Director, Gifted and Talented Programs

Title:             Director, Gifted and Talented Programs 

Department: Academic Services 

Reports To: Administrative Superior

For forward-thinking administrators and educators, opportunities abound in the School District of Philadelphia. The School District of Philadelphia is committed to transforming the education opportunities it offers the city’s 200,000 school-aged children. The District seeks leaders who have a passion for working with schools, principals and communities who are committed to ensuring all students achieve.  Serving a population as diverse as ours requires creativity, commitment and vision. Will you join us? 

Job Summary

Oversees all aspects of Gifted and Talent (GT) Programming for the School District of Philadelphia (SDP). Provides instructional support and develops strategic plans for SDP that include meeting the learning needs of identified gifted students through school wide enrichment, student cluster grouping, cross-grade grouping, and content area acceleration; supervises instructional staff in the development of programs which focus on reversing underachievement among high ability and gifted learners, and stopping the excellence gap; provides information and serves as a resource to SDP administrators and staff in planning gifted instruction. Plans and monitors student screening and identification that adheres to the Pennsylvania Department of Education Chapter 16 Gifted Guidelines with support from other offices, such as the Office of Specialized Services, focused on increasing identification of gifted students from underrepresented backgrounds. Develops and monitors program evaluation with support from the Office of Research and Evaluation; oversees the budget and plays an active role in securing grant funding and strategic partnerships to build a continuum of services that provides meaningful enrichment and acceleration for high ability and gifted students.

This is a full-time, 12-month non-represented role. The salary grade is 4030, which ranges from 87,540 to 136,828 depending on experience.

Essential Functions 

• Collaborates and works with academic departments and Neighborhood Networks for the purpose of ensuring professional learning instruction for District and area educators.

• Collaborates with other offices in the selection of appropriate materials to ensure all District offices remain up-to-date with state guidelines and current research.

• Coordinates work with teachers to achieve the District’s gifted objectives and District mandates.

• Designs, collaborates, and implements processes to enhance rigor in the K-12 curriculum to meet the needs of gifted and high-ability learners.

• Designs, develops, implements, and supervises the K-12 gifted programs for the purpose of implementing and/or maintaining services and programs.

• Develops and implements a system to increase the gifted and talented pool of students. 

• Designs and implements a system for the identification of students eligible for gifted services for the purpose of developing and/or evaluating services for each student in the District; coordinates the assessment and testing process which takes place in the

• District schools; follows the mandates of the Pennsylvania Department of Education Gifted Education Department.

• Collaborates with the Office of Family and Community Engagement to inform parents of the Gifted identification process and programming.

• Develops curriculum and selects appropriate materials for the purpose of staying up to date with state guidelines and current research. 

• Establishes, implements, and coordinates an evaluation system of student placement to ensure the District achieves its objectives.

• Collaborates with the Office of Specialized Services (OSS) to maintain records in accordance with local and state board policies for the purpose of delivering services that conform to regulatory requirements and established guidelines.

• Monitors budget allocations, expenditures, fund balances and related financial activities to ensure that allocations are accurate, revenues are recorded, expenses are within budget limits and/or fiscal practices are followed.

• Participates in local, state and national gifted education and curriculum meetings, workshops and seminars for the purpose of conveying and/or gathering information required to perform functions which involve driving in and around the District and state.

• Provides a framework along with resources to include gifted in RTII and assists in the development of differentiated lessons that accommodate gifted and talented students. 

• Supervises elementary gifted education, students, faculty, and staff for the purpose of ensuring an effective and efficient Gifted Education Services for gifted-identified students, K-8.

• Supervises District-wide academic competitions ensuring opportunities to all school and high levels of participation.