School Director

Job Title School Director Hours Required 40 Job Description and Hours This position functions as leader of the program management team. The Alpha School Director provides both leadership and management for: administrative, programmatic, educational, mental health, public awareness, human resources, client, and fiscal concerns at Alpha School. 1 . Reports to work as scheduled on a regular and reliable basis. 2. Must not appear on the APS/CPS Registry for abuse/neglect, or have been dismissed from prior employment due to suspected abuse/neglect. Must be able to pass a criminal background check. 3. Must meet and maintain physical requirements of the position which include 75 pound lifting requirement. 4. Provide supervision of implementation and administration of ongoing therapeutic and educational programs for all clients enrolled in Alpha School Program. 5. Provide supervision and guidance to Alpha staff and the program's operation. This includes hiring, evaluating, training, monitoring staff supervision/performance, and providing resources necessary• to assure both quantity and quality of services. 6. Be responsible for the centers' compliance with rules and regulations 7. Assure monthly, quarterly, and annually the quality of care and the adequacy of services being offered by Alpha School to ensure compliance with State of Nebraska laws and regulations and to fulfill requirements as set forth with the contracted public school districts. a. Assure compliance with local, state, and federal requirements that relate to health and safety. b. Assure compliance with DHHS school-age-only licensure standards, NDE Special Ed. Rule 51. 8. Maintain fiscal control of program revenue and expenditures to include: a. Preparation of fiscal year line item budget b. Preparation of NOE rate application c. Supervision of monthly billing process d. Monthly monitoring of budget expenditures 9. Assure compliance to the ENHSA Policy manual, and relevant accreditation and/or certification requirements. Maintain compliance to the Alpha School procedures, the school policy manual, and the staff handbook. 10. Assure maintenance, cleanliness, safety, and overall appearance of the building and grounds that comprise Alpha School. 11. Provide effective leadership to Alpha School staff and promote ongoing staff/program development to meet the school's and community's needs. 12. Maintain annually established enrollments (membership) in the Alpha School program. Adjust programmatic responses to current attendance patterns to keep attendance at a consistently high rate, given the current student population and conditions. 13. Keep current on trends and changes in the special education and mental health fields and maintain connections with other professionals in these areas. Maintain satisfactory communication with public school officials and take part In public school/community activities as needed. 14. Maintain a strong working relationship with the ENHSA organization. 15. Maintain a high degree of confidentiality regarding client, personnel and administrative matters at all times. 16. Interact with professionals, staff, and students within a facility that treats severe behavior disordered students. 17. Implement proper behavior management procedures following policies and guidelines with students. 18. Be within the centers area a sufficient number of hours to permit adequate attention to the management of the center. When not in the center: designate another staff to be responsible and accountable for management of the center. 19. Provide written personnel policies and procedures specific to Job Descriptions, responsibilities, position qualifications, skills, knowledge, abilities and physical demands of the job. 20. Schedule training and continuing education for all staff and ensure that records are maintained including the date, topic, and length of time for each training entry. 21. Ensure that center staff identify and review incidents, accidents, complaints, and concerns, and monitor patterns and trends in overall operation and take action to alleviate problems. 22. Develop and implement written procedures that require the reporting of any evidence of physical abuse, neglect, or sexual abuse of any child in care at the school age-only center. 23. Immediately file a report with the Child Abuse-Neglect Hotline (1-800-652-1999) and/or appropriate local law enforcement agency when there is reason to believe child abuse, neglect or sexual abuse may be occurring in the school-age-only center, in the child's home, or elsewhere or ensure that a report is filed. 24. Not knowingly allow any individual who is a registered sex offender on the premises, with the exception of a parent who is a registered sex offender for drop off or pick up of their child. 25. Ensure that the maximum capacity of the school age-only center is not exceeded at any time. 26.0Ensure that staff to child ratios are met at all times. 27. Ensure that parents have access to their child when ever that child is in the care of the center. 28. Develop and use written criteria to assess the ability of staff to give or apply medication safely. OTHER JOB DUTIES: 1 . Possesses and maintain a valid driver's license, with no major violations (including DUI) in the last five years and no more than three moving violations and/or at-fault accidents in the last three years. Must report all moving violations, on or off duty, where a citation or ticket is issued to management within the next working day. 2. Drive an agency van to transport students when needed or required. 3. Must maintain certification in basic First Aid and CPR. 4. Other duties as assigned. EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE: 1. Master's Degree in Special Education, Counseling, Social Work, Psychology, or related field. 2. Experience working with severely emotionally disturbed (SED) and behaviorally disordered (BD) children and/or adolescents and families in a mental health or educational setting. 3. Experience supervising mental health professionals and/or teachers. SKILLS AND ABILITIES: 1 . Ability to interpret, evaluate, enact solutions and analyze results to problems as they pertain to child/adolescent clients attending the Alpha School and their families. 2. Ability to assess self and all staff to provide care for children with special needs while meeting the needs of other children in the program. 3. Ability to provide or monitor training for staff in the Individualized Education Planning process, behavior management theory, social skills/mental health arenas and school-age-only center regulations. 4. Ability to ensure facility's compliance with requisite State and Federal requirements where applicable. Knowledge of Nebraska Department of Education, Regulations and Standards for Special Education Programs, Chapter 51 and Health and Human Services School-Age-Only Licensure standards. 5. Knowledge of the area school districts' special education social service programs, legal/judicial process and their practices and administration. Ability to effectively network with these systems and the consumers of these services. 6. Knowledge of legislative bills and initiatives/community trends affecting special education and/or mental health services on local, state, and federal levels. 7. Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with the ENHSA Board, ENHSA staff, the multi disciplinary staff at Alpha School, parent/guardians, public school staff, and representatives from a variety of systems. These systems include but are not limited to the State of Nebraska, community, social services, mental health/medical, public school, and criminal justice. 8. Knowledge and ability to lead, manage and facilitate a multi disciplinary team in providing special education and mental health services. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. 9. Knowledge of the budgeting process and basic accounting procedures. 10. Ability to effectively identify and analyze problems, seek solutions and options, and act in a professional manner in new or unusual situations. 11. Ability to remain calm, take a proactive position regarding crisis prevention, and move to properly defuse potential crisis situations when they arise. 12. Ability to act as an appropriate role model; exhibiting responsible behaviors, neat and clean appearance, courtesy in daily interactions, and maintaining self-control. 13. Ability to work closely with students of all ages in classroom and recreational environments, as well as in time-out and time after school situations. 14. Ability to provide transportation in a safe, comfortable, responsible manner to persons served in an agency van. Transportation will be provided in a variety of weather and traffic conditions. 15. Ability to follow Emergency preparedness evacuation plans in the event of a fire, tornado or manmade/natural disaster. PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS: 1. Must meet and maintain physical requirements of the position which include 75 pound lifting requirement. 2. Must be able to perform First Aid and CPR when needed. 3. Ability to provide transportation to students, in a variety of weather and traffic conditions, in a safe, comfortable, and responsible manner in an agency van. Note: This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the job and the general nature and level of work performed by jobholders within this job. But, this job description is not intended to be an inclusive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position and may be subject to revision. For over 40 years, Alpha School has offered services for students in southeast Nebraska and Western Iowa who have not been successful in the public school system. Students are typically referred to Alpha school because they are physically aggressive, verbally aggressive, or display other behaviors that negatively impact their academic and/or social progress. Alpha School believes that troubled youth can change if they understand how change benefits them. We begin with the assumption our students have not mastered certain life skills and require participation in our skill development program utilizing a "learning by doing" model.