Director of Student Supports

AXIS International Academy•Fort Collins, CO

10d

About The Position

The Director of Student Supports (DSS) provides strategic and operational leadership for the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of AXIS’s Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS) across Academic (MTSS-A) and Social Emotional Learning/Behavior (MTSS-S) domains. The DSS ensures that all students receive the academic, behavioral, social-emotional, and specialized supports needed to thrive in a multilingual learning environment. This leader partners with school leadership, staff, families, and community agencies to build strong systems that promote student growth, remove barriers to learning, and ensure compliance with state and federal regulations. The DSS serves as a key member of the school’s leadership team.

Requirements

Leadership, staff supervision, and team facilitation.
Exceptional ability to prioritize and manage time efficiently.
Public speaking, writing, listening, problem-solving, and dispute resolution.
Support administrators, teachers, and staff to strengthen schoolwide practices.
Research, data collection, and program evaluation.
Interpersonal skills and building collaborative relationships with staff, families, and students.
Innovation and independent problem solving.
Use instructional technology to support learning and data management.
Current Special Education License or willingness to renew/attain (ideally CO).
Minimum of five years of successful performance as a school administrator or teacher leader.
Knowledge of special education curriculum and programming, Colorado and federal special education law and regulation.
Experience working with diverse student populations.
Experience supporting students with behavioral disabilities and social/emotional challenges.
CPI (Crisis Prevention Institute) certification and/or experience conducting risk assessments or willing to attain.
Citizenship, residency, or work VISA in the United States required.

Responsibilities

Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of a comprehensive MTSS framework aligned to school goals
Supervise, support, and lead the HR cycle for student services staff, including academic and behavioral interventionists and special education providers
Lead MTSS-A and MTSS-S teams using structured, data-driven processes, including weekly meetings
Oversee development, implementation, monitoring, and compliance of student support plans, including: IEPs 504 Plans READ Plans Advanced Learning Plans (ALPs) English Language Plans (ELPs) Kindergarten School Readiness Plans Other intervention and support plans
Co-facilitate student assessment cycle with Director of Operations
Lead monthly Special Education team meetings
Serve as the liaison to our authorizer (CSI) and report on student support programming and plans
Assist in planning budgetary resources and procurement for MTSS programming and materials
Coordinate and/or provide professional development on current evidence-based instructional practices on MTSS, intervention, instructional practices, and other related areas
Facilitate risk assessments, crisis interventions, and violence prevention strategies as needed
Promote family and community engagement to support student success, attend parent meetings and IEP meetings, as needed or designate an IEP admin.
Develop a school-wide intervention schedule, internal and external master calendar, and assessment calendar in collaboration with the Director of Operations and Head of School.
Collaborate regularly with the Director of Operations to ensure Programming and Operations work in tandem, not in silos.
Direct technology onboarding for related programs.
Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal laws and regulations and court orders relevant to instructional practices and staff.?
Collaborate with registrar and enrollment team to ensure plans of incoming students are reviewed and the team and resources are prepped for plan implementation.
Partner with school leadership teams (to include leadership team and content leaders), grade level problem solving teams, and meet with teachers on an ongoing basis to improve classroom instruction, classroom management, and student engagement.
Lead staff in developing and maintaining a healthy school culture aligned with the mission, vision and core values of AXIS.
Create a culture of excellence, teamwork, and collaboration among the staff, teachers, students, and families.
Facilitate effective communication and collaboration across diverse stakeholder groups, including authorizer (CSI) leadership, school administrators, families, community partners, and external agencies.
Support the Head of School with Board of Directors Meetings and lead the Program Excellence Committee.
Fully engage as a member of the leadership team.
Take ownership of team decisions with positive communication among AXIS stakeholders.
Be able and willing to step into the Head of School role on an interim basis as needed.
Other duties as assigned.