Title:          Director of Inclusion and Community Engagement                                  Classification: Exempt                

Dept:         Inclusion/Engagement                                                                                       School:  Sacred Heart Schools, Chicago

Hired by:   Head of Schools                                                                                                                 Reports to: Head of Schools                               

Founded in Chicago in 1876, Sacred Heart is a Catholic, independent, PK-8 school that warmly welcomes families of all faiths. Our mission is rooted in the 200-year tradition of the Society of the Sacred Heart; it is shared with 24 Network schools in the United States and Canada and more than 150 schools in 41 countries worldwide. Sacred Heart offers students a challenging, flexible and modern curriculum that is supported by a strong system of values. We guide our students toward lives of purpose through an education that harnesses the power of both mind and heart. With an enrollment of approximately 700 students, Sacred Heart is organized into three academic divisions, each led by a Division Head.

The Schools are committed to the idea that differences in ability, learning style, gender, ethnicity, race, religion, socioeconomic background, sexual orientation, and family structure reflect the rich fabric of human experience and offer opportunities for learning and personal growth for the entire community. The Director of Inclusion and Community Engagement (DICE) reports to the Head of Schools and is part of the Leadership Team. This person will educate our community to better understand inclusion issues and live out the Schools’ Statement on Equity and Inclusion.  Working in collaboration with administrators, the DICE will set the strategic vision for how to foster equity and educate inclusively and will establish consistent and comprehensive diversity programming and services.  The DICE will partner with faculty, staff, students, parents, board members and community partners in support of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and to develop and review school policies and programs as they pertain to equity and inclusion.

Responsibilities:

• Provide educational leadership by promoting diversity and inclusion as a critical component of the Schools’ programs, policies, and procedures
• Work with HR and school leadership to develop structures and programs for recruitment, support, and retention of diverse faculty and staff
• Establish and facilitate diversity programming, services and professional development--including SEED seminars--for the entire school community
• Facilitate student, parent, and staff affinity groups to support an equitable learning environment for the entire community
• Support faculty in creating culturally responsive classrooms and teaching for equity
• Assist in evaluating and selecting curricular materials that support all students’ growth and reflection on issues of equity and inclusion
• Collaborate with the Admissions Office to support recruitment efforts of students across diverse ethnic and socio-economic groups
• Collaborate with Leadership Team, Directors, and faculty/staff to support student retention efforts across the Schools with specific focus on issues of equity and inclusion
• Advocate for and assist families in navigating unfamiliar systems, and provide leadership for evaluating and improving systems within the Schools to be more inclusive
• Serve as liaison/facilitator to parent and faculty councils on diversity and inclusion
• Ensure that school surveys are inclusive of the voices of all constituencies
• Assist in making fundraising events and auction offerings more accessible for all families
• Collaborate with the Alderman and other civic leaders to engage with the wider community around issues of justice, inclusion, and outreach, including the Edgewater Kids United (EKU) program which serves middle- and high-school children from the surrounding community
• Attend various school events such as parent meetings, as well as wider Chicago/national independent school events and Sacred Heart Network events involving issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and multicultural education
• Assist the Communications Team in developing an inclusive messaging strategy to share with internal and external audiences

Personal Qualities and Professional Requirements:

Successful candidates are energetic high-performers, committed to the Schools’ mission and Goals and Criteria, and exude joy, initiative, flexibility, dependability and ability to work productively under multiple deadlines. Candidates must also possess:

• Familiarity with and appreciation for independent and/or Catholic education and the ability to effectively communicate those values
• Strong familiarity with current research, data, and strategies currently shaping diversity, equity and inclusion work in schools
• Diversity and inclusion leadership experience and related professional background within a school setting
• Experience as a teacher and teacher-leader with deep knowledge of pedagogy, curriculum and child development
• Knowledge of diversity, equity, and inclusion issues and dynamics in the classroom and in developing healthy, supportive relationships with all students
• Ability to interact sensitively with a diverse group of faculty, staff, students, parents, and community members
• Relationship-building skills that inspire open and productive discourse
• Excellent leadership and program management abilities; interpersonal, organizational, communication and collaboration skills
• Master’s degree preferred, preferably in education or educational administration or a related field