Senior Director of Health Services (SY25-26)

Boston Public Schools•Boston, MA

10d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Director of Health Services will oversee the quality and efficiency of school health services and Home and Hospital Tutoring to ensure the equitable impact of health initiatives across the district. This administrative and strategic planning leadership role involves maintaining standards of care, monitoring school nursing staff improvements, and ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations to meet the needs of all BPS students. The Senior Director will oversee the office of Health Services and Home and Hospital Tutoring. The Senior Director must bring an understanding of racial equity and its intersections with health equity and a commitment to culturally and linguistically sustaining practices/cultural responsiveness to guide their work in this role. The Senior Director is responsible for assisting the Chief of Student Support with (1) creating, communicating, executing, and sustaining strategic initiatives, (2) supporting the professional growth and development of the Office of Health Services and Home and Hospital Tutoring leadership team, (3) managing communications and meeting structures within the Office of Health Services and Home and Hospital Tutoring, (4) supporting cross-departmental and cross-divisional collaboration in service of system initiatives and other BPS priorities, and (5) working with key stakeholders in the community to support the development and implementation of programs and projects aligned with BPS’s vision and Strategic Implementation Plan in the health, safety and academic success of all BPS students. The Senior Director will serve as the BPS representative in partnerships with the City of Boston, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and other external agencies involving health services and home and hospital tutoring. Responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the overall operations of the Office of Health Services and Home and Hospital Tutoring Ensures compliance with school health standards regarding the care provided to all age groups of students within BPS. Cross-departmental collaboration is needed to ensure compliance with DESE, MASS DPH, BPS, and Board of Registration in Nursing regulations regarding hiring and staffing. Maintains performance improvement activities within the department and participates in Continuous Quality Improvement activities. Managing the departmental needs of Home and Hospital tutoring, and student support services Directs department tracking systems, timelines, and protocols to identify and assess student, school, and service delivery needs Oversees the assessment process for the delivery of services and resources to students identified as requiring home/hospital tutoring Assists in formulating the budget and maintains efficient and effective departmental operations with required compliance with all state, federal, and local regulations, laws, standards, and protocols. Direct the training and instruction of BPS School Nurses Establishing goals and policies with the nursing leadership and the home and hospital team Overseeing and managing performance in the Office of Health Services, inclusive of Home and Hospital Tutoring, in collaboration with the Office of Specialized Services and Early Childhood Special Education Oversight and supervision of Health Services’ staff members Monitoring the department's finances of student health services Recruiting new leaders to the department, as well as motivating existing staff Representing BPS school nurses and the Department of Health Services and Home and Hospital Tutoring Ensure a high standard of nursing services for all BPS students Use strategic planning to balance efficient and optimal student health services Create and maintain standards of care Review reports and communicate issues with the Chief of Student Support Leading the development of systems and processes that create a culture that delivers optimal service and student- and family-centered health and wellness care, resulting in the success of the BPS student experience. Promotes the mission, vision, and values of BPS. Knows and practices the prescribed philosophy, purpose, policies, and standards of Nursing/School Health Service and Home and Hospital Tutoring. Organizes, directs, and administers the Nursing/Health Services to provide the level of care required by current nursing standards. Plans and coordinates with the Chief of Student Support, utilizing the respective Health Services Nursing Leadership staff for planning the budgeting requirements for personnel, supplies, and equipment. Responsible for cost controls to ensure maximum effectiveness of funds expended from the approved departmental budgets. Supports and develops the coordination of the employee selection process, performance evaluations, and staff development for Health Services and Home and Hospital. Maintains assessments, data analysis, and evaluation of student care delivery and communicates with the Administration on the activities/issues of Health Services. Plans and recommends new facilities, equipment, or modifications to the Administration to provide safe and effective health services. Recommends, supports, and participates in education services, programs, and training, including new employee orientation. Encourages and facilitates the professional advancement of employees by affording opportunities for further education and professional development. Initiates and participates in problem-solving and policy-forming conferences for Health Service and Home and Hospital Tutoring. Maintain close coordination with all departments to ensure continuity and service collaboration. Supports the oversight of staff writing and monitoring of funding opportunities concerning school health services initiatives, ensuring the successful implementation of grants in alignment with the district’s health and racial equity priorities and the strategic plan. Works with the Health Services leadership team to ensure successful collaboration with the nurse joint union management team. Works collaboratively with staff and leadership across the department, division, and district, serving as the lead representative for school health issues with the City of Boston, the Commonwealth, and other external health agencies. Leads the development and management of partnerships with internal and external health experts and agencies that are responsive and reflective of students regarding health initiatives within BPS. Prepares ongoing data reports for the district concerning health services, home and hospital tutoring services, and trends, and presents/shares them with stakeholders as needed. Serves on internal/external committees and performs other duties as requested by the Chief of Student Support. Serve as a member of the District Crisis team and support developing and implementing health emergency protocols. Manages district health partnerships and works closely with Public Health experts and community providers who support families in medical crisis Regularly engages in opportunities to maintain knowledge of current evidence-based practices to support learning specific to their roles and expertise. Ensures collaboration with students and families to promote treatment integrity and improve success at home and school Applies ethics and standards of professional nursing practice in delivering school health services and observes relevant laws and policies that govern practice. Is aware of and complies with Federal, State, and Local laws & regulations and BPS policies and procedures. Identifies structures, conditions, and practices that perpetuate racism and inequities and actively works to change these to positively impact students, families and schools. Understands the influence of diversity (e.g., culture, language, SES, sexual orientation, race, gender) when designing and implementing interventions to support learning and behavioral outcomes. Oversees the implementation of an intentional and cohesive professional development series that meets DESE andprofessional licensure requirements, advances racial and health equity endeavors, and ensures highly skilled, culturally responsive, anti racist school nurses and providers in every BPS school.

