Georgia and North Carolina Professional Learning and Education Specialist

Title: Georgia and North Carolina Professional Learning and Education Specialist 
Position Type: Full-time
Location: Remote - Candidate must reside in either Georgia or North Carolina
Compensation: $78,000-$82,000 per year
Reports to: Director of Professional Learning
Remote Work Environment
 
Position overview 
ICS seeks a motivated, dynamic, and innovative education professional to join our Professional Learning team. The Georgia and North Carolina Professional Learning and Education Specialist brings ICS professional development directly to teachers across both states, leading workshops on the full range of ICS topics. The aim is more teachers who feel knowledgeable and confident teaching Jewish history, and classroom instruction that is accurate and nuanced.

A significant part of this job is building the relationships that make those workshops possible. The Specialist establishes and nurtures partnerships with districts, state and regional education organizations, community organizations, and the people who decide how professional development time is spent. 

The role also calls for real fluency in what's happening across both states when it comes to standards revisions, textbook adoptions, legislative and policy developments, and content development decisions. This person becomes our in-house expert on the Georgia and North Carolina education landscape, sharing what they learn with relevant ICS staff so that the full scope of our work, from professional learning to editorial, is informed by what's actually unfolding on the ground. That expertise makes the Specialist a valued partner to our Editorial and Research and Innovation teams, who depend on this kind of on-the-ground insight.

This position requires regular travel (~25%) and flexibility to work evenings and weekends for PD events.

About the organization 
The Institute for Curriculum Services (ICS) is a national nonprofit organization that enriches K-12 education by ensuring accurate, high-quality classroom materials and teaching about Jews, Judaism, and Jewish history. We do this by editing textbooks and instructional materials, developing standards-supporting lessons, and providing professional development for teachers around the country.

Primary responsibilities 

Outreach and Partnership Development 

• Leverage ICS and personal networks to identify and secure prospective partnerships 
• Maintain the health and growth of existing state-wide relationships
• Convey ICS’s value when talking to different stakeholders 
• Set up professional development opportunities for schools/districts/other education institutions in Georgia and North Carolina

Delivery of Professional Development 

• Maintain a deep knowledge of ICS content and professional development offerings 
• Become an expert ICS workshop presenter, maintaining a high level of professionalism, fluidity, tech capabilities, and engagement 
• Travel to in-person workshops and conferences, staff exhibition booths, and deliver ICS workshops at conferences

State Landscape Expertise and Team Liaison

• Serve as the organization's expert on both the Georgia and North Carolina K-12 educational landscape, especially as it relates to instruction about Jews, Judaism, and Jewish history
• Keep the team apprised of key legislative and policy developments that impact our work
• Identify, interpret, and share insights with relevant departments regarding trends impacting our work or opportunities to consider at the state and district levels

Teamwork 

• Attend and actively participate in regular meetings with the Director of Professional Learning, the Professional Learning team, the Editorial team and ICS all staff meetings
• Manage and contribute to occasional special projects/opportunities as assigned
• Participate in and support the implementation of pilots and new initiatives, and share back data to support iteration and improvement of new approaches to advance our work

Data Tracking and Logistics

• Maintain a list of state-wide conferences and submit tailored proposals to present 
• Promptly input relationship-building efforts and relevant professional development data in ICS CRM

You Are 

• Passionate about ICS’s mission and the importance of accurate, high-quality representation of Jews, Judaism, and Jewish history in educational materials 
• Highly familiar with relevant education policies like the Georgia K-12 Social Studies Standards and the North Carolina Social Studies Standards and Supports
• Adept at identifying trends and understanding the potential implications of legislative and policy developments at the state and district levels
• An exceptional communicator and presenter with the skills to lead engaging professional development workshops and sessions for a variety of audiences
• Skilled at and derive joy from developing and nurturing relationships with district partners, cultural institutions, and other educational organizations
• Capable of constructively navigating conversations in a variety of settings around complex and potentially sensitive historical topics
• Highly organized, strategic, and detail-oriented, with a track record of managing multiple projects and meeting deadlines
• Proactive problem-solver and collaborative team member 
• Highly adaptable, with a growth mindset and a willingness to give and receive feedback. 
• Up for traveling to events and conferences

You have 

• Bachelor’s degree or beyond in history/social studies, education, Jewish studies, English, or related field
• Experience in a K-12 educational setting (preferably as a social studies teacher or education administrator)
• Proficiency in Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive) and Zoom
• Comfort with CRM software or willingness and ability to quickly learn new software tools
• Preferred: In-depth knowledge of current trends, pedagogical best practices, and challenges in K-12 social studies education
• Preferred: Strong understanding of state and national social studies standards (e.g., C3 Framework, state-specific standards) and how to connect content and professional learning with them

We are

• Passionate about the mission and the work that we do 
• A collaborative team that is intellectually curious, warm, and upbeat 
• Dedicated to learning, growing, and excellence
• Proactive problem solvers

Physical Demands
While performing the duties of the job, the employee must sit or stand for an extended period of time, including during travel. Must occasionally lift, carry, or move up to 25 lbs.  

Benefits

• In addition to a collaborative, meaningful, and friendly work environment, we provide a generous compensation and benefits package that includes:
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance
• An employee flexible spending health care and dependent plan
• A 401(k) program with organizational contribution
• Generous paid vacation and health and wellness time
• Paid time off from December 24-January 1st
• Paid time off for federal holidays
• Paid time off for Jewish holy days that fall during the work week, as well as floating holidays for those who observe other holy days
• Professional development budget and time off
• ICS celebrates and appreciates the contributions of all of our team members, encourages professional development, and seeks talented, kind, and caring individuals to be a part of our team.

 *Due to the anticipated volume of responses, we will contact only those candidates who most closely match our requirements. We will not consider applications that do not include a cover letter. If you are applying through a third-party site and are having issues with uploading your cover letter, please apply through our career page on our website instead.
 
ICS is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, national origin or disabilities.