Job Description
WELCOME TO INDIANAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS!
At IPS, we believe in the transformative power of education. We work collectively every day to prepare our students for success in the classroom and in life by providing equitable, high-quality educational experiences across our family of schools. IPS is a place to make an impact, grow your career, and ensure every student has access to a high quality education, all while earning a good living in a district on the move. While the work is challenging, it is deeply meaningful and impactful. We seek innovators and trailblazers who bring varying experiences and expertise and share our belief that every child deserves access to an exceptional education. As part of TeamIPS, you’ll create lasting connections, find a sense of belonging, and feel supported to make a meaningful difference in students’ lives.
In return, no matter your role here, we expect a commitment to excellence and accountability. You’ll be held to high standards. Resilience and passion are key—you must be adaptable, handling adversity with flexibility while putting students at the heart of everything you do. Ethical conduct, clear communication, and mutual respect are fundamental. Being a dependable, collaborative team player who builds meaningful relationships is essential.
Together, we are Proving What’s Possible by building a community where everyone belongs and each student has the opportunity to fulfill their potential.
A TEACHING CAREER IN IPS OFFERS…
Purpose and Impact:
• Students First: Teaching for IPS is a rewarding opportunity to support bright, curious students as they shape their futures. We hold ourselves to the highest expectations of excellence, focusing on students’ holistic needs during their educational journey with us.
• Community: Working in a school means it is your home away from home, and you have a school family who supports you and leads with empathy and vision.
Professional and Personal Growth:
• Grow Your Career: We offer professional development and career advancement opportunities, including dedicated mentorship programs for early career teachers.
• Generous Compensation: We’re proud to offer the highest teacher starting pay in Indianapolis and one of the most competitive in the state, with teachers earning $53,460 - $94,000 depending on experience, plus a generous benefits package. Our teacher salaries are continually on the rise, as IPS regularly advocates for stronger teacher compensation.
• Access to Financial Benefits: Working in IPS makes it possible to benefit from federal programs such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) or Teacher Loan Forgiveness (TLF), helping reduce the financial burden of student loans.
Work-Life Balance and Well-being:
• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Access top-tier health plans covering medical, dental, and vision needs, plus IPS offers a private clinic for staff and their families through our partners at Ascension St. Vincent.
• Flexible Wellness Leave: Take the time you need to care for yourself and your family with our generous leave policies. Teachers receive 70 hours of sick leave in their first year (56 hours annually after) for illness, family, or mental health, plus three personal days, two floating holidays, and school breaks. Unlimited accumulated sick leave adds flexibility, supporting teachers’ health and work-life balance.
• Incentivized Discounts through IPS Wellness Program: Opportunities to earn hundreds of dollars off your medical premium by participating in proactive and simple health screenings, plus discounted group fitness classes, health and fitness assessments, personal training, and more.
WHAT WE EXPECT...
Commitment to Excellence:
• High Standards: Strive for the very best in all you do, maintaining high standards for yourself, your students, and your colleagues. Embrace lifelong learning and adapt to new teaching methods and challenges.
• Educational Equity: IPS is deeply committed to breaking down systemic inequities. We do this by “walking the walk” on new policies and practices, building diverse and inclusive classrooms and staff teams, and ensuring our environments are grounded in our values of respect, inclusivity, and educational equity.
Resilience and Passion:
• Dedication to Students: Put students at the heart of your work. Be passionate about their success and well-being.
• Adaptability: Handle adversity with resilience and flexibility. Be prepared for a dynamic work environment.
Professional Integrity:
• Ethical Conduct: Uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity. Act responsibly and respectfully toward all individuals, communicate with candor and care.
• Team Player: Be dependable, punctual, and collaborative, contributing positively to our supportive work environment.
JOIN US!
Indianapolis Public Schools is more than a workplace; it’s a community where purpose, impact, and belonging come together to help Prove What’s Possible – in your career and in your school. If you’re ready to embrace challenges, strive for excellence, and make a meaningful impact, IPS is the place for you.
SUMMARY OF ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
The Middle School Future Center Specialist will provide strategic development and implementation of IPS’s middle school future centers. The Middle School Future Center Specialist will plan and coordinate activities within the middle school-based Future Center through collaborative relationships with students, other staff, departments, and with community and university partners. The Middle School Future Center Specialist plays a key role in supporting students in discovering and selecting which of the 3Es (enroll, enlist, employ) is their ideal path towards personal success. The Middle School Future Center Specialist will work to achieve the IPS and PSR vision with a mission of ensuring our students have access to college and career preparation regardless of background or socioeconomic status. This is a 10 month certified position which reports to the Director of Middle School Academies & Pathways. Applicants must have a Bachelor’s Degree in Education or related field (Master’s Degree preferred). Applicants must hold or be in position to obtain a valid Indiana State Teacher's License or a valid Indiana School Counselor License. Applicants should have experience as a teacher or tutor at the secondary level. This position is grant-funded through the year 2030.
EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS
• Bachelor’s Degree required, education or social sciences required
• Must hold or be in position to obtain valid Indiana State Teacher's License or Indiana School Counselor’s License
• Experience in Higher Education preferred
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
The following outlines what your core duties and responsibilities will be for this position and provides a sample overview of what your day-to-day may look like.
Core Duties and Responsibilities
The Middle School Future Center Specialist will primarily be responsible for:
• Expansion
• Work with building-level leadership to establish physical location and student utilization.
• Order office furniture, signage, supplies, technology, etc. for the future centers.
• Serve as the point of contact between the middle school staff and the Postsecondary Readiness division.
• Tutoring Coordination
• Manage the schedule of community partners that tutor students in the middle school level.
• Ensure tutors have access to technology and necessary district academic resources.
• Provide tutors the required data for monitoring student progress.
• Community Partners
• Establish and sustain community partnerships to support future center success and growth.
• Establish and sustain university partnerships to provide University Student tutors and volunteers.
• Support in the coordination of the Middle School College Campus Visits
• Data Collection and Reporting
• Assist the Director in grant reporting.
• Implement Future Center scheduling system and report out Future Center utilization.
• Lead Future Center data collection and analysis. Establish, track, and report Key Performance Indicators for Middle School Future Centers. Create and update reporting templates.
• Conduct research on college and career readiness best practices and make recommendations to the Director on innovative approaches.
• Collaboration
• Work with Director of Middle School Academies & Pathways to align school community’s knowledge of the future center.
• Provide updates and information to school-based staff and families regarding future center supports and initiatives.
• Work with Postsecondary Readiness staff to ensure Future Center work aligns with the department’s vision and mission.
• Student & Family Support
• Welcome and engage students who visit the Future Center.
• Support students in completing CCR-related activities and assessments.
• Connect students and families to industry-related and pathway-related community resources and partners as needed.
“Day In the Life” Overview
On a regular day, as the Middle School Future Center Specialist, you might:
• Work with students to refine their soft skills for high school and postsecondary success
• Work with community partners to develop long-lasting relationships and programs
• Work with middle school leaders and teachers to plan curricular supports
• Provide updates and information to schools and families to ensure access to and use of the future centers
• Ensure all future center appointments are successfully completed by facilitating connections between students and volunteers, guest speakers, etc.
• Work with college and university partners to develop long-lasting relationships and programs
• Work with middle school leaders and staff to plan student supports
• Collect, analyze, and report achievement and center usage data
• Collaborate with the Postsecondary Readiness Team to respond to data and needs.
• Meet with Director of Middle School Academies & Pathways to ensure key performance indicators are on track
WHAT YOU’ll BRING: SKILLS AND MINDSETS
As an ideal candidate for this role, you will be able to achieve the following:
• Excellent communication skills and strong organizational skills
• Clear written and verbal communication with a diverse staff community
• Rapport with students, families, staff, and community members through strong relationship building
• Knowledge of community resources and local partnerships
• Effective analysis of data to drive decision making
• Close attention to detail coupled with the ability to exercise good judgment
• Proactive, able to anticipate conflicts before they arise
• Ability to work well independently as well as collaboratively
• Ability to execute meetings, calls and emails with professionalism, courtesy and accuracy
• Ability to effectively allocate and prioritize time to several tasks to ensure completion
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None.
FLSA CLASSIFICATION:
Exempt.
ELIGIBILITY FOR REMOTE WORK:
No.
LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one, small group, and large group situations.
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
REASONING ABILITY: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to find, handle, or feel. The employee frequently is required to talk or hear. The employee is required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 20 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and humid conditions and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
DISCLAIMER:
The above job description is designed to denote the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications of employees assigned to this job.