Join Ames Community School District, where your journey matters! ACSD promotes an educational environment that is racially, ethnically, linguistically, and culturally diverse to broaden students' academic experience and to enrich our District. We are focused on creating and supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the organizational culture and in our community.

The Ames CSD is seeking a Data Strategist for the 2023-2024 school year.

MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Ames Community School District is to ensure that all learners develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes, values, and personal esteem necessary to grow in and shape a changing society.

Summary
Reporting to the Superintendent, the Data Strategist is a year round, on-site position that supports the Ames Community School District’s eight schools. In partnership with District leadership and School Principals, the Data Strategist plays a critical role in building a robust data strategy for the District in order to facilitate strong planning processes around increasing student achievement.

Responsibilities/Essential Functions:

• Builds capacity among School and District leaders to engage in robust cycles of Data Inquiry:
  • Coordinates with and supports District strategies to develop principal and school team capacity in alignment with the Continuous Improvement Process. This includes assisting principals and their teams in conducting root cause analyses, developing theories of action, and building coherent multi-year strategies.
  • Supports CSIP development which engages the District team and schools in a collaborative review of data, goal setting, strategy and/or action development to accomplish goals, and evaluation of the results.
  • Builds capacity around strong cycles of inquiry and the use of data for instructional planning.
  • Provides frequent, timely, and actionable feedback to assist principals and their leadership teams in improving their data strategy to achieve better results.
  • Builds the capacity of school teams to execute strong, data-driven instructional cycles.
• Acts as a process expert and sense maker for data inquiry spanning multiple District Office departments and Ames CSD Initiatives (e.g.; Assessment Data, MTSS protocols, etc)
  • Remains knowledgeable of changes in data-relevant District policies and initiatives such as those pertaining to accountability and assessment.
  • Counsels school teams and leaders on how to interpret data with fidelity to best analytic practice and the content of District policies and initiatives.
  • Builds the capacity of School and District leaders to plan with regard to accountability policies, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (“MTSS”) protocols, and Assessment metric calculation.
• Data access, analytics, and selection:
  • Provides schools and district team access to datasets as needed to support robust engagement with cycles of data inquiry.
  • Provides expertise and consultation on the selection of leading and lagging metric indicators for planning purposes.
  • Supports Directors so that they can assist Principals and school teams in setting goals and selecting appropriate measures to monitor the progress of school-based programs.
  • Provides strategic data analysis to District leadership to improve student outcomes and the effectiveness of schools, programs, and district initiatives.
  • Identifies implications of school and District performance data and make strategic recommendations to District leadership and administration.
  • Serves as the District’s expert and resource in understanding and accessing Ames CSD data systems.
• Performs work related to the coordination of student testing district-wide.
• Creates a sense of belonging and welcoming environment for all students, staff, and families.
• On-site work required.
• Attends work on a consistent and punctual basis.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Business, Education, or related field of study from an accredited college or university is required.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in a role requiring data analysis, relationship management, and consultative skills is required.
• Experience with SAS, SQL, or Microsoft Power BI is preferred.
• Experience working with High School or Elementary Assessments, team structures, and data cycles is preferred.

The successful candidate will exhibit:

• Demonstrated eagerness to learn with a track record of proactively problem-solving challenges
• Intermediate expertise of Excel and/or Google Sheets inclusive of the ability to combine and report on datasets
• Ability to communicate data and methodological details clearly and accurately to non-technical audiences.
• Strong analytic and data management skills.
• Strong data visualization skills.
• Strategic thinker able to generate actionable insights from data and make recommendations to instructional leaders to improve instructional practice.
• A logical approach to researching and analyzing opportunities.
• Experience working with or coaching adult learners and designing and facilitating professional development to classroom teachers and school leaders.
• Knowledge of critical issues in education and school planning
• Excellent report writing, analytical and project management skills, with a good attention to detail.
• Ability to build trusting relationships and function effectively with internal Departments, external partners, Chiefs, and school-based staff.
• Strong communication skills; speaking, listening, and writing.
• A track record of success as demonstrated by superior academic and professional achievement.
• Ability to work with deadlines and provide timely services.
• Ability to work well with a diverse population.
• Consistent and reliable attendance.

Required Upload: Representative sample of a presentation analyzing data related to student performance and proposed strategies for improvement.

Compensation: $70,750 salary

Candidates, please follow the link to apply online: https://www.applitrack.com/amesk12/OnlineApp/JobPostings/View.asp?AppliTrackJobId=1005
All employees of the Ames Community School District must pass a background check. ACSD is an E-Verify employer.

To learn more about the Ames Community School District, visit our websites:

• District Website
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• Instagram
• Amazing Magazine

It is the policy of the Ames Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact Kristin Johnson, Human Resources Director, kristin.johnson@ames.k12.ia.us, District Offices, 2005 24 th St. Ames, IA 50010, (515) 268-6610.