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Executive Director, Montana Digital Academy

Employer
University of Montana
Location
Montana, United States
Salary
Salary Not Specified
Date posted
Nov 5, 2021

Job Details



The University of Montana invites applications for a Montana Digital Academy (MTDA) Executive Director . This position is the chief executive officer of the MTDA, and as such is responsible for all aspects of the Academy including development and management of the budget including submission of biennial requests to the Montana legislature in conjunction with the Office of Public Instruction.

The Executive Director will provide overall management and supervision of all MTDA staff (including online classes and EdReady Montana) in the execution and delivery of online courses and programs to students and schools throughout Montana. These will include but are not limited to budget forecasting and planning, development and delivery of online courses, data collection and reporting, project planning, management and execution in the critical areas of technical infrastructure, curriculum development, teacher training and professional development. The Executive Director works to foster and maintain a strong partnership between MTDA and the University of Montana (UM).

The Executive Director will ensure that the necessary and appropriate information and advisement is provided to the MTDA Governing Board to allow them to effectively govern per MCA 20-7-1201. This position will work closely with and maintain the relationship the Academy has with its educational partners – MEA-MFT, SAM, MTSBA, MREA, OPI and the MUS.

Key duties and responsibilities include:

Oversight and management of all aspects of Montana Digital Academy
  • Provide oversight and management of all MTDA staff and the implementation of the online program including the EdReady Montana program
  • Forecasting short and long term annual and biennial MTDA budgets
  • Preparing monthly MTDA Governing Board agenda and information and recommendation packets and provide advisement to the Board at meetings
  • Representing MTDA at legislative committee meetings and hearing and presenting budget and program updates to committees during regular session and interim
  • Providing annual updates to the Montana Board of Public Education
  • Representing MTDA as the Executive Director serving on the Board of Directors of the Virtual School Leadership Alliance
  • Representing MTDA as the Montana Affiliate of the Digital Leaning Consortium
Oversight and management of the MTDA operational budget Secure funding for MTDA online course program, EdReady Montana
  • Develop the MTDA biennial budget and funding requests for presentation to the Montana legislature in conjunction with the Montana Office of Public Instruction
  • Provide all necessary budget information to the University of Montana Budget Office
  • Develop and submit legislative funding request and present to joint appropriations, education or other appropriate legislative committees
  • Develop and submit grant proposal requests to appropriate funding sources for EdReady Montana
Staff Selection, Training and Supervision
  • Oversee all phases of the employee hiring process for all MTDA positions. This includes development of position descriptions and the recruitment, interview and selection processes.
  • Ensure the development and oversight for the implementation of the EdReady Montana and 21st Century Learning Projects
Oversee management and implementation of the EdReady Montana project.
  • Provide oversight and management of projects in the 21st Century Learning partnership with UM
  • Promote MTDA’s collaborative partnership with the Phyllis J. Washington College of Education and serve on the leadership team including team meetings and other PJWCoE meetings as deemed necessary
  • Explore and Identify ways to strengthen collaborative partnerships with the departments within PJWCoE
Supervise Data Collection and Reporting
  • Oversee the data collection and reporting processes for MTDA including EdReady Montana
  • Report appropriate data and ensure that reports are made to the MTDA Governing Board, legislature and other identified organizations
Promote MTDA throughout Montana and nationally
  • Provide presentations regarding MTDA to state educational organizations in Montana and nationally. (i.e. SAM, MREA, MTSBA, OPI) and at national conferences such as VLLA, NROC, ISTE DLAC, NCCE etc.
Explore grants and other financial opportunities to support MTDA’s mission
  • Research and develop proposals to help promote MTDA’s mission and purpose
  • Ensure implementation of all aspects of successful grant/gift supported projects
The University of Montana is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity in all areas. In that spirit, we are particularly interested in receiving applications from a broad spectrum of qualified people who would assist the University in demonstrating its five priorities for action : Place student success at the center of all we do; drive excellence and innovation in teaching, learning, and research; embody the principle of “mission first, people always"; partner with place; and proudly tell the UM story.

Position Details
  • Position is full-time, 1.0 FTE, Letter of Appointment and includes a comprehensive and competitive benefits package including Insurance package, mandatory retirement plan, partial tuition waiver, and wellness program.
  • Salary for this position is $134,000 per year commensurate with qualifications.
Required Experience
  • Master’s Degree in Education or related educational field
  • Three to five (3-5) years as an administrator or teacher in K-12 public education
  • Three to five (3-5) years of successful work at the senior level of administration and management of a statewide online learning (asynchronous) program


Preferred Qualifications
  • Senior leadership experience in the operation of a successful statewide asynchronous learning program.
  • Demonstrated understanding of and working with the K-12 educational system in Montana.
  • Secondary administration and/ or teaching experience.
  • Knowledge, experience and/or understanding in working with a Governing Board.
  • Experience in a leadership role with a national online learning organization i.e. Virtual Learning Leadership Alliance, Digital Leaning Collaborative, NCCE


About UM and the Montana Digital Academy

The University of Montana is flagship, research institution with more than 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students. It is located in Missoula, a culturally vibrant community of about 75,000, surrounded by mountains and three rivers converge. Abundant recreational opportunities in surrounding state and national forests and nearby Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park complement a thriving intellectual atmosphere.

Montana Digital Academy (MTDA) is the statewide digital online program for the State of Montana. Created by the Montana legislature in 2009 in Statute 20-7-1201 which authorized its creation and located it at the University of Montana. The purposes of the MTDA are to:
  • Make distance learning opportunities available to all school-age children through public school districts in the state of Montana;
  • Offer high-quality instructors who are licensed and endorsed in Montana and courses that are in compliance with all relevant education and distance learning rules, standards, and policies; and
  • Emphasize the core subject matters required under the accreditation standards, offer advanced courses for dual credit in collaboration with the Montana university system, and offer enrichment courses.
MTDA and the University of Montana have established a unique, one of a kind partnership, among the 24 statewide online programs across the United States. MTDA is the only state online program that is a part of a College of Education at a major university.

To learn more about the University of Montana, Missoula, and the State of Montana, please visit the links below.
Criminal Background Investigation is required prior to Offer of Employment.
In accordance with University policy, finalists for this position will be subject to criminal background investigations.
ADA/EOE/AA/Veteran's Preference.
Reasonable accommodations are provided in the hiring process for persons with disabilities. For example, this material is available in alternative format upon request. As an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, we encourage applications from minorities, veterans, and women. Qualified candidates may request veterans’ or disabilities preference in accordance with state law.
References *References not listed on the application materials may be contacted; notice may be provided to the applicant.
Testing Individual hiring departments at UM may elect to administer pre-employment tests, which are relevant to essential job functions.

E mployment Eligibility. All New Employees must be eligible and show employment eligibility verification by the first date of employment at UM, as legally required (e.g., Form I-9).

How to Apply

Priority Application Date: Sunday, November 21, 2021.

Applications received by this date will be guaranteed consideration. Application review will begin after date above and continue until the position is filled.

Please submit the following application materials via "New Resume/CV" button below.

*Please note: only five (5) attachments are allowed per application. Please combine documents accordingly.
  • Letter of Interest – addressing the stated required skills for the position
  • Detailed resume listing education and describing work experience
  • Three (3) professional references - Names and contact information
  • Transcripts – Unofficial or official transcripts
  • Responses to Supplemental Questions
  1. What experience have you had with developing and implementing a statewide asynchronous online program?
  2. Describe any experience you had had in the training and supervision of online teachers teaching in the asynchronous environment and in conducting their performance reviews?
  3. What is the key to teaching an asynchronous online course?
  4. What is your experience in the development of proposals to secure legislative funding, private grants and or other possible funding sources?
  5. Provide information regarding your specific experience working with state legislators, statewide policy makers, office of public instruction and other educational leaders.
  6. What experience do you have in negotiating contracts to secure course assets, LMS and SIS services with online providers (vendors)?
  7. Do you have experience working with other statewide virtual schools? Please explain.
  8. What do you know about the Virtual Learning Leadership Alliance? Describe what you understand regarding its value to Montana Digital Academy?
  9. Describe what you know about the EdReady Montana project. What has been its impact in Montana?
  10. What experience have you had developing and providing oversight to the budgetary process for a statewide organization?


Job Location Missoula, Montana, United States
Position Type Full-Time/Regular

Company

University of Montana.

At UM, we approach everything with creativity because that’s what this evolving world needs. We are stewards of this place, its history and our future. We are driving forward together, affecting change that is right for our place and people. We know of no better place than Montana and its university to make a lasting impact on the common good.

As Montana’s flagship university, we set a high bar for academic studies, creative accomplishments and scientific exploration which benefit our students, our community and the world at large.

The University draws a diverse, global population to Missoula – our home and the state’s second-largest city with about 80,000 residents – and helps cultivate an educated, engaged and vibrant community. Our students receive a world-class education in a broad range of subjects that include the arts, sciences, trades, graduate and postdoctoral study and professional training.

Our main campus, nestled in the heart of western Montana’s stunning natural landscape, spans 56 acres at the base of Mount Sentinel and along the Clark Fork River, and includes the park-like Oval at the center of campus, more than 60 architecturally unique buildings and a 25,200-seat football stadium. UM's 180-acre South Campus offers student housing, a golf course, soccer fields and an outdoor track facility. Missoula College occupies two sites, one just across the river from the main campus, and one on the southwest side of Missoula.

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