Director of School Relations and Clinical Partnerships

Position Overview

The School Partnership Coordinator serves as a key liaison between the university's teacher preparation programs and its K-12 school partners. This position is responsible for developing, maintaining, and strengthening collaborative partnerships that support high-quality clinical placements for pre-service teachers. The coordinator works closely with school personnel, university faculty, and colleagues in the Office of Teacher Education to ensure effective communication, alignment of expectations, and placement of teacher candidates in appropriate settings that support their development as future educators. The coordinator's work is informed and guided by Minnesota State accreditation standards, scholarship, and University goals. The coordinator reports to the Executive Director of the Office of Teacher Education.

The University of Minnesota encourages a healthy work life balance for employees. CEHD is committed to an excellent employee experience, offering a flexible work environment that meets the needs of students, staff, faculty, and the communities we serve. Flexible work arrangements may include flexibility in schedule and/or work location. Please note that 100% remote work requires approval prior to offer.

Job Responsibilities

Strategic Planning for School Partnerships (20%)

• Work with teacher licensure program faculty to design and execute a strategic vision for school partnerships that aligns with the goals of the teacher preparation programs and the broader mission of the university.
• Identify priority districts and schools for partnership development based on program needs, licensure areas, and candidate demographics.
• Develop multi-year plans that include objectives for expanding high-quality placement sites, deepening engagement with existing partners, and promoting innovation in clinical practice.
• Collaborate with program leadership to evaluate the effectiveness of partnership efforts and adjust strategies based on stakeholder feedback, policy shifts, and accreditation requirements. Support faculty to seek grant opportunities with school partners specific to induction and mentoring of teacher candidates and new teachers;

School Partnership and Placement Management (40%)

• Supervise two Clinical Partnership Coordinators on the Office of Teacher Education's school relations team.
• Work with the Clinical Partnership Coordinators to build and sustain partnerships with K-12 schools that support mutually beneficial clinical experiences for University teacher candidates. Ensure the unit has at least one designated school partnership (DSP) with a school or district that works collaboratively to align theory and practice and that meets MN Chapter 8705.1000, Subpart 2, Standards 6-8
  • Negotiate and enact (w/Office of General Counsel and District Leaders) DSP data-sharing agreements for continuous improvement and accountability specific to MN Chapter 8705.1000, Subpart 2, Standard 7
  • Manages Designated School Partnership-specific initiatives between school partner districts and university personnel involving pre-service teacher candidates, cooperating teachers, clinical supervisors, site liaisons, administrators, and UMN faculty to improve clinical learning partnerships.
  • Leads collaboration with the designated school partner(s) to meet a minimum of two times per year to engage in ongoing collaboration as described in MN Chapter 8705.1000, Subpart 1, Standard 3 and Subpart 3, Standard 7,
• Ensure frequent communication within the college and across partner districts about legislative and licensure board changes and new opportunities for collaboration with teacher preparation for recruitment and retention of teachers and teacher candidates. (e.g., Tier 2 pathway, utilizing teacher candidates as substitutes, DSPs).

Quality Assurance of Clinical Learning and Accreditation Support (20%)

• Convene and lead the Teacher Preparation Advisory Group (TPAG), a standing advisory group composed of representatives from partner schools, districts, and the University to plan/facilitate collaborative work, review data to improve clinical partnerships, communicate focus areas, and align theory to practice. Plan and facilitate regular quarterly meetings, prepare agendas and materials, gather and share relevant data, and ensure follow-up on action items.
• Oversee the data collection, analysis, and reporting for teacher candidate feedback received through the bi-annual clinical site survey;
• Provide internal and external documentation and communication (including annual summary data and accreditation evidence) about clinical partnership development and progress in alignment with state standards and continuous improvement focus areas.
• Monitor and document the qualifications of supervisors, cooperating teachers, and program faculty with assistance from the Project Specialist, ensuring that all teacher educators, supervisors, and cooperating teachers meet state requirements.
• Working with OTE's Accreditation and Licensing Team to utilize Common Metrics and other survey data to identify and communicate broadly trends in strengths and opportunities to improve support for clinical supervisors, teacher candidates, new teachers, and cooperating teachers;
• Plan evaluation and continuous improvement work in collaboration with the Accreditation and Licensing team in OTE, contributing to the overall unit assessment plan and accreditation reports.

Unit-wide Management of Clinical Supervisors (20%)

• Engages Clinical Supervisors in unit-wide state-required training for clinical supervisors in MN Chapter 8705.1000, Subpart 3, Standard 15, including, but not limited to:
  • State-mandated professional development for clinical mentors includes coaching strategies for adult learners, program requirements/expectations, candidate assessments, evaluation procedures, roles/responsibilities, and timelines; and
  • Professional learning in areas of need, as defined through feedback from candidates, school partners, supervisors, and/or program area leads.
• Provides additional professional learning for clinical supervisors with other OTE staff.
• Engages with the Clinical Partnerships team in OTE to develop/support communication that engages both cooperating teachers and clinical supervisors.
• Maintains online resources in Canvas and on public web pages for clinical supervisors and licensure program leads.
• Maintains a master list of clinical supervisors, collaborating with OTE staff and LPLs as necessary.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a relevant field, with at least four years of experience, or a BA/BS with at least six years of relevant post-degree experience
• Experience in an education setting developing, planning, and implementing professional learning for teachers, teacher candidates, other school professionals, and/or community members
• Teaching experience as licensed teacher of record in a K-12 settings
• Experience as a cooperating teacher to a pre-service student teacher
• Demonstrated teacher leadership experience (e.g. department chair, committee chair, National Board Certification)
• Ability to work in a collaborative and cooperative team setting
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships with diverse populations
• Demonstrated ability to work flexibly and successfully within a changing context
• Evidence of effective communication (written and oral) and interpersonal skills with people from a variety of backgrounds and identities
• Participation in strategic planning initiatives for an educational organization
• Ability to develop and deliver courses in ways that effectively account for a variety of diverse backgrounds, communities, identities, and abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters, Ed.D., or Ph.D. in Education or related field
• At least five years of experience working with a diverse student body and/or school environment
• At least three years of experience as a school liaison, mentor, university clinical supervisor, or cooperating teacher with responsibilities such as co-teaching, partnership development, coaching teacher candidates, and/or teacher evaluation
• Established relationships with school(s)and teacher networks in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.
• Teaching experience in a K-12 setting during and after the Covid pandemic.
• Leadership in strategic planning initiatives
• Knowledge of academic culture or experience working in a higher education setting.

Department Overview

The Office of Teacher Education (OTE) provides leadership and support for all UMN-TC initial and additional licensure program teacher candidates, licensure program leads (LPLs), clinical supervisors, and cooperating teachers during clinical preparation in P-12 settings. The OTE is an administrative, operational unit based in CEHD working across the University to support the teaching, accreditation, and outreach goals specific to developing pre-service teacher candidates in district/school clinical preparation partnerships.

College Overview

The College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), the University's third largest college, contributes to a just and sustainable future through engagement with the local and global communities to enhance human learning and development at all stages of life. We know diversity is necessary to do our best work and foster our humanity. That's why the CEHD community is collectively dedicated to cultivating an inclusive and equitable environment, embracing and celebrating all identities of our students, staff, and faculty. These values are also a moral imperative requiring continuous proactive measures and a firm stance against prejudice, discrimination, and systemic injustice.

Pay Range: The salary range for this position is $87,000 - $100,000. Final salary offers are dependent on the candidate's experience, skills, and internal equity within the department.

Time Appointment Category: 100% Appointment

Position Type: P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

This position will remain open until filled.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).