. 

Certification/Licensure: 

• Hold a current Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) professional certificate or license in an MSDE licensure areaat the time of application with any of the additional endorsements below:  

• Administrator I or II 

• Supervisors of Instruction, Assistant Principals, and Principals 

Applicants who do not already possess the required licensure above may be considered if you are eligible through one of the pathways below:  

• Hold a current MSDE professional certificate or license and complete all MSDE requirements for the Supervisors of Instruction, Assistant Principals, and Principals endorsement by the position effective date.  

• Have completed a Maryland Approved Program which leads to licensure as a supervisor of instruction, assistant principal or principal by the position effective date. 

• Have completed an approved out-of-state program which leads to licensure as a supervisor of instruction, assistant principal, or principal and includes a supervised clinical practicum AND earn passing score on the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (Praxis 6990) bythe positioneffective date. 

• Hold a valid professional state license in administration from another state or country and have verification of five years of effective performance as an administrator in a PreK-12 school setting.  

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years of experience as a central office administrator in a PreK-12 public education setting OR executive level equity-focused leadership in an organization, three (3) years of which should include:  

• Supervising professional staff 

• Planning and implementing systemwide/organization-wide equity-focused practices 

• Leading organizational transformation and change initiatives 

• Building and sustaining community partnerships 

• Ensuring compliance with federal and state requirements (e.g., Title IX, Section 504, ADA) 

• Communicating and collaborating with the Board of Education/Directors, system/organization leadership, staff, and/or school communities

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate for this role will also possess a combination of the additional qualifications below. If you don’t meet every one of the preferred qualifications, we still encourage you to apply, as we welcome applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

• Doctoral degree in education, educational leadership, organizational leadership, or a related field. 

• Experience in an executive leadership role in a PreK-12 public school system or organization.  

• Experience conceptualizing, initiating, monitoring, and evaluating new and/or current programs.  

• Experience designing research-based staff development, implementing high-quality training, and assessing the levels of effectiveness of staff development. 

• Experience using data to establish metrics, monitor progress, and drive accountability through reporting and continuous improvement. 

ESSENTIAL POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Thebelow listis a summary of the functions of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and duties.

Strategic and Systemwide Leadership 

• Leads the development, monitoring, and continuous refinement of systemwide goals, priorities, and strategies to ensure the equitable allocation of resources and reduce longstanding disparities across student groups. 

• Collaborates with systemwide leaders to design and implement accountability measures through metrics and dashboards to track the impact of equity initiatives on student outcomes and stakeholder perceptions of climate and belonging. Reports on progress and outcomes. 

• In collaboration with the Chief Academic Officer, leads the alignment of curriculum, instruction, and assessment systems with equity goals to eliminate opportunity and achievement gaps. 

• Works with the Division of General Counsel to ensure enforcement of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related civil rights law. 

• Ensures the implementation of Board Policy 1080 Educational Equity,the HCPSS Equity FrameworkandMaryland’s House Bill 197—Implementation of Restorative Justice in Schools 

Professional Learning  

• Provides strategic oversight of Leadership, Organizational, and Culture Development to ensure professional learning aligns with the HCPSS Equity Framework 

• Guidesthe design and implementation of professional learning that builds staff capacity to address disparities and foster inclusive, welcoming environments 

• Ensures alignment of school-based and central office staff to systemwide equity priorities 

• Supports leadership development for school-based and central office leaders, with asystemicfocus on equity,staff engagement, and unconscious bias training. 

• Monitors impact and uses data to refine professional learning and leadership development efforts

Community and Stakeholder Engagement 

• Provides strategic oversight of the Offices of Community, Family, and Student Engagement to align efforts with equity and student support priorities 

• Establishes systems to ensure student, family, and community voice directly informs district decision-making, policy development, and strategic planning. 

• Builds and sustains partnerships with community organizations to expand access to resources and wraparound supports 

• Ensures equitable access to services that address academic, social, emotional, andwell beingneeds 

• Strengthens family engagement through inclusive, culturally responsive communication and opportunities 

• Elevates stakeholder voice to inform decision-making 

• Overseesthe religious observancescalendar and recognition of key cultural observances 

• Uses data and feedback to continuously improve engagement efforts 

Culture, Climate and Belonging   

• Leads the design and implementation of student voice initiatives, including strengthening student government and creating opportunities for students to engage in school and system-level decision-making 

• Promotes a culture of belonging through the development and implementation of anti-bias education and inclusive practices across schools 

• Oversees processes to ensure incidents of hate and bias arereported,documented, investigated, and addressed in a timely, consistent, and appropriate manner 

• Supports and strengthens student and staff affinity groups to foster connection, identity, and a sense of belonging 

• Utilizes climate survey data to assess student and staff experiences, identify trends, and inform strategies to improve school climate and belonging 

• Partners with school leaders to embed student voice, belonging, and inclusive practices into daily school operations and culture

Access, Achievement & Student Support Programs 

• Provides strategic leadership of the Office of Student Access and Achievement to align programs with systemwide equity priorities and student outcomes 

• Oversees the implementation of targeted supports, including the Black Student Achievement Program, Hispanic Achievement Program, and Multilingual Student and Family Services 

• Ensuresprograms address opportunity and achievement gaps and expand access to resources for underserved student groups 

• Uses data to monitor impact and drive continuous improvement 

• Strengthens family and community engagement by ensuring services are accessible, responsive, and aligned to the needs of diverse communities 

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

The below list is a summary of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for success in this position, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list.

• Demonstrated knowledge of equity frameworks, culturally responsive practices,restorative practices,and inclusive organizational strategies 

• Knowledge of K–12 public education systems, including instruction, student services, and school operations 

• Strong understanding of data analysis and continuous improvement practices to identify and address disparities 

• Knowledge of applicable federal and state laws and regulations (e.g., Title IX, Section 504, ADA) 

• Skill in providing strategic leadership and aligning initiatives to systemwide priorities 

• Skill in analyzing and interpreting data to inform decision-making and measure impact 

• Skill in designing and facilitating professional learning and engaging diverse stakeholders 

• Strong communication and collaboration skills across departments, schools, and community partners 

• Ability to lead systemwide change and influence across functions without direct authority 

• Ability to translate equity priorities into actionable strategies and measurable outcomes 

• Ability to navigate complex and sensitive issues with professionalism and cultural responsiveness 

• Ability to manage multiple priorities, build trust and credibility, and ensure effective implementation of initiatives

ADDITIONALREQUIREMENTS 

Working Hours

• This position is classified as “essential” and requires the ability to be on call and respond to calls 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.  Individuals in this position are issued an HCPSS mobile phone for thesepurposes.  Accepting this position would require that you meet these requirements during your tenure with HCPSS.

• This position will be in the Superintendent’s Cabinet andis considered to bean at-will position.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Complete applications must be submitted, and once your application has been submitted, you will not be able to add documentation or make any changes. Incomplete applications will not beconsidered. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.

SupplementalApplication Questions

This position requiresapplicants to provide responses to the below supplemental application questionsto determinewhether you meet the minimum and preferred qualificationsPlease upload your responses in a separate file to thesupplemental application questionssection of the application.

1. Describe your experienceas a central office administrator in a PreK-12 public education setting OR executive level equity-focused leadership in an organization In your response, include yourspecificexperience with the following:Supervising professional staff, planning and implementing systemwide/organization-wide equity-focused practices, leading organizational transformation and change initiatives, building and sustaining community partnerships, ensuring compliance with federal and state requirements (e.g., Title IX, Section 504, ADA), and communicating and collaborating with the Board of Education/Directors, system/organization leadership, staff, and/or school communities

2. Describe your experience in an executive leadership role in a PreK-12 public school system or organization.

3. Describe a specific example of a new or current program that was implemented under your leadership. Please identify your specific role in conceptualizing, initiating, monitoring, and evaluating this program and the position in which you gained this experience.

4. Describe a specific example of research-based staff development that was implemented under your leadership. Please identify your specific rolein the implementation of high-quality training, and assessment of the effectiveness of staff development.

5. Describe a specific example of your leadership in using data to establish metrics, monitor progress, and drive accountability through reporting and continuous improvement. Please identify the position(s) in which you gained this experience.

SELECTIONCRITERIA

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be included in further evaluation.Interviews will be limited to those applicants who, in addition to meeting the basic requirements, have experience and education which most closely match the position qualifications and the needs of the school system.

EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION

This is a 12-month per year position in the Executive employee unit. The salaryrangefor this position is$206,000-$225,000 Actual salary placement will be in accordance with the salary procedures of the Howard County Public School System which considers relevant prior experience. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, this position is exemptfrom overtime.  

Retirement

Membership in the Maryland State Retirement Agency (MSRA) pension plan is a mandatory condition of employment for all employees who meet the eligibility and membership criteria defined in the State Personnel and Pensions Article and the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR). A qualifying employee cannot reject membership, nor can an ineligible employee elect membership.The annualcontribution to the pension plan will be 7% of an employee’s annual salary

Benefits

HCPSS offers a comprehensive benefits packagefor eligible employees.Information about additional benefits such as paid time off can be found in the negotiated agreementfor employees in this bargaining unit.

Pre-EmploymentRequirements

Professional references will be contacted prior to any offerofemployment. Recommended candidates will be required toprovide references from current and recent supervisors.

All employees, regular and temporary, must be fingerprinted, have a criminal background investigation completed, and successfully complete the Maryland Employment History Review, pursuant to Section 6-113.2 of the Education Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.In addition, some positions will requirecompletion of a physical examination and/or drug testing

Anyone offered employment is required to provide proper identification and documentation of eligibility for employment in the United States. HCPSSparticipates in E-Verify anddoes not offer employee sponsorship.

For questions regarding this posting, please contactJulia Bialeski, Coordinator, Recruitment & Hiring atJulia_bialeski@hcpss.org

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

To request an accommodation during the application or interview process due to a documented disability, please email humanresources@hcpss.org

HCPSS celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any kind. HCPSS is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees in providing them with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at HCPSS are based on organizational needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, veteran status or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.