Dean of Student Supports

Excel Academy Charter Schools•Campus TBD, MA

2d•$74 - $120

About The Position

The Dean of Student Supports ensures that students receiving special education and/or 504 accommodations make significant academic gains in line with the school’s Big Goals and ensures that compliance tasks are completed and deadlines met related to Special Education and directly manages special education staff and teachers. This position will report to the Head of School.

Requirements

A Bachelor’s degree is required; a Master’s degree is preferred.
License or a plan to pursue DESE required licensure prior to the start date: Learning Specialists, Special Education Teachers, ROSE Teachers, and Special Education Coordinators and Administrators must hold a Moderate Disabilities or Severe Disabilities license.
A minimum of three years’ special education teaching experience in an urban public school or charter school setting is strongly preferred
Mission Alignment
You share a commitment to and belief in all students and the mission of Excel Academy Charter Schools, including Excel’s values and educational model
You are committed to addressing racial and economic inequity in education
You work effectively in a team environment and have a willingness and desire to support others in doing their best work
You are open to change, are willing to problem-solve, and seek feedback for your own professional growth and improvement

Nice To Haves

Preference will be given to applicants who share points of intersection with our students, such as speaking Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, or a language commonly spoken by our students and families at an advanced level, being first generation college graduates, or having grown up low-income.

Responsibilities

Drive High Quality Student Supports, Inclusive Classrooms, and Interventions
Coach teachers to create a classroom that reflects Excel’s vision for rigorous and inclusive education in line with the “Least Dangerous Assumption,” where high expectations are the norm for all students
Observe classes regularly and give written and verbal feedback to teachers and co-teachers, with or without the Dean of Curriculum and Instruction or Head of School
Lead professional development, supported by the Dean of Curriculum and Instruction and Head of School, on inclusive teaching practices, differentiation, and student-specific needs and accommodations as needed to ensure that all students receive an equitable education
Collect, analyze, and share student achievement and equity data and work with other members of the admin team to ensure data is used strategically to improve quality of student support programs (behavior intervention plans, academic interventions, co-teaching, etc.)
Lead the Child Study Team process for the school
Partner with the Dean of Student office to ensure that students with disabilities have supportive behavior plans as needed and as indicated in their IEPs
Directly manage and cultivate key staff members
Ensure frequent points of contact with all direct reports. Develop structures to ensure presence in all classrooms weekly at a minimum. Meet with all direct reports bi-weekly at a minimum, sending agendas in advance and supporting teachers to develop agendas to maximize the utility of meetings
Manage and support team including Learning Specialists and ELL Specialists
Provide school-based support and direction to the SLP, Reading Specialist, and school-based services like OT. Serve as the leader of the school-based Learning Support Team
Manage Special Education Documentation
Serve as the final owner of special education evaluations, IEP timelines, and 504 paperwork
Serve as evaluation team chair for all special education evaluations
Support network Special Education Parent Advisory Council meeting coordination
Serve as Local Educational Agency representative (LEA) for the school
Coordinate, monitor, and provide planning support for all modified courses. Support compliance with IEP/504 suspension and other discipline regulations
Support the Head of School in School Leadership
With the head of school, Articulate a vision for Excel’s program and translate that vision into action. Develop and perform regular school health assessments. Create a dynamic and innovative staff culture; including developing and upholding staff norms, and mediating disputes as needed
Support efforts for knowledge management and continual improvement
On an ongoing basis, set the tone of highest expectations and urgency
Oversee relevant programmatic budgets
Productive member of the Administrative Team, Model flexibility, creativity, generosity of spirit by supporting members of the administrative to the best of your ability. Lean in to difficult situations and conversations, when necessary, while maintaining a generosity of spirit and willingness to “call people” in to work through tension or conflict
Serve as a productive member of the Excel Community
Participate in generating and upholding Excel Staff Norms
Act as a substitute teacher when needed
Meaningfully participate in Friday meetings, school PD and Family Conferences
Meaningfully participate in the network-wide community of instructional leaders