Our Vision

All students experience an excellent education that prepares them to contribute to their community, achieve economic security, and pursue their dreams.

Our Mission

We strengthen instructional leadership in schools, school systems, and states to ensure teachers have the support they need to improve learning experiences and learning outcomes for students - with attention to students of color, students experiencing poverty, multilingual learners, and students with disabilities.

Our Core Values

Live Big-Hearted

We care deeply about ourselves, each other, our work, our partners, and the students we serve. We value the differences each other brings to the table because we know diversity of voice, thought, and experience makes us better. We operate joyfully and without ego, collectively focused on the broader good.
Choose Optimism

We believe that, with the right support, every student can succeed. We have the courage to lean into challenges and believe in the possibility of overcoming obstacles while holding a high bar for ourselves, partners, educators, and students. As we advance antiracist actions, our path may not be smooth, but we will walk it anyway because we have faith that the journey will make our team and our education system better.

Advance Antiracism

We create and uphold space for all team members, partners, and students so they are seen, valued, and heard. We lift the voices and experiences of Black, Latinx, Native, and Asian people. We actively look for and confront patterns and systems that cause inequitable harm in order to create more equitable outcomes within our organization and with partners. We embrace diverse expressions of excellence that make our team more inclusive and effective.

Be Honest

We are open, authentic, and truthful with ourselves, teammates, and partners. Our trust in each other and our work gives us the courage to lean into difficult conversations, put forth new ideas, and give and receive feedback through the lens of equity of voice and experience. We understand the intense and gripping nature of our work, so we name our needs to ensure we are practicing self-care and love within our beloved community.

Get Practical

We believe support should be thoughtful by meeting people, schools, and systems where they are. We leverage the voices, strengths and stories of families, educators, partners and teammates to find answers, because we know there isn’t a “one size fits all” solution to the challenges of our education system. We always look for ways to work smart, focus on the most relevant impact, and reduce friction to make it easier to take action while grounding our progress in equity.

Keep Learning

We know and love that we don’t yet have all the answers because we are nerds for learning, even when it’s hard or ambiguous. We actively pursue new knowledge, research, and evidence so that we can leverage the latest insights and best practices in our work, then we put that knowledge to work in partnership with our team, our partners, and the students and communities we serve. We respect the learning that springs from our own anti racist journeys, and vow to activate our knowledge in pursuit of equity and excellence.

How We Work

Instruction Partners is a nonprofit organization dedicated to excellent instruction for all students, with a focus on students in poverty, students with disabilities, students learning English, and students of color. We keep one foot in practicality and the other in evidence-based best practices, because we believe that leveraging high-quality, grade-level content and providing just-in-time supports will accelerate learning for all students.

Instruction Partners spends time getting to know the needs of the educators, leaders, and systems it serves, allowing the team to custom-build service plans to support partner goals. Partnerships include on-the-ground support, and partnership team members serve as thought partners to the school systems they serve, a team educators can reach out to and feel supported by.

Executive Director, State Partnerships

Remote

Full Time

Experienced

This is a full-time remote position from anywhere in the continental 48 United States with national travel expected up to 60%.

Position Description:

At Instruction Partners, we are clear on our focus: strengthening instructional leadership. We know it will require a number of innovative solutions and approaches to help schools strengthen instructional practice and improve student learning and student experience at scale. State education agencies play a crucial role in providing guidance and support to school systems that make it more possible for district and school leaders to focus on the instructional core and improve teaching and learning. We support state education agencies to strengthen the following conditions for school systems and instructional leaders:

State leadership standards, school leader evaluation frameworks, and principal professional learning are all aligned to a clear vision of instructional leadership
States provide training and professional learning for leaders to understand effective content instruction and content pedagogy
States provide clear guidance and support to districts around effective implementation of high-quality curriculum
States provide a clear vision for quality professional learning focused on curriculum implementation
States align intervention systems and/or school improvement supports to reflect the role of high-quality instructional materials and the vision for professional learning

We also build the capacity of state leaders - state content directors, state school improvement coaches, regional center leaders - to provide direct support to districts and schools, modeled on the instructional improvement services that Instruction Partners provides to school and system leaders.

We seek to hire an Executive Director of State Partnerships to lead the design and delivery of services targeted for state leaders, focused on the conditions for instructional leadership and building the capacity of state/regional coaches. This person will lead the development and delivery of new services for state education agencies to strengthen their attention to instructional best practice and build their capacity to support systems and schools. We seek an entrepreneurial and visionary cabinet-level state education leader with a track record of driving significant student learning and a strong background in program design and facilitation of impactful adult learning experiences. Candidates should be passionate about improving instructional effectiveness, excited to work with state leaders and regional service centers to support better instruction, and deeply knowledgeable about the levers that state education agencies can use to support school systems. The Executive Director of State Partnerships will lead our State Partnerships team and will report to the Chief Partnerships Officer. The Executive Director will also be a member of the Instruction Partners Leadership Team.

Responsibilities:

Develop State Partnerships and Deliver Instructional Improvement Services For States and Regional Service Centers:

Develop and manage relationships with potential and current state education agency partners, relevant funders, and key thought partners/connectors for state leaders.
With potential new state partners, rapidly diagnose potential challenges and needs for the state, identify service options to address those challenges/needs, and develop a compelling pitch of services and solutions to state leaders (proposals, presentations, RFP responses.)
Design the structure of the engagement of partners and manage the process to get to final contract and project launch.
Design goals and evaluation methods for each engagement, deliver services and report on success in line with agreed upon aspirations.
Manage the delivery of high-quality service and report out on progress across the project
For targeted projects, facilitate teams of state leaders and model effective facilitation for the State services team.
Collaborate internally to inform the design and ensure that lessons learned are shared with others to inform relevant work
Serve as a compelling external presenter around Instruction Partners’ beliefs, solutions, and partnerships

Manage Design of State Services Frameworks and Services:

Design and refine frameworks and thought leadership materials aligned to our state conditions for instructional leadership, creating tools that help states define, diagnose, and improve these conditions.
Based on market understanding and relationships with senior state leaders, identify new topics/services for focus that are matched to market demand and aligned to our state conditions. Get to know the needs of potential partners and design solutions including but not limited to custom consulting, state leader/coach capacity building, data and analysis, and solution building (i.e. tool and website development.)
In partnership with our core service and pilot services teams, translate existing Instruction Partners service solutions and frameworks for use with state education agencies.
Develop service designs, delivery models, measurement plans, and pricing for new services targeted to state leaders.
Design tools and adult learning experiences that build the capacity of state educational agencies and regional service centers to support school systems in organizing and improving instruction.

Team Leadership

Build and sustain a team through effective hiring, development, and retention of team members. Select and develop team members able to work in a range of consulting and capacity-building projects.
Create a joyful and inclusive team experience for team members, aligned to the Instruction Partners core values.
Provide ongoing learning and development experiences for team members, building their skills in facilitating and supporting state leaders, all in service of our state impact goals.

Required Candidate Experience

12+ years of educational experience; 3+ years in a senior state education agency role overseeing multiple SEA functions or multiple years of non-profit experience consulting directly with senior state education agency leaders
Experience leading improvements in student learning at the school and school system/district levels

Candidate Qualifications and Traits:

Commitment to excellent daily instruction for all students.
Deep knowledge of instructional excellence and instructional leadership. Deep knowledge of the school, system, and state levers to improve instructional leadership, the quality of daily instruction, and student learning.
Ability to develop authentic thought partner relationships with senior state education agency leaders, rapidly understand their needs and challenges, and propose service offerings aligned to their needs.
Track record of effective program/service design and delivery with particular experience and results facilitating adult learning.
Detail orientation, organization, and follow through.
Very strong oral and written communication skills including large group facilitation experience and a high quality bar for written communications and presentation materials.
Experience building positive relationships with diverse team members and stakeholders and working towards solutions in situations involving complexity.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Hiring

At Instruction Partners, we know that difference enhances, transforms and strengthens our ability to serve students and schools. We invite and celebrate diversity of all perspectives, and we are deeply committed to ensuring equitable access and voice throughout our organization. Instruction Partners is proudly an equal opportunity workplace, and we value the inclusion of persons who have experienced poverty and/or for whom English is not their first language, and every race, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, culture, ancestry, religion, national orientation, age, marital status or Veteran status. Join us, and let's work together to support great teaching and accelerate learning for every student.

Compensation:

The salary for this role is $192,000. Detailed information about the organizational compensation philosophy can be found here. Competitive benefits and private retirement investment options are available, as well as a generous vacation policy. See our detailed benefits package here: 2023-2024 Benefits in Brief Overview.

Our Vision

All students experience an excellent education that prepares them to contribute to their community, achieve economic security, and pursue their dreams.

Our Mission

We strengthen instructional leadership in schools, school systems, and states to ensure teachers have the support they need to improve learning experiences and learning outcomes for students - with attention to students of color, students experiencing poverty, multilingual learners, and students with disabilities.

Our Core Values

Live Big-Hearted

We care deeply about ourselves, each other, our work, our partners, and the students we serve. We value the differences each other brings to the table because we know diversity of voice, thought, and experience makes us better. We operate joyfully and without ego, collectively focused on the broader good.

Choose Optimism

We believe that, with the right support, every student can succeed. We have the courage to lean into challenges and believe in the possibility of overcoming obstacles while holding a high bar for ourselves, partners, educators, and students. As we advance antiracist actions, our path may not be smooth, but we will walk it anyway because we have faith that the journey will make our team and our education system better.

Advance Antiracism

We create and uphold space for all team members, partners, and students so they are seen, valued, and heard. We lift the voices and experiences of Black, Latinx, Native, and Asian American and Pacific Islander people. We actively look for and confront patterns and systems that cause inequitable harm in order to create more equitable outcomes within our organization and with partners. We embrace diverse expressions of excellence that make our team more inclusive and effective.

Be Honest

We are open, authentic, and truthful with ourselves, teammates, and partners. Our trust in each other and our work gives us the courage to lean into difficult conversations, put forth new ideas, and give and receive feedback through the lens of equity of voice and experience. We understand the intense and gripping nature of our work, so we name our needs to ensure we are practicing self-care and love within our beloved community.

Get Practical

We believe support should be thoughtful by meeting people, schools, and systems where they are. We leverage the voices, strengths and stories of families, educators, partners and teammates to find answers, because we know there isn’t a “one size fits all” solution to the challenges of our education system. We always look for ways to work smart, focus on the most relevant impact, and reduce friction to make it easier to take action while grounding our progress in equity.

Keep Learning

We know and love that we don’t yet have all the answers because we are nerds for learning, even when it’s hard or ambiguous. We actively pursue new knowledge, research, and evidence so that we can leverage the latest insights and best practices in our work, then we put that knowledge to work in partnership with our team, our partners, and the students and communities we serve. We respect the learning that springs from our own anti racist journeys, and vow to activate our knowledge in pursuit of equity and excellence.

How We Work

Instruction Partners is a nonprofit organization dedicated to excellent instruction for all students, with a focus on students in poverty, students with disabilities, students learning English, and students of color. We keep one foot in practicality and the other in evidence-based best practices, because we believe that leveraging high-quality, grade-level content and providing just-in-time supports will accelerate learning for all students.

Instruction Partners spends time getting to know the needs of the educators, leaders, and systems it serves, allowing the team to custom-build service plans to support partner goals. Partnerships include on-the-ground support, and partnership team members serve as thought partners to the school systems they serve, a team educators can reach out to and feel supported by.

Instruction Partners provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Instruction Partners complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

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Executive Director, State Partnerships

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