Residential Life Coordinator

State of North Carolina

About The Position

Governor Morehead School (GMS) is the flagship school in North Carolina that serves the special needs of visually impaired students, in a unique residential setting. Apart from its flagship status as the only residential school in the state for visually impaired students, GMS is renowned for its excellent program in Orientation and Mobility as well as its Braille Music program. The Governor Morehead School for the Blind (GMS) provides residential and day educational programs to blind and/or visually impaired students, ages five to 22 years. Governor Morehead School strives to offer specialized educational opportunities, community outreach, and an immersive environment for North Carolina students with visual impairments and additional disabilities. Through unique and expert instruction, GMS creates a dynamic and inclusive environment for students to reach their highest potential in developing knowledge, skills, confidence, and values that will support them as independent, life-long learners to contribute to our global society. This position provides instruction in job awareness, job preparation, and job procurement; assist students in obtaining on-campus and off-campus work; provides job coaching and follow-up support to students working in on-campus and off-campus settings; transports students to and from off-campus interviews and jobs.; establishes relationships with local employers to develop job opportunities for students. Employees will be responsible to align the residential learning environment with the ECC (Expanded Core Curriculum).

Requirements

Valid NC Teacher's License (or eligible for such)
Certified in Special Ed or Cross Categorical Teacher of the Visually Impaired, and/or willing to obtain the necessary add-on certification to teach this group of students.
Highly Qualified in their content area.
Experience working with students having blindness and/or visual impairments in an educational setting.
Bachelor’s degree in child development, special education, education or a closely related field from an appropriately accredited institution and one year of experience with the population served, in a residential program, or in a goal-oriented program; or Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from an appropriately accredited institution and two years of the above experience; or Associate’s degree from an appropriately accredited institution and three years of the above experience, one of which must have been supervisory; or High school or General Education Development (GED) diploma and five years of the above experience, two of which must have been supervisory.
Demonstrate a strong understanding of accepted instructional practices.
Classroom/instructional strategies and management.
Current strategies for student assessment, goal setting, and evaluation of student growth.
Work collaboratively as a member of a multidisciplinary team.
Develop positive relationships with students, staff, families, and community partners.
Communicate effectively in writing and verbally with students, staff, families, and the general public.
Demonstrate flexibility to meet the individual needs of students as well as adapt to program needs; and
Use current technology to provide quality instruction in the classroom and to perform web-based functions and prepare reports.

