Director, Compliance & Training

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 325,000 students in 500+ schools and employing over 45,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. Aligned with our transformed philosophy, we are steadfastly focused on ensuring that the District provides resources equitably to support every student, every school, and every community. Six core values guide the work we do every day for our students – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning. Each role in the district supports our vision that every student deserves a rigorous, joyful, and equitable learning experience.

The mission of the Office of Student Protections and Title IX (OSP) and the Equal Opportunity Compliance Office (EOCO) is to promote a District that is free from abuse, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. We engage collaboratively with our stakeholders to remove barriers to academic programs and activities to provide an equitable, inclusive, and safe learning and work environment. By working together to safeguard civil rights, we positively impact school communities affected by harm.

To fulfill this mission the Office of Student Protections (OSP) and Title IX’s / Equal Opportunity Compliance Office (OSP/EOCO) responds to, investigates, resolves, and transforms cases related to interpersonal harm toward individuals with an actual or perceived membership of protected categories under federal law and the district’s nondiscrimination policy as well as other forms of harm impacting students.

Job Summary:

Reporting directly to the Deputy Chief Title IX Officer, the Director of Compliance and Training is responsible for the development, implementation, and monitoring of effective compliance, training and prevention programs that comply with and support Title IX and other related federal and state laws. The Director must uphold CPS’ commitment to protecting educational access, advancing gender equity, and preventing and responding to sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, and gender discrimination via providing preventative and ongoing training for all CPS staff. The Director will manage a team of direct reports who will work towards the departmental goal of creating a more equitable and safe environment for all staff and students through training and prevention efforts.

The Director of Compliance and Training will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Work with District Leadership to Implement District-Wide Civil Rights Compliance
• Work with leadership to implement a district-wide, comprehensive short-term and long-range strategic plan for Title VI, Title VII, and Title IX compliance and related initiatives
• Partner with district departments and external partners in the design, delivery, and management of compliance plans and programs
• Coordinate reports and take necessary steps to ensure that compliance plans are implemented and goals are achieved
• Coordinate reports to ensure that information relating to policies, prevention, processes, education, and services is readily available to the CPS community via the web and other appropriate means
• Lead Training Compliance Initiatives related to Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, and other related federal and state laws and regulations, and applicable district policies
• Work with leadership to ensure district-wide training programs comply with Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, other related federal and state laws and regulations, and applicable district policies
• Track completion for all staff and vendor in-person/online training related to Title VI, Title VII, Title IX and applicable district policies
• Develop metrics to analyze the effectiveness of programs, communications & engagement campaigns, and training
• Collaborate with senior CPS leaders, the Communications Office and other partners to develop content and materials to implement district-wide awareness campaigns
• Track and ensure compliance with district-wide awareness campaigns
• Track preventative education and training programs designed to increase awareness of Erin’s Law, sexual abuse, and sexual misconduct for students and staff
• Lead Title IX Athletic and Equity Compliance Programming
• Develop, implement, and document the assessment of athletic compliance program operations by monitoring the athletic program activities
• Develop, implement, and document a process to ensure that each school building that offers an athletic program administers a student athletic interest survey at least once every three years using the district’s survey instrument. Disaggregate and analyze all survey results by sex and by school building to identify the top sports requested and the top reasons for non-participation, and to consider if the district should offer additional athletic opportunities for male or female students in order to comply with Title IX requirements
• Annually collect and analyze data to determine whether each school within the district is providing equal opportunities for all students to participate in athletics under Title IX’s “three part test.” If the data suggests that any school’s athletic program does not meet this test, develop and implement a plan to bring the building into compliance
• Oversee the assessment of equity compliance by monitoring programs, activities, and services to ensure that all students are given an equal opportunity to participate without discrimination based on sex
• Lead District-wide Prevention Training
• Lead the creation and implementation of student facing training programs for developmentally appropriate grade-banded training constituting relationship education through the identification and practice skills for consent, belonging, and accountability across sex and gender based discrimination, harassment, and bias-based harm
• Lead the development of the ongoing plan and procedures for identifying and providing additional training and prevention supports for high incident and at-risk schools and central office departments
• Oversee the youth and school leadership and prevention program portfolio including but not limited to: Civil Rights Scholars Program and Civil Rights in Action
• Support the OSP/EOCO long-term strategic vision and compliance efforts through implementation of a portfolio of annual staff facing district-wide effective training programs related to identifying and responding to sex and gender based violence, grooming, and bias-based behaviors including but not limited to: Protecting Chicago’s Children, Transforming Bias-based Harm, and Bystander Intervention
• Execute required trainings including but not limited to annual districtwide trainings from the Department of Children and Family Services, Illinois Department of Human Rights and the City of Chicago and internal mandatory training as required by local, state and federal law or regulation
• Collaborate with Principals and Network Chiefs to drive training learning success and prevention programming reach
• Design and implement OSP/EOCO Corrective Action Training Program, which delivers individualized training for employees involved in cases from Law, OIG, and OSP/EOCO
• Provide technical assistance and guidance for school administrators in tackling climate and culture issues related to consent, accountability, and bias-based behaviors developing positive school climates and cultures
• Develop innovative training and prevention initiatives to meet specialized requests related to needs identified by the Chief Title IX Officer, CEO, and the Chicago Board of Education
• Serving on cross-functional committees across CPS departments (including but not limited to OSEL, OSHW, and Equity) for strategic initiatives and partnerships related to developing positive school climates and cultures
• Develop and Implement Climate Surveys
• Develop and implement climate surveys to determine the community perceptions and knowledge of school climate and attitudes among students, staff, and/or administrators about the school atmosphere regarding sexual misconduct and other civil rights
• Assess survey results and provide senior leadership with an analysis of the data and assist with the development of action plans to address trends
• Other duties and workstreams as assigned

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Director of Training and Compliance must possess the following qualifications: 

Education Required:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, required
• Advanced degree in a relevant area, preferred

Experience Required:

• Minimum of seven (7) years of related professional experience in Title IX. EEO, and/or supporting organization-wide training programs
• Minimum of five (5) years of leadership experience in a supervisory role
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience working on behalf of youth with a focus on diversity and inclusion, youth development, program management, and other related fields supporting youth programming
• Experience in K-12 education is strongly preferred
• Experience in Title IX and/or EEO, or a closely related field is preferred

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities:

• Demonstrated knowledge of current state and federal laws and regulations related to Title IX compliance, and other applicable laws and regulations for educational institutions
• Strong problem solving skills
• Demonstrates intercultural competence and proven effectiveness in working with people from diverse backgrounds including students, staff, families and community partners
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to deal with highly confidential and sensitive information
• Skilled in designing, developing and implementing successful training programs, plans, and services related to Title IX compliance
• Ability to quickly adjust to shifting priorities and deadlines; can juggle multiple and varied projects simultaneously
• Strong presentation and facilitation skills with emphasis on education and training for a wide audience
• Proven record of building and leading complex programs, projects and change management initiatives
• A high degree of initiative in approaching responsibilities and implementing institutional plans and goals
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusivity; ability to build relationships, establish collaborative partnerships, and work with a wide range of constituencies with diplomacy and tact; demonstrated ability to lead groups to consensus
• Strong computer skills and proficiencies with a variety of applications including online reporting system and case management tracking.

Conditions Of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.