Requirements

Master’s Degree or higher in Nursing
Demonstrated knowledge of the impact of the stresses of racism and poverty on students and their families served within urban school systems
Demonstrated cultural proficiency and commitment to culturally and linguistically sustaining practices and anti-racism
Minimum three (3) years working in an urban setting with diverse populations with proven effective and culturally responsive experience serving Black/ African American and Latinx populations and ability to lead others in conversations of race, racism,what pa and culture
Demonstrate capability to establish positive relationships and work collaboratively with various stakeholders, such as school-based staff, central administration staff, families, students, community members, community agencies, and other essential partners while remaining student-centered, prioritizing racial equity, and managing competing demands.
Growth, problem-solving, and a team-oriented mindset.

Nice To Haves

Current Massachusetts Registered Nurse License
Certification by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Education as a School Nurse requires a Master's degree in Nursing, Pubic Health, or a Related Field.
Current certification in CPR, First Aid, & AED
Clinical experience working with children, adolescents, and families in a school health setting
Experience working with external health agencies and hospitals
BPS strongly prefers linguistic diversity, and we believe candidates who speak another language bring added value to the classroom, school, and district cultures.
BPS is particularly interested in candidates who are fluent in one of its official languages:Spanish, Creole (Cape Verdean), Creole (Haitian), Chinese, Vietnamese, Portuguese, or Somali.

Responsibilities

Planning, organizing, and directing the overall operations of the Office of Health Services and Home and Hospital Tutoring
Ensuring compliance with school health standards regarding the care provided to all age groups of students within BPS
Maintaining performance improvement activities within the department and participates in Continuous Quality Improvement activities
Managing the departmental needs of Home and Hospital tutoring, and student support services
Directing department tracking systems, timelines, and protocols to identify and assess student, school, and service delivery needs
Overseeing the assessment process for the delivery of services and resources to students identified as requiring home/hospital tutoring
Assisting in formulating the budget and maintains efficient and effective departmental operations with required compliance with all state, federal, and local regulations, laws, standards, and protocols
Directing the training and instruction of BPS School Nurses
Establishing goals and policies with the nursing leadership and the home and hospital team
Overseeing and managing performance in the Office of Health Services, inclusive of Home and Hospital Tutoring, in collaboration with the Office of Specialized Services and Early Childhood Special Education
Overseeing and supervising Health Services’ staff members
Monitoring the department's finances of student health services
Recruiting new leaders to the department, as well as motivating existing staff
Representing BPS school nurses and the Department of Health Services and Home and Hospital Tutoring
Ensuring a high standard of nursing services for all BPS students
Using strategic planning to balance efficient and optimal student health services
Creating and maintaining standards of care
Reviewing reports and communicate issues with the Chief of Student Support
Leading the development of systems and processes that create a culture that delivers optimal service and student- and family-centered health and wellness care, resulting in the success of the BPS student experience
Promoting the mission, vision, and values of BPS
Knowing and practicing the prescribed philosophy, purpose, policies, and standards of Nursing/School Health Service and Home and Hospital Tutoring
Organizing, directing, and administering the Nursing/Health Services to provide the level of care required by current nursing standards
Planning and coordinating with the Chief of Student Support, utilizing the respective Health Services Nursing Leadership staff for planning the budgeting requirements for personnel, supplies, and equipment
Being responsible for cost controls to ensure maximum effectiveness of funds expended from the approved departmental budgets
Supporting and developing the coordination of the employee selection process, performance evaluations, and staff development for Health Services and Home and Hospital
Maintaining assessments, data analysis, and evaluation of student care delivery and communicates with the Administration on the activities/issues of Health Services
Planning and recommending new facilities, equipment, or modifications to the Administration to provide safe and effective health services
Recommending, supporting, and participating in education services, programs, and training, including new employee orientation
Encouraging and facilitating the professional advancement of employees by affording opportunities for further education and professional development
Initiating and participating in problem-solving and policy-forming conferences for Health Service and Home and Hospital Tutoring
Maintaining close coordination with all departments to ensure continuity and service collaboration
Supporting the oversight of staff writing and monitoring of funding opportunities concerning school health services initiatives, ensuring the successful implementation of grants in alignment with the district’s health and racial equity priorities and the strategic plan
Working with the Health Services leadership team to ensure successful collaboration with the nurse joint union management team
Working collaboratively with staff and leadership across the department, division, and district, serving as the lead representative for school health issues with the City of Boston, the Commonwealth, and other external health agencies
Leading the development and management of partnerships with internal and external health experts and agencies that are responsive and reflective of students regarding health initiatives within BPS
Preparing ongoing data reports for the district concerning health services, home and hospital tutoring services, and trends, and presents/shares them with stakeholders as needed
Serving on internal/external committees and performs other duties as requested by the Chief of Student Support
Serving as a member of the District Crisis team and support developing and implementing health emergency protocols
Managing district health partnerships and works closely with Public Health experts and community providers who support families in medical crisis
Regularly engaging in opportunities to maintain knowledge of current evidence-based practices to support learning specific to their roles and expertise
Ensuring collaboration with students and families to promote treatment integrity and improve success at home and school
Applying ethics and standards of professional nursing practice in delivering school health services and observes relevant laws and policies that govern practice
Being aware of and complies with Federal, State, and Local laws & regulations and BPS policies and procedures
Identifying structures, conditions, and practices that perpetuate racism and inequities and actively works to change these to positively impact students, families and schools
Understanding the influence of diversity (e.g., culture, language, SES, sexual orientation, race, gender) when designing and implementing interventions to support learning and behavioral outcomes
Overseeing the implementation of an intentional and cohesive professional development series that meets DESE andprofessional licensure requirements, advances racial and health equity endeavors, and ensures highly skilled, culturally responsive, anti racist school nurses and providers in every BPS school