Job Description
Position Location: Tallahassee, Florida
Organizational Unit
The Institute for School-Community Partnerships, Integrated Services, and Child Mental Health and Educational Policy (ISCP), which is part of the College of Education, envisions that all schools in the state of Florida and nationally will have the capacity to provide a safe, effective, and efficient environment to continuously improve the academic, social, and emotional growth of all students and to actively engage families and communities in education. The ISCP’s nearly $23 million budget is derived from grants from federal, state, and private sources. It is the mission of the ISCP to implement and evaluate research-based and innovative practices in school and community settings. This is accomplished through (a) training, technical assistance, and support to key partners; (b) community-engaged research and program evaluation to inform key partners’ decision making; (c) the development of research and evidence-based documents, tools, and resources to support implementation and evaluation activities; and (d) supporting the infrastructure and capacity of key partners to implement and evaluate federal and state educational policy.
Position Summary
The Assistant State Director of School Improvement will work directly with the State Executive Director to assist Regional Executive Directors and regional school improvement teams in supporting district and school leadership and staff in Florida's four regions of school improvement; and provide overall assistance, coordination, and direction to senior administration to improve student achievement in the states lowest performing districts. The State Assistant Director of School Improvement must manifest a professional code of ethics and values; provide non-threatening, open, professional, and collaborative work relationship and leadership oversight between the Department, school district(s), and schools categorized in the SI Plan for the purpose of school improvement and implementation of SI for academic accountability. This position is grant funded.
Special Requirements: Regional Position and Travel Required.
Responsibilities
Position Location: Tallahassee, Florida
Responsibilities:
Assists Region Teams in building capacity to critically assess and selectively incorporate evidence-based strategies to support school improvement by supporting the coordination of meetings, regional training, and professional learning for the Bureau of School Improvement and identified state regions. The Lead Director promotes and supports REDs in determining SI compliance for districts and schools. Manifests a professional code of ethics and values. Provides a non-threatening, open, professional, and collaborative work relationship and leadership oversight between the Department, school district(s), and schools under SI for the purpose of school improvement and implementation for academic accountability. Provides technical assistance and coaching to Region Teams, schools, School Advisory Councils, Community Assessment Teams, district offices, and school boards. Provides assistance with organizational change; program and instructional monitoring, and the teaching of Florida State Standards. As directed by the Lead Executive Director.
Works collaboratively with Region Teams in the development, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of plans required by the State board of Education (SBE). Supports instructional reviews and the review of school assessment trend data, School Improvement plan (SIP), and District Improvement Plan (DIP). Assists Region Teams with the analysis of student performance data to drive school improvement strategies. Prepares detailed policy and data analysis, reports, and evaluations on the status of SI for the Commissioner and State Board of Education.
Provides professional learning for Regional teams (comprised of internal, external, and local stakeholders) to help improve their efforts to assist school districts and schools with their systemic reform and accountability efforts. Supports regional Teams with implementation and progress monitoring; supports the development and implementation of protocols and the differentiation of protocols based on region need.
Supporting the implementation of professional learning:
• Oversee the coordination of statewide events, and convenings, and lead professional learning for BSI Team.
• Manage requests from the field and design customized support and professional learning opportunities to meet identified needs.
Maintains timely and accurate information. Assists LED and REDs as accountable officers for the quality of information maintained by the SI Regional Teams. Participates in weekly conference calls and meetings in Tallahassee as needed.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications: This position requires a Bachelor's degree in a field directly related to the program responsibilities and three years of professional experience; or Master's degree and one year of professional experience.
Degree Equivalency Clause: Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree.
• Senate Bill 1310- The Florida Senate (https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1310) is conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S.
• SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements
• A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an alternative to the number of years of direct experience required, not to exceed:
• (a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree;
• (b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree;
• (c) Six years of direct experience for a master’s degree;
• (d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or
• (e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree
• Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure, certification, or registration required for the position of employment as established by the public employer and indicated in the advertised description of the position of employment.
Preferred Qualifications: Master’s Degree (from an accredited institution) in Education, Adult Education or program related field. A minimum of two (2) years of experience in a professional training position in school, district, or state setting and demonstrated success in teaching adults and students and supporting school or district leaders in high-poverty schools. Certification in a specialized content area (Reading, English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and/or educational leadership or administration and supervision.)
Additional Preferred Qualifications:
• Expertise and experience in the turnaround process as it pertains to low-performing schools
• Able to identify strategies and develop systems to improve classroom instruction at the district and school level
• Able to coordinate program activities with other department priorities
• Knowledge of Florida State Standards
• Able to orchestrate change and meet tight timeframes and balance multiple, competing priorities while maintaining goal directed performance
• Able to develop professional learning for Department staff as well as district and school personnel
• Able to organize and develop statewide professional learning and collaborative events
• In-depth knowledge of state and federal laws, rules, policies and procedures related to SI
• Leadership, management, and supervision leading successful School Improvement reform efforts in demographically diverse public school and/or district. Demonstrated success in teaching adults and students in high-poverty school.
Requires: Criminal History Background Check - Level 1
Requires: Criminal History Background Check - Level 2
About Us
Working at USF
With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF‘s rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida’s best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state’s 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.
About USF
The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu .
Compliance and Federal Notices
This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.
Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws:
The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws. This job description does not constitute an employment contract.