Job Description

ABOUT OUR DISTRICT:

The Syracuse City School District is undergoing a new phase of innovation and transformation with the goal of ensuring that all students graduate high school with the skills needed to be ready for college and career. For Syracuse, all means all. The School Board and Syracuse community have charged the Superintendent with improving student achievement, and she is seeking a dedicated and diverse team of educators to partner with her in moving the district toward its goals.

The Syracuse City School District represents 35 schools and programs, including 6 high schools, 6 middle schools, 6 K-8 schools, 13 elementary schools, and 4 alternative education programs, serving approximately 19,000 students Pre-K–12. Of these students, 82.3% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, 20.1% are served by the Office of Special Education, and 83% are students of color.

The Supervising Director of English Language Arts will lead the district’s vision, strategy, and innovation to ensure student learning and growth across all schools. This leader will engage with teams, teachers, and leaders to ensure high-quality, standards-aligned ELA instruction and literacy outcomes.

The Supervising Director will develop, oversee, and drive the implementation of strategic plans to enhance the ELA curriculum, provide coherent and system-wide professional development, and utilize data-driven approaches to monitor and improve student performance.

This leader will foster a collaborative and accountable environment that promotes the sharing of best practices, continuous improvement in teaching methodologies, and alignment across schools. The Supervising Director plays a critical role in advancing academic excellence and ensuring equitable literacy outcomes for all students across the district.

WHO WE WANT:

Successful SCSD employees are passionately committed to urban education and all in for Syracuse students. They:

• Believe strongly that all students can learn at high levels.
• Demonstrate commitment to serving urban students, schools, or communities, and to closing the achievement gap.
• Demonstrate willingness to put the interests of students above all others.
• Actively contribute to a culture of high expectations in schools and the district.
• Adapt seamlessly to the complexities of the urban school and district environment.
• Follow current trends in education policy, research, and best practice.

REPORTS TO: Deputy Chief of Curriculum and Instruction and the Chief Academic Officer

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Focus on Learning

• Leads and oversees adult learning related to:
  • Best practices in English Language Arts and Literacy
  • Implementation of curriculum
  • Science of Reading
• Ensures system-wide implementation and coherence of curriculum resources.
• Oversees collaboration with the professional development office to align and deliver high-impact learning experiences.

Focus on Collaboration

• Leads cross-functional collaboration with district leadership and departments to ensure implementation of a guaranteed and viable curriculum.
• Establishes clear systems for communication across schools and departments.
• Chairs and facilitates district-level committees and advisory groups.
• Leads the selection and adoption of high-quality instructional materials and resources to support ELA and literacy learning.

Focus on Results

• Oversees the monitoring of student achievement data in ELA and literacy across the district.
• Establishes systems for using data to inform strategic decisions, resource allocation, and instructional priorities.
• Sets clear expectations for progress monitoring and celebrates system-wide growth.
• Ensures schools are supported as Professional Learning Communities using data to improve outcomes.
• Presents data, progress, and strategic updates to senior leadership and the Board of Education as directed by the CAO.

Leadership & Supervision

• Supervises and supports the Director of English Language Arts and related staff.
• Provides direction, feedback, and evaluation aligned to district priorities.
• Ensures coherence of work across curriculum, instruction, and professional learning.
• Leads the implementation of ELA components of the district strategic plan.
• Represents the district in external partnerships and with the New York State Education Department as needed.
  

POSITION HOURS:

• This is a 12-month administrative position.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• NYS School District Leader Certification
• Master's degree in English Education or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in teaching English, literacy or a related role.
• Proven track record of improving student achievement in ELA and reading.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Experience with curriculum development and implementation.
• Ability to analyze and use data to inform instructional decisions.
  
  

SALARY/SALARY RANGE:

• Per the Unit 2 Contractual Agreement. Starting salary for the 2026-2027 school year is $155,256.