Resume Drop: Dean of Student Support

KIPP New Orleans Schools • New Orleans, LA

31d

About The Position

The Dean of Student Support Services (DSS) is responsible for ensuring that all students receiving special education services receive comprehensive, compassionate, and equitable services in order to achieve significant academic gains for all of our students with IEPs. The Dean of Student Support will lead the implementation, and management of KNOS Special Education Program, policies, and procedures, and work collaboratively with all Student Support Teammates (Social Workers, Psychologists, MTSS leads and SLPs), service providers, and families to provide a strong educational program for all KIPPsters.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• At least 3 years of effective K–12 classroom teaching with clear evidence of student growth, including experience serving students with disabilities (e.g., special education teacher, inclusion/resource teacher, interventionist).
• 1–2 years of formal or informal leadership in special education or student support (e.g., Special Education Coordinator, Case Manager Lead, RTI/MTSS/504 Chair, Grade Level/Content Lead) supporting adults through IEP/504 processes, data meetings, and/or coaching—preferably in public, urban, or charter settings.
• Deep understanding of IDEA and Section 504; the IEP and 504 processes; specially designed instruction; accommodations and modifications; inclusive practices; and collaboration between general and special educators.
• Strong knowledge of MTSS/RTI, progress monitoring, behavior intervention, and restorative/culturally responsive practices; commitment to school culture systems that are identity-affirming, safe, and inclusive for students with disabilities.
• Demonstrated data fluency with SIS/LMS and assessment tools (e.g., PowerSchool/Infinite Campus, Illuminate, NWEA/MAP, curriculum-based measures) and productivity suites (Microsoft Office/Google Workspace) to monitor student progress, compliance, and service delivery.
• Proven ability to build strong partnerships with families, related service providers, paraprofessionals, and external agencies in support of students with disabilities.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Special Education, Educational Leadership/Administration, School Psychology, Social Work, or a related field.
• Special education teaching certification and/or related service license (e.g., Mild/Moderate, Significant Disabilities, School Psychologist, Social Worker).
• Prior success as a Special Education Coordinator, Dean of Student Support, or similar role leading school-wide special education and student support initiatives.
• Demonstrated success improving outcomes and inclusion for students with disabilities in urban, open-enrollment schools, including progress toward closing gaps in achievement, placement, or discipline disproportionality.
• Experience designing and facilitating professional development for teachers and staff on special education, differentiated instruction, MTSS/RTI, and behavior systems.

Responsibilities

• Ability to execute consistent and effective coaching cycle with specialized programs coaching focus)
• Ability to develop continuum-aligned and targeted schedules for self, sped teachers, and related service providers &s that drives urgent academic & compliance outcomes
• Ability to manage a multidisciplinary team to generate IEP aligned outcomes for students (Sped Teachers, Social Worker, ESL Teacher, SLP & Psychologist- in collaboration with Regional Manager)
• Ability to navigate Sped Specific & KNOS Data Platforms (SER to manage & maintain student records & Tableau & Powerschool)
• Establish & maintain organization systems for IEP Meetings & IEP Student Records maintenance (SER/Binders)
• Establish & execute system audits for IEP Meetings & Student Records (SER/Binders)
• Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with school based leadership team members to problem solve and ensure the fidelity of individualized plans (IEPs, 504s, BIPs, etc)
• Ability to communicate and collaborate with families to ensure deep partnership & transparency in supporting student with IEP
• Maintain a pulse on the health of all diverse learner programming including instruction, behavior, social/emotional progress, and adaptive skill development
• Engage in observation, real-time coaching & feedback cycle for specialized settings on Instructional Coaching caseload
• Plan, Prepare and execute weekly coaching check-ins with teachers of specialized settings
• Develop, maintain, and audit Sped Teacher schedules to ensure continuum-aligned instructional minutes mirror IEP program services
• Develop, maintain, and audit Related Service Provider schedules to ensure instructional minutes align with IEP program services
• Train Special Education teachers on how to effectively write an IEP and monitor progress to goal
• Facilitate IEP meetings within timeline
• Provide feedback to case-managers on 100% of IEPs before entering and finalizing in SER
• Develop, maintain, and share IEP calendar with all key stakeholders to ensure case managers are able to complete 100% of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in timeline
• Develop and execute a cycle of weekly/bi-weekly student service log audits including reviews of recent IEP meeting paperwork to ensure ongoing compliance.
• Ensure that all teachers and leaders are aware of scholars ELL, IEP and 504 accommodations and have visible structures to implement with fidelity
• Collaborate w/ MTSS Team to develop & monitor 504 plans & organize & communicate accommodations to all teachers, families & administrators
• Manage service providers through regular check-ins to ensure all compliance outcomes within timeline
• Collaborate with Psychologists to meet all evaluation deadlines and remove barriers through regular check-ins
• Lead teams to meet schoolwide compliance outcomes.
• Collaborate with SOL to coordinate & problem solve ongoing Special Transportation challenges (Special Transportation is owned by School based DSO)
• Collaborate with Leadership Team to consult on and monitor suspensions of all students with IEPs & execute MDR Meeting when any students exceed 10 suspensions
• Collaborate with MTSS Team and write behavior Intervention plans and attend all FBA/BIP Meetings
• Advocating for ability to engage and model restorative approaches to discipline with students, families and teachers serving students diverse learners with IEPs
• 10/1: 100% Students within jurisdiction & meet compliance requirements
• 2/1: 100% Students within jurisdiction & meet compliance requirements
• 100% students who meet requirements qualify & complete LEAP Connect assessment
• 100% students receive IEP aligned accommodations & complete all assessments
• Modification of KNOS Curriculum/Student Work: 100% students receive IEP aligned modifications and accommodations in core content classes
• IEP Meetings: 100% of IEP meetings are held within timelines & all documentation is completed and organized in Students Records (SER & Binder)
• Student Records: Digitize, organize & maintain compliance student records

Benefits

• Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience, and we routinely engage in compensation analysis for all roles across the organization to ensure that we remain competitive in the market.
• 403(b) retirement plan – KNOS matches 100% of employee contribution up to the first 5% of salary and any bonuses. Vested immediately in 403(b).
• KNOS employees are eligible for health and wellbeing benefits starting the first day of the month following their Date of Hire.
• Comprehensive, customizable health coverage, including disability, life insurance, hospital indemnity, FSAs for health and dependent care, and free dental and vision for employees.
• KNOS employees are provided ~30 paid holidays and additional paid time off.
• Opportunities for on-going professional development.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees