Manager, P-2 Education

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 Office of Early Childhood Education (OECE) works to ensure all children in Chicago have access to excellent early learning experiences that lead to future success in early grades and beyond.

Job Summary: 
Reporting to the Director of P-2 Education, the Manager of P–2 Education leads the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of districtwide Preschool–Second Grade (P–2) curriculum and instructional coherence initiatives within the Office of Early Childhood Education (OECE). This role advances CPS’s vision for effective, equitable instruction by strengthening curriculum alignment, supporting implementation systems, and contributing to professional learning strategies that span early learning and early elementary grades.

The Manager of P-2 Education serves as a strategic partner across OECE and CPS departments, balancing deep curriculum expertise with flexibility to support broader P–2 priorities, cross-functional initiatives, and select professional learning efforts. This position plays a critical role in translating strategic priorities into actionable guidance, tools, and implementation support for schools.

This is a grant-funded position with an anticipated funding period of up to three (3) years. This is a full-time, exempt position that will be paid for time worked on a salary basis.

The Manager, P-2 Education will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

Leads the development, refinement, and implementation of a cohesive P-2 curriculum strategy  aligned to CPS’s vision for effective instruction, the daily student experience, equity, and developmental appropriateness
Serves as a district content leader for P–2 curriculum coherence, ensuring alignment across Pre-K, Kindergarten, and early elementary instructional experiences
Guides curriculum development processes, including research review, standards alignment, scope and sequence development, and vetting of instructional materials
Oversees the creation of guidance documents, tools, and implementation resources to support high-quality curriculum use across diverse learning settings
Leads and coordinate curriculum rollout strategies, including implementation timelines, stakeholder engagement, readiness supports, and feedback loops
Partners with internal CPS departments to ensure coordinated implementation across systems
Analyzes implementation data, educator feedback, and site-based insights to inform continuous improvement and course correction
Supports change management efforts by anticipating implementation challenges and proactively developing solutions
Supervises, develops, and manages the performance of a team of direct reports 
Coordinates P–2 curriculum and professional learning by aligning instructional guidance, coaching supports, and equity-centered literacy initiatives across OECE teams.
Collaborates with cross-functional leadership and stakeholders to advance district goals through strategic planning, presentations, and written updates for OECE leadership. 
Serves as a thought partner to the Director of P–2 Education on strategic planning, prioritization, and initiative alignment
Other duties and work streams as assigned

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Manager of P-2 Education must possess the following qualifications:

Education Required: 
Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Early Childhood Education, Curriculum & Instruction, or related field
Valid teaching certificate/Professional Educator’s License (PEL) issued by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) with Early Childhood or Elementary endorsement is required.
Experience Required: 
Minimum of five (5)  years of Pre-K - 2 teaching experience 
Minimum of four (2) years of direct supervisory/management responsibilities
Minimum of four (2) years of strategic planning experience required
Experience leading or supporting curriculum development and implementation efforts
Experience supporting adult learners through coaching, facilitation, or professional learning design
Experience working cross-functionally within a complex educational system preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 
Strong knowledge of early childhood and early elementary instructional best practices and curriculum design
Ability to effectively lead and develop a team of direct reports
Ability to lead complex initiatives, manage multiple priorities, and execute work with minimal direction
Strong project management, problem-solving, and systems-thinking skills
Ability to analyze data and qualitative feedback to inform instructional and implementation decisions
Excellent written and verbal communication skills across varied audiences
Demonstrated ability to collaborate across teams, manage ambiguity, and adapt to shifting priorities
Commitment to equity, continuous improvement, and educator-centered design

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.