About this role
Job Opportunity: Data Specialist and PowerSchool Administrator Location: Sharon Public Schools Work Year: 12-Month Schedule Reports To: Technology Directors for the District Position Summary The Data Specialist and PowerSchool Administrator plays a pivotal role in managing, analyzing, and securing the district's student information data systems. This position oversees critical state and federal compliance reporting, orchestrates essential in-house academic reporting cycles, manages core educational applications, and collaborates across departments to ensure absolute data integrity and data-driven decision-making. Core Performance Responsibilities 1. Compliance & Statutory Reporting
• State Submissions: Coordinate and report all required data submissions to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), including SIMS, SSDR, SCS, and EPIMS.
• Federal Submissions: Direct annual federal reporting mandates, notably the Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC).
• Specialized External Reporting: Manage enrollment, budget, and Special Education (SPED) reports for NESDEC, alongside tracking Homeless and Foster Care enrollments, and compiling the School Attending Children roster.
• Liaison Duties: Act as the primary district liaison to the DESE Information Management Systems field representative, ensuring compliance with all state and federal regulations.
2. System Administration & School Operations
• PowerSchool & Scheduling: Oversee database operations, application system lifecycles (from kickoff meetings to active production), and support Middle and High School administrators with master scheduling via PowerScheduler.
• Academic Cycle Management: Generate report cards, progress reports, and associated metrics on predetermined district schedules.
• ESPED Integration: Manage account roles/permissions within ESPED, handle data extractions, and securely reload SPED datasets back into PowerSchool.
• Operational Routines: Execute comprehensive system routines for both the Beginning of the Year (BOY) and End of the Year (EOY) data transitions.
• Database Infrastructure: Secure regular system backups of the central office and student databases while ensuring fluid data flow across separate district networks.
• Parent Communications: Supporting parents/Guardians with students and parent accounts in Powerschool,Schoology and maintaining the parent portal.
3. In-House Reporting & General Deliverables
• Maintain ongoing internal reports including Attendance, Grades, World Language tracks, and Absence tracking for Human Resources.
• Generate targeted tracking reports for vulnerable student sets, such as failed students (grades D and below).
• Compile data for prestigious distinctions, including National Honor Society eligibility.
• Oversee logistical administrative support tasks, such as generating the physical labels/envelopes for Kindergarten Enrollment and School Attending Children mailings.
• Ability to merge spreadsheet data from multiple sources including Mail Merge projects.
4. Testing, Data Analysis & Financial Collaboration
• Academic Analysis: Utilize software to analyze academic achievement data; collaborate closely with the Superintendent, Director of Curriculum & Instruction, and instructional leaders to deep-dive into student test results.
• Stakeholder Reporting: Design informative data packages and instructional guides to aid counselors, teachers, and administrators in interpreting data to boost classroom outcomes.
• Strategic Studies: Construct research models assessing community, fiscal, and staffing factors that influence or drive overall educational excellence.
• Fiscal Planning: Partner with the Finance Department to merge separate source datasets to compile and build accurate reporting frameworks for upcoming budgets.
5. User Training & Technical Support
• Establish protocols, procedures, and training frameworks for all users utilizing the student information systems.
• Provide ongoing professional support, troubleshoot technology issues, and upgrade hardware/peripheral components as necessary.
Core Applications Managed The specialist will maintain, configure, and connect the following ecosystem components:
• PowerSchool & PowerScheduler
• PowerSchool Enrollment System
• Schoology & ESPED
• SchoolMessenger & School Websites
Required Qualifications
• Education: Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
• Technical Expertise: Demonstrated professional proficiency with PowerSchool or other Student Information Systems, data analysis methodologies, and educational technologies.
• Reporting Fluency: Proven experience managing state (DESE) and federal compliance data pipelines.
• Interpersonal & Communication Skills: Exceptional written and verbal communication strengths with a demonstrated capacity to coordinate across staff, school administrators, parents, and community stakeholders.
Pre-Employment Requirements
• Successful completion of a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check.
• Successful completion of a national fingerprint-based background check.