26-27 Founding Director of Specialized Services

KIPP • Paterson, NJ

1d • $120,000 - $135,000

About The Position

The Director of Specialized Services oversees and executes the success and implementation of specialized programming in KIPP Paterson. The Director ensures compliance with state and federal legislation related to our special populations. Our specialized services department provides programming for students with IEPs, 504s, MLL, bilingual and gifted and talented services. The Director drives academic results by establishing and maintaining strong team culture, coaching teammates and envisioning, designing, inspecting, and iterating on the systems that drive excellent programming for all students.

Requirements

• At least 4 years of experience as a special education teacher
• At least 2 years of experience in a leadership role (department chair, grade level team person, dean, or assistant principal)
• At least 2 years of experience coaching special education teachers
• At least 2 years of experience chairing IEP meetings
• Has received satisfactory ratings on all teacher/administrator evaluations the last 4 years

Nice To Haves

• A master’s degree in education, ideally with a concentration in Special Education
• Experience serving students from linguistically diverse backgrounds
• Experience in a high-performing district or charter environment

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a vision for specialized services at KIPP Paterson
• Develop and execute a vision that is unique to the context, but aligned to the regional vision for specialized services, including a full continuum of special education services at KIPP Paterson, prioritizing an inclusive model for student service, multilingual education services and a gifted and talented program
• Leads SPED diagnosis walkthroughs to improve specialized services and systems in collaboration with school based leaders. Progress monitors follow through and effectiveness of actions.
• Coach and develop School Leaders and Assistant Principals in developing content knowledge and instructional leadership capacity in all domains of KIPP Specialized services, including: Special Education, Multi-lingual learners and gifted and talented programing
• Engage in coaching & strategy sessions with Assistant Principals to support with execution of specialized programming on campus. Provide coaching sessions focused on continuous learning of special education practices and policies, data analysis, response to data analysis, planning teacher coaching experiences, etc.
• Co-plan, conduct classroom walkthroughs analyzing LS instructional effectiveness and areas of growth, model coaching and lead professional development experiences for APs
• Collaborate with School Leaders on the development of their Assistant Principals, and on driving initiatives that will improve academic outcomes for kids receiving specialized services in our region.
• Ensures the district’s compliance with federal, state, and local requirements on specialized programs
• Prepares all Federal, State and local reports on special education, MLL and gifted programs
• Keeps district staff, parents, and appropriate members of the public informed of all legal requirements governing special programs (SPED, MLL and G&T)
• Develops and maintains complete and cumulative records of all classified students and monitors access to records in a manner compliant to code
• Prepares the district’s Special Education Program for onsite monitoring by Federal and State officials.
• Ensures district procedures for student referral, identification, evaluation, eligibility, classification, IEP, placement, annual review and reevaluation that comply with requirements for parental notice, participation and consent
• Develops procedures for periodic review of status of all classified pupils including monitoring of computerized IEP and database system
• Represent the district in mediations
• Oversee child study teams and lead all functional areas in special education in the region through the management, coaching, development, and progress monitoring.
• Develop and manage systems for strong facilitation of child study teams including assignment of Child Study Team members, teachers, therapists and instructional assistants to ensure compliance with all IEP mandated services.
• Manage SLP (speech language pathology), SWk (social work), and/or Evaluators/Related Service Providers and any related contractors
• Engage in progress monitoring against key metrics in each functional area, and support with problem-solving in this area as needed.
• Co-plan, observe/feedback, model coaching and professional development experiences for CST teammembers
• Develop and execute a vision for Multi-lingual learner programs, including ESL and bilingual instruction.
• Develop and manage instructional management systems for ESL teachers and ESL and bilingual instruction
• Ensures district procedures for identification, monitoring and exiting ESL programming
• Monitor student data to monitor progress towards goals and determine instructional adjustments
• Oversees WIDA Screener and ACCESS testing for the district
• Lead professional development for teachers and leaders, aligned to the KIPP academic program, standards, curriculum, and assessments.
• Engage in coaching & strategy sessions with Assistant Principals of Special Education to support curriculum internalization, data analysis, response to data analysis, planning teacher coaching experiences, etc.
• Co-plan, observe/feedback, model coaching and professional development experiences for APs as needed.
• Adapt and/or create curriculum and assessments to meet the demands of local context.
• Develop a vision and curricular model for replacement ELA and math instruction at KIPP TEAM & Family for the designated grade bands of service
• Determine the appropriate supports in Science and Social Studies curricula for the designated grade bands of service
• Preview and review KIPP NJi ELA & math curricula and make modifications based on local context and requirements, as well as the data-based needs of students in each region, for the designated grade bands of service
• Create curricular science and social studies support as needed, with support and guidance from T&L team.
• Collaborate with the network T&L TEAM, Regional Special Education TEAMs, Room 9/10/11 on network and region-wide initiatives.
• Engage in weekly Regional Leadership TEAM meetings and other events.
• Monitor and analyze data to lead school leadership teams in weekly SPED data meetings
• Engage in other related projects as needed, e.g. school walk-throughs, network-wide professional development sessions, etc.
• Engage as a member of the NJ State testing team, overseeing NJSLA accommodations, ACCESS Testing and Alternate Assessment testing

Benefits

• Robust benefits that include medical, dental, and vision
• Participation in the New Jersey Teachers Pension and Annuity Fund, provided appropriate teacher certification
• Optional participation in the KIPP NJ 403b retirement plan, including matching contributions
• A school-issued laptop
• Transportation benefits for TEAMmates commuting into Newark from the New York City area
• Generous Time-Off, including some school vacation weeks (depending on the year), allocated sick and personal days, and an extended summer break
• Up to 12 weeks 100% parental leave for primary caregivers
• Employer paid life insurance
• Extensive optional ancillary benefits including, short term and long term disability and accident and hospital indemnity

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director