What are the responsibilities and job description for the New Jersey Assistant Director of Specialized Services position at Mastery Schools?
About Mastery:
Founded in 2001, Mastery Schools is a public charter network of 23 K-12 schools in Philadelphia and Camden, serving more than 14,000 students.
At Mastery, we’re on a mission to provide all students with the academic and personal skills they need to succeed after graduation and pursue their dreams. Student achievement is not just a goal for our organization; it's the reason we exist, and every member of our team is dedicated to securing student success. We are also committed to pursuing equity, actively disrupting systemic racism, and addressing the disparities that limit our students' choices.
Our culture is built on respect, service, and the belief that the success of our students, their families, and the communities we serve will help us achieve our mission. We foster a positive, open, and inclusive environment where honesty, humor, and continuous improvement are celebrated.
Join us in creating a model urban school district that serves all students with excellence. Together, we can make a lasting impact.
Position Summary:
The Assistant Director of Specialized Services (ADSS) will support Mastery Schools of Camden with their compliance and case management practices, including the Child Study Team, to ensure the development and implementation of high quality special education supports and services that will foster strong student outcomes for post-secondary success. The ADSS plays a pivotal role in ensuring effective communication and alignment between programs developed by the central office Specialized Services Team and their implementation at schools. In addition, the ADSS ensures that actionable data and information flow efficiently and consistently between schools and central office functions. The ADSS is responsible for a variety of ongoing tasks and projects, including professional development, information gathering and dissemination, resource development, and project management. The ADSS reports directly to the NJ Director of Specialized Services or designee.
Duties and Responsibilities:
We offer a full benefits program and opportunities for professional growth. Some of our most popular benefits include our 403(b) retirement plan for PA employees (with a 5% match from Mastery), enrollment in the State of New Jersey Pension Plan for NJ employees, a robust Employee Assistance Program, mental health and counseling programs, an annual Professional Development Fund, and discounts and perks at a myriad of retailers, travel organizations, insurance providers, and so much more, as well as a Benefits VIP Helpdesk to help you navigate various benefits-related topics. Please go here to see all of our Benefits offerings !
Annual Calendar:
As you plan to make Mastery your new work home, please feel free to review our Calendar for the 24/25 School Year . We like to think our calendar is a benefit of working here too!
Why You Should Apply:
Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. Mastery may consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.
Founded in 2001, Mastery Schools is a public charter network of 23 K-12 schools in Philadelphia and Camden, serving more than 14,000 students.
At Mastery, we’re on a mission to provide all students with the academic and personal skills they need to succeed after graduation and pursue their dreams. Student achievement is not just a goal for our organization; it's the reason we exist, and every member of our team is dedicated to securing student success. We are also committed to pursuing equity, actively disrupting systemic racism, and addressing the disparities that limit our students' choices.
Our culture is built on respect, service, and the belief that the success of our students, their families, and the communities we serve will help us achieve our mission. We foster a positