Partners for Rural Impact’s (PRI) ultimate goal is for an America where all kids are successful, regardless of zip code, income, background, or ability.  At PRI, our focus is on ensuring that all children in rural places achieve success. Partners for Rural Impact was born out of our place-based partnership in Appalachia, where we’ve worked for 25 years to create student opportunity and success. 

Position Summary 

The Associate Director of Attendance & Engagement is a full-time, key role that reports to the Director of Integrated Strategies. The Associate Director of Attendance & Engagement enhances school attendance and engagement through innovative practices and programs utilizing the whole-child approach in the 21st century learning environment. This role supports district partners in developing effective strategies and models, identifies and evaluates evidence-based attendance practices, and ensures initiatives align with current research and continuous improvement standards to benefit all student groups. The Associate Director is responsible for ensuring that risk management is implemented with fidelity within all assigned work and is compliant with all Partners for Rural Impact and funder requirements. The position leads and operates with the goal that All Rural Students Succeed. 

Primary Duties and Responsibilities 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each primary duty satisfactorily. The requirements of the position are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required, with regular and predictable attendance essential. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

1. Serve as project lead in building cross-functional teams to implement trainings and attendance summits that meet local needs  
2. Develop assessment and fidelity tools to gather valuable feedback related to trainings/summits 
3. Build capacity of grant programs to provide attendance consultations with districts  
4. Build capacities of partners to create and implement plans to increase attendance and decrease chronic absence  
5. Research instructional strategies and curricula best suited for rural implementation  
6. Oversee attendance & engagement communities of practice and other relevant communities of practice to develop partners and staff  
7. Create a model and timeline for attendance summits and pre/post consults  
8. Regularly consult with attendance experts nationwide  
9. Conduct site visits to locations implementing exemplary attendance initiatives  
10. Consulting with districts and partners to identify and improve issues related to attendance and engagement  
11. Develop and communicate a library of best practices for creating a robust attendance plans and initiatives  
12. Regular collaboration with the team to develop structures and trainings to integrate other content areas into best practices across PLACE Team school districts  
13. Maintain an expert level of knowledge of evidence-based practices in attendance and positive learning conditions that promote the whole-child approach to student development and success, ensuring that students are empowered, challenged, supported, engaged, safe, and healthy  
14. Provide consultation to Project Directors and others to ensure that programmatic and operational performance measures are established and met in the areas of attendance  
15. Lead both formal and informal training opportunities in evidence/research-based and innovative programs and practices  
16. Make research-based recommendations for implementation of programs and practices  
17. Serve on Integrated Strategies Leadership Team  
18. Implement and model results-based and data-informed continuous improvement frame 
19. Other roles/duties will be assigned as necessary to assist and support in the attainment of our mission, All Rural Students Succeed 

Position Location & Schedule 

The position will be considered for remote work. This position requires travel to support work in Appalachian Kentucky, East Texas, Missouri, and other locations as they are added. 

Normal business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET with in-office, hybrid and/or remote work a possibility. Because of the nature of the responsibility to schools, partners, funders, and to the service region, individual offices or departments may have operating hours that extend beyond this period and may include evening and/or weekend hours. 

Minimum Qualifications 

Education required to ensure success in this position: 

1. Master’s degree in education or related field or equivalent combination of experience, training, and education 

Experience required to ensure success in this position: 

1. Five years experience in teaching, educational consulting, instructional leadership, or educational research  
2. Clear understanding of research and evidence-based attendance and engagement programs, practices, and pedagogy  
3. Demonstrated knowledge of the whole-child approach of creating environments that are supportive, engaging, safe, healthy, challenging, and empowering to help students thrive  
4. Knowledge of current effective practices in attendance and engagement  
5. Experience implementing attendance initiatives in rural schools and communities  
6. Experience building positive, welcoming, and inclusive school culture

Experience preferred to ensure success in this position: 

1. Experience and knowledge of working in Kentucky schools'

Special skills, knowledge and abilities: 

1. Excellent oral and written communication skills  
2. Proficiency in Attendance Works best practices and recommendations  
3. Superior interpersonal and organizational skills  
4. Ability to develop and implement trainings related to attendance & engagement  
5. Project management  
6. Ability to work in a team environment  
7. A commitment to students from diverse economic, social, and cultural backgrounds  
8. Computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite  
9. A commitment to a growth-mindset and an inclusive model of building school culture and the whole child  
10. Attention to detail in event/conference/summit planning 

License, certification, or registration necessary: 

• Valid driver’s license 
• Successfully complete pre-employment background check 

Physical requirements: 

• Ability to travel independently by car and plane to Kentucky, Missouri, Texas, and other locations as PRI expands its service area 

Environmental conditions: 

• Work in a fast-paced setting with frequent interruptions and shifting priorities 
• Flexible Schedule 
   

Additional Company Information  

• PRI offers a wide array of benefit options, to meet the financial, educational, and health needs of you and your family. 
• Comprehensive insurance plans including medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage. 
• Flexible spending accounts, plus an employee assistance program. 
• Life and long-term disability insurance and retirement plan. 
• Generous paid time off work options including vacation, sick leave, and annual holidays, in addition to paid parental leave. 
• Tuition assistance and professional development for employees 

Partners for Rural Impact is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.  

For more information and to apply, please click here.