Responsibilities

Exercises decision making in day-to-day operations including staff and student placement, program development, crisis management and staff development needs
Develops, coordinates, implements and monitors the Residential, Recreation, Independent Living Center, Behavioral/Social and Independent Living Apartment (ILA) Programs
Develops & implements policies & procedures and ensures they are followed.
Responds to phone calls, memos, letters, emails, and other types of communication from GMS staff, parents/guardians and public
Develops, prepares, revises, and maintains forms and manuals, i.e., safety check sheets, census, cottage placement list, shift reports, ILA manual, attendance sheets, progress notes, off campus forms, calendars, etc.
Implements the Student Life Education Framework (Curriculum), Independent Living and Behavioral/Social Skills ensuring staff have completed assessments, daily progress notes, and evaluations.
Submits shift reports daily to supervisor.
Submits incident reports with consequences following GMS discipline policy to the supervisor.
Works collaboratively with the Behavioral Technicians regarding student discipline and behaviors.
Handles crises that arise including student or staff accidents, abuse allegations and safety issues.
Inventories needs of Programs, which includes equipment, supplies, computers, linens, furniture, pool tables, exercise equipment, and other necessary supplies, etc. Initiates and oversees appropriate requisition of items.
Prepares & submits forms for maintenance and business office, i.e., work orders, purchasing, and telephone.
Develops and disseminates letters to parents/guardian concerning student activities and other matters pertaining to their family member.
Sets and facilitates program staff meetings
Attends and participates in student Individual Education Plans, Team Meetings, and other meetings as required.
Maintains student’s spending money, writes receipts, dispenses money and makes change.
Oversees building safety & conducts fire drills, completes reports and disseminates to appropriate staff.
Assists with Transportation Services, acts as monitor and driver when needed.
Implements personnel responsibilities including recruitment of employees, evaluation of applicants and recommendations for hiring staff. Implements the performance management plans (PMPs), monitors performance and completes performance evaluations on Trainers. Handles personnel issues including disciplinary action with guidance from the Student Life Director. Keeps time records on staff which includes approving hours.
Completes and communicates all pertinent information regarding student status management at shift changes on safety check sheets, census forms, cottage placement lists, cottage notebooks, student logs, progress notes
Participates in meetings conducted by Supervisor, Behavior Technician, In-Service Trainers, or School Director, etc.
Provides documentation of behavior changes, sleep patterns and reactions to medications.
Attends all mandatory meetings, trainings, in-services, orientations, and staff development trainings.
Evaluates and maintains required records on students including completing Progress Notes, assessments or evaluations on Independent Living Skills according to Student Life Education Framework (Curriculum).
Completes and approves BEACON timesheets, leave forms and other personnel documentation accurately meeting deadlines.
Completes student incident reports within 24 hours and gives to appropriate person.
Completes telephone logs, progress notes, evaluations, and other documents, etc. accurately meeting
Communicates issues and concerns to supervisor in timely and professional manner.
Takes precautions to ensure safe environment.
Monitors and reports unsafe equipment.
Reports needed cottage/houses repairs to supervisor.
Supervises and assists students with care of personal clothing and other personal items.
Maintains cottage/houses cleanliness.
Properly stores and uses cleaning supplies.
Maintains security of cottages/houses by keeping required doors locked.
Reports broken or hazardous equipment/furniture.
Keeps floors free of spills and unsafe objects.
Ensures smoking regulations are followed.
Participates in fire, tornado, and safety drills.
Properly disposes of all biohazard materials and disinfects area.
Reports to work on time and is ready for shift duties at designated time
Follows the signing in and out procedures.
Follows procedure for giving advance notice for absence/tardiness.
Schedules vacation, comp time, or other leave 5 days in advance
Follows Student Life Leave Procedures and Guidelines
Does not abuse sick time.
Dresses in manner appropriate for activities.
Serves as a role model for students in grooming, hygiene, and health.
Relates to staff and students in a courteous/cooperative manner.
Follows appropriate channels of communication and chain of command.
Accepts assignments/change of assignments without disruption and with positive attitude.
Provides direction to families and visitors in a courteous manner.
Assigns staff to work stations and resolves issues regarding the assignments.
Monitors and manages attendance by enforcing sign-in procedures and maintaining timesheets/ BEACON and leave forms on staff.
Monitors and checks nightly the staff notebooks, student files, and reports.
Monitors staff to ensure that students are properly supervised, are participating in activities, and are being escorted to activities safely. Discusses student placements with assigned staff on an ongoing basis.
Monitors activities for students and provides feedback regarding techniques, quality, etc.
Ensures student’s living conditions are clean and properly maintained.
Discusses schedules and calendars with staff regularly and seeks their input.
Prepares PMPs for each staff, discusses with the staff and evaluates in a timely manner.
Counsels staff and take disciplinary action when necessary following State Personnel and GMS policies.
Prepares, conducts and evaluates monthly staff meetings while sharing information, eliciting ideas/feedback, finding resolutions for problems, & answering questions that arise regarding students.
Responsible for the recruitment, hiring, training of new employees.
Schedules staff to attend mandated training and workshops.
Provides staff development by selecting and /or identifying staff development needs.
Assists in securing resources to assist in training and/or providing specific treatment for students
Reports early signs of behavior & mood changes to appropriate professionals (Behavior Program Technicians, Psychologist, Social Worker, Student Health Center staff, Safety Officer, Guidance Counselors, and/or other necessary academic program personnel) and takes appropriate measures to decrease escalating agitation.
Disciplines students according to the Code of Conduct when students violate or disregard rules
Carries out school policies and maintains appropriate vigilance for students on all procedures/precautions.
Responds to specific life-threatening situations, takes immediate action according to established procedures (first aid measures, basic life support, contacting the Student Health Center, etc.).