
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 Student Health and Wellness (OSHW) aims to eliminate health-related barriers to learning and promote health equity. OSHW recognizes nursing plays a key role in that aim. Nurse Managers create a collaborative and efficient workplace with attention to quality standards and policies, so all nurses will be able to do their best in caring for our CPS students. The goal is to foster an excellent environment that will support everyone in working to the benefit of our district, our students, our staff, and our community.
Job Summary:
Reporting to the School Nurse Director, the Nurse Manager is responsible for the professional development, supervision, and evaluation of certified school nurses, health service nurses, and licensed practical nurses serving our students and schools. The Nurse Manager supports services and resources related to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as well as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Through collaboration and advocacy, the Nurse Manager supports school system goals and priorities, as well as the mission of the Office of Student Health and Wellness. This is a full-time, exempt position that will be paid for hours worked on a salary basis.
The Nurse Manager will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:
Supervise, develop, and manage the performance of 75 or more school assigned nurses
Develop, implement and monitor the assignment and scheduling of district and agency nurses on a regular and daily basis, including substitute coverage
Lead and facilitate training/professional development of nurses to enhance their effectiveness and improve their practice
Collaborate with the Staffing team/Business Operations to screen and hire nurses city-wide, including orientation and mentoring new staff
Collaborate with the Nurse Manager team to manage the inventory of resources for nurses city-wide
Assist in the building of a Public Health Nursing Corp to support CPS' short and long term response to COVID-19 and other public health needs which include:
Oversight of local health protocols within assigned schools/regions including education, tracking, and data/report management
Tracking student absenteeism
Investigating unreported COVID cases
Personal protective equipment (PPE) management, ordering, and distribution
Conceptualization and implementation of mass vaccination programs and protocols
Promotion of Healthy CPS initiatives and leading Wellness Teams in Schools
Analyze health-related data and recommend strategies for improvement
Cooperate with networks, school, central office management, parents, and other stakeholders to continually improve nurse programming
Conduct REACH evaluations for Certified School Nurses and assist with performance evaluation for Health Service Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses
Recommend and lead improvements in district-wide nursing practice to ensure alignment with the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) Framework for 21st-century school nursing practice
Other duties and workstreams as assigned
In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Nurse Manager must possess the following qualifications:
Education Required:
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Nursing required
Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Nursing, Nursing Leadership, Public Administration, or a health-related program preferred
A current State of Illinois Registered Nurse license and CPR certification
REACH certification or commitment to complete REACH certification within 18 months from the completion of nursing orientation
Experience Required:
Minimum of five (5) years of experience as a Registered Nurse (RN)
Minimum of three (3) years of experience leading effective nursing teams, preference for a school environment
Minimum of one (1) year of experience planning, coordinating, and executing efforts across multiple, regionally dispersed units
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Innovative self-starter with outstanding organizational skills and attention to detail
Superior oral and written communication skills, comfortable presenting professional development
Strong problem-solving and critical thinking abilities, combined with strong initiative and a team player attitude
Ability to communicate and build trusting relationships with key stakeholder groups (e.g. collective bargaining units, building administrators, directors, etc.), especially within CPS
Commitment to understanding and implementing evolving evidence-based practices in nursing, public health, and medicine
Dedicated to strengthening nursing culture and competencies through mentorship and professional development
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.