Associate Director of Support Services (Jamaica)

Elementary Associate Director of Support Services (Jamaica)

Mission Statement: The Growing Up Green Charter School (GUGCS) supports children to be conscious, contributing members of their community through a rigorous, anti-racist, anti-bias, curriculum and an engaging green culture. Graduates of GUGCS will be prepared to attend high-performing schools where their interdisciplinary academic foundation, knowledge of sustainability, and strong sense of self sets them apart as leaders and social justice advocates of the future.

School Culture: GUGCS teaches students our school culture through our core values: Social Justice, Collaboration, Courage, and Kindness. Students are taught the core values through assemblies, class meetings, and various lessons.

Summary of Job: The Associate Director of Support Services is responsible for maintaining a supportive and inclusive school environment for all students through the development of high-quality special education services. More than being inclusive, the Associate Director of Support Services will take a critical stance at creating an environment that actively fights against exclusion. The Associate Director of Support Services ensures that students with IEPs are receiving the appropriate services to meet their academic, social, and emotional needs, in alignment with the mission of Growing Up Green Charter School through collaboration with multiple stakeholders

IEP Coordination

• Ensure the effective coordination and implementation of all mandated special education services in accordance with student IEPs or 504s
• Maintain a secure and confidential system for student records in compliance with all applicable laws while ensuring that all IEPs and 504s are current and that all providers have proper access to student files
• Work effectively with the Committee on Special Education (CSE) to schedule and facilitate IEP meetings, including notifying families, teachers, and providers and compiling all necessary reports and documentation in advance
• Ensure CSE compliance with referral timelines for initial review, annual review, and reevaluation cases
• Communicate with teachers and service providers to prepare recommendations for appropriate levels of services in advance of IEP meetings
• Collaborate in the IEP writing process to ensure documents are of high-quality and that goals are appropriately aligned and targeted to student needs
• Ensure all necessary testing accommodations are provided for any mandated students Provide families with information, guidance, and advocacy with regards to evaluation requests and due process rights
• Create and maintain up-to-date classroom service schedules in coordination with all providers
• Facilitate IEP team meetings to discuss students of concern and develop actionable steps to support their learning
• Coordinate the distribution of IEP goal progress reports on a trimester basis
• Maintain an up-to-date internal database containing student IEP information
• Complete regular invoicing for all special education per pupil services and create budgetary projections

Response to Intervention

• Oversee and manage the RTI process by developing, refining, and implementing systems for providing support to students requiring at-risk intervention services
• Conduct baseline assessments and/or classroom observations for students identified by the Leadership Team and Grade Teams and create and/or maintain data systems for continued progress monitoring
• Collaborate with Grade Teams weekly to develop intervention plans, brainstorm strategies, and identify student goals
• Ensure consistent data collection and progress monitoring within each tiered level of intervention support and maintain detailed student records and documentation
• Create clear empirical student data criteria that would result in the support of tiered intervention
• Create clear empirical student data criteria that would result in the reduction of intervention services
• Lead small group instruction periodically during key instructional periods as part of RTI.

Instructional Coaching

• Facilitate staff trainings to ensure that all members understand the requirements and responsibilities relating to the education of students with disabilities and empower teachers to effectively meet student needs within the classroom
• Meet with classroom teachers to review individual student IEPs and accommodations as needed
• Facilitate weekly coaching meetings for Special Education teachers to support their specialized instructional practices and conduct mini-observations on a regular basis
• Complete mid-year and end of year evaluation rubrics for Special Education Teachers
• Provide coaching and support to ICT teachers, in conjunction with School Leader, in order to meeting the needs of all students
• Serve as a member of the Instructional Leadership Team
• Provide coaching and support to MLL teachers, in conjunction with School Leader, in order to meeting the needs of all students
• Facilitate weekly Support Services department meetings
• Provide orientation, training, and feedback to all paraprofessionals

Related Professional Responsibilities

• Maintain an active lending library of instructional resources, sensory tools, and professional development books for students, classroom teachers, and support services staff members
• Facilitate the school's membership with the Collaborative for Inclusive Education and sharing opportunities for professional development workshops throughout the year
• Build positive and efficient working relations with the Growing Up Green leadership teams and teachers.
• Actively help establish and participate in the school community through weekly staff meetings, PD opportunities, staff committees, family workshops, after school/weekend events, field trips, teacher appreciation, arrival and dismissal duties, lunch and recess support, etc.

Minimum Qualifications

• Strong commitment to Growing Up Green Charter School's mission and green theme
• Strong belief that all students deserve access to high-quality, culturally responsive, and rigorous coursework
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a team of teachers and administrators and foster a learning and growth mindset among staff
• Minimum five years of Special Education experience, as a teacher or administrator
• Degree in Special Education requiredPrevious instructional leadership experience a plus
• Strong commitment to a multi-sensory teaching approach
• Experience with Special Populations reporting or compliance in NYC
• Demonstrates initiative and flexibility in scheduling changes to meet all student needs
• Proficient with Microsoft Excel and web-based Special Education documentation systems
• Bachelor's Degree required; Master’s Degree preferred
• Excellent organizational skills
• Strong belief in and knowledge of Responsive Classroom and/or Developmental Design
• Demonstrated leadership ability
• Proven success in using data to inform instruction, systems within a school environment
• Strong communication skills (verbal and written)Strong technological literacy
• Strong commitment to Growing Up Green Charter School's mission and to our values of kindness, collaboration and social justice
• Salary range is $90,000 - $100,000 (commensurate with years of experience in the role)

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree required
• Ed.M, J.D., M.A., M.B.A., or M.P.A. is preferred

Required Certificaters & Licenses

• NYC DOE/Fingerprinting & Background Clearance