job: Organizing Director, ed organizing New Haven, CT, with salary info

[Discussion list for COMM-ORG]

From: Gwendolyn Forrest <gmforrest at hotmail.com>


Dear colleagues,

I am writing to let you know of a position opening up at Teach Our 
Children, a parent-led education organizing group in New Haven, CT, in 
the hopes that you may know of potential candidates and might circulate 
this information through your networks.

I plan to transition out of my current role of Organizing Director by 
2009, or once a new director is secured. This a unique opportunity for 
an organizer or community worker with experience ready to contribute to 
a growing organization of low and moderate income parent leaders. This 
is also an opportunity for a professional from another field who 
demonstrates a commitment to community organizing, strong skills in 
developing leaders and supervising staff, and sharp, strategic thinking.

Please see the information below for details. Thank you in advance for 
your help -

Gwendolyn Forrest

Teach Our Children
129 Church St. Suite 418
New Haven, CT 06510
(203) 786-5499

-----------------------------

Organizational Description: Under the fiscal sponsorship of Third Sector 
New England (TSNE), Teach Our Children (TOC) was founded in January 2006 
by two parents and a community organizer. Located in New Haven, CT, TOC 
is a parent-led community organization whose mission is to ensure that 
we as parents are truly involved with education policy and 
decision-making and rightfully acknowledged as critical participants in 
the success of our school system. Through developing members, leaders, 
and issue campaigns, TOC facilitates the ownership and participation of 
low and moderate income New Haven parents in the process of school 
improvement to bring about positive results in the school district as 
well as transformative personal growth in parents.

Organization History: Since our founding in January 2006, TOC has 
accomplished the following:
• Secured changes in the district's handling of suspension, bullying, 
and Special Education through a direct action public meeting with the 
Superintendent of Schools
• Successfully amended Board of Education policy changes that threatened 
to limit parents’ and the public’s access to schools and ability to 
participate in school board meetings
• Secured the enforcement of a policy allowing students to take home 
textbooks
• Initiated campaigns developed by parent leaders to reinstate recess at 
elementary schools
• Trained parent leaders in basics of organizing and to plan and 
facilitate meetings, information sessions, outreach, and lead all 
organizational development
• Built membership of over 350 parents through neighborhood and school 
outreach and one-on-one meetings
• Created 8 member Board of Directors made up entirely of parent leaders
• Raised a FY09 budget of $150,000 from local, regional and national 
foundations and individual donors

Responsibilities of Organizing Director: The role of the Organizing 
Director is to create the arena for effective education organizing by 
developing and supervising organizing staff who identify, train, support 
and challenge leaders as they build the power of the organization and 
its members. Working out of TOC’s office in New Haven, CT, the 
Organizing Director is responsible for overseeing and developing TOC’s 
three main areas of activity:
• Membership Development includes parent leaders and staff conducting 
school dismissal outreach at elementary and middle schools, conducting 
door-to-door outreach to low-income parents, and meeting with local 
organizations.
• Leadership Development includes parent leaders facilitating meetings 
with members and with funders, acquiring organizing skills through 
training, and serving on the Leadership Team (Board of Directors).
• Issue Campaign Development includes parent leaders and staff 
conducting issue-specific research and communicating with allies, and 
parent leaders meeting with school officials and garnering press coverage.
In addition, the Organizing Director is responsible for facilitating all 
areas of Organizational Development, including supervising staff, 
grantwriting and fundraising, and long-term planning.

Salary & Benefits: Salary commensurate with experience (or $40,000) 
including paid vacation and holidays; Full health coverage including 
sick days; Paid mileage for work-related travel; Salary increases to be 
determined and negotiated with Board of Directors.

Prerequisite Experience

• At least 5 years of community organizing experience
• Significant skills in and commitment to leadership development
• Dedication to integrity and accountability
• Experience with membership development, issue campaign development, 
leadership development and organizational development
• Excellent written communication
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to set and achieve 
multiple goals
• Experience writing grants, fundraising, and managing a budget
• Excellent supervisory skills
• Experience developing and using evaluation tools
• Bilingual abilities encouraged (Spanish and English)


To Apply: Applications by email strongly encouraged. Please send a 
resume, cover letter and list of three references to: toc at jobs.tsne.org. 
Hire date is flexible. Applications by mail or fax to TSNE, Nonprofit 
Center, 89 South Street, Boston, MA 02111 or fax: (617) 523-2070.


Keep your kids safer online with Windows Live Family Safety. Help 
protect your kids.