Position Type: Administrative/Management
Date Posted: 7/25/2025
Location: District Wide
Closing Date: 07/15/2025
The Director of Advancing Equity is a key member of the Duluth School District's executive team. This pivotal role exists to provide strategic leadership and comprehensive oversight for the District's equity and inclusion initiatives, ensuring alignment with District mission and goals and that equitable and inclusive principles are deeply integrated into all policies, programs, and operations. The Director of Advancing Equity is responsible for developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating comprehensive equity and inclusion plans that include measurable goals and accountability frameworks such as the Achievement and Integration Minnesota (AIM) Plan and the Equity Achievement Plan. This role requires serving as the District's Title VI and Title IX Compliance Coordinator, as well as overseeing and guiding the Education Equity Advisory Committee (EEAC) to achieve District goals in establishing and maintaining collaborative partnerships with community agencies. The Director of Advancing Equity serves as a primary resource providing coaching, professional development, consultation, coordination of workshops and presentations for all staff to promote diversity, equity and inclusion. The Director of Advancing Equity prepares and presents annual reports to the School Board and to the Minnesota Department of Education on equity and integration plan progress while also representing the District on State and local boards and committees. This role is responsible for collaborating with academic departments and schools to identify and address systemic barriers that impede learning and support the planning, implementation and evaluation of inclusive curriculum and programs that address disparities and promote student success, ensuring student and family support services are integrated effectively. Responsibilities include managing a fiscally-responsible departmental budget that includes planning, supervising and monitoring expenditures of desegregation funds, approving requisitions, and supervising and evaluating assigned staff including Integration Specialists and Families in Transition Coordinators to foster their development and performance in support of equity goals. This is an independent contract position that reports directly to the Assistant Superintendent. The Director of Advancing Equity manages leadership in several departments including American Indian Coordinator, Ojibwe Language and Cultural Coordinator, Integration Specialists and Family in Transition Teachers.
Minimum Qualifications: The position requires a commitment to uphold Duluth Public School's values, a belief that all children deserve a rigorous and equitable education that prepares them for college and for life. This position calls for substantial experience providing strategic direction and visionary leadership that fosters an environment of equity and inclusion for all students. It is preferable that candidates have extensive public forum exposure requiring the strongest of communications and management skills.
Demonstrated expertise and experience managing staff is strongly preferred. Candidates must have a strong management and leadership presence, well-developed decision making and follow-up abilities and be able to function in a team-oriented environment. Assistance to and continuous exposure in dealing with the Duluth School Board, community and family groups will require high levels of patience. The ability to effectively manage multiple, and sometimes competing priorities as well as lead and motivate team members is essential.
Required education and work experience includes: - A minimum of a baccalaureate degree in education, Indian Studies, social science or a closely-related field.
- At least ten years of progressively responsible leadership experience in equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives within a large, complex education system. This experience must clearly demonstrate a track record of developing and implementing impactful equity-focused programs, successful team leadership, supervision of staff and professional development facilitation, building and maintaining strong community partnerships, managing significant budgets while securing external funding and navigating complex organizational and systemic inequities.
- At least three years of supervisory experience within a school district or a social service agency with demonstrated experience overseeing staff who provide direct students support, family engagement, cultural mediation, academic assistance and community resource navigation for diverse student populations.
Preferred education and work experience includes: - Master's degree or higher in related field
- Current Minnesota teaching license and/or current valid Minnesota K-12 Administrative License
- ?Certifications in Intercultural Development Inventory or equity-related instruments or training programs.
In addition to rewarding career opportunities, Duluth Public Schools offers an excellent benefit package to employees who are hired into positions scheduled to work 24 hours/week or more. Benefits include, but are not limited to the following: The annual salary for this position is dependent upon the background and qualifications of the successful candidate with a range of $109,928- $128,111.
The Duluth School District offers an excellent, competitive and comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, prescription drug, dental, life, and disability coverage. A pension plan, tax sheltered annuities program, flexible spending accounts (FSA), health care savings plan, and employee assistance program round out the District's robust benefits program. The District also has generous provisions for vacation, holidays, family and medical leave, and other types of paid and unpaid leave.
Work Schedule Typical work schedule - 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
This position will include evening and after-hours meetings and events.
Holidays - 12 fixed per year.
Vacation - Starting at 20 days of vacation per year.
Pension Plan Minnesota Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA).
Retirement Savings Plans Retirement savings plans are available at the employee's option.
Health Benefits The District pays a significant portion of the premium for medical hospitalization, dental and prescription coverage for employees and dependents and offers Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) funding. Section 125 (Flexible Spending Account) - employees may participate on a pre-tax basis for daycare and medical expense reimbursement.
Life Insurance Policy value of $100,000.
Contact Information: If you have any questions, please contact Human Resources at 218-336-8722 or email noncerthr@isd709.org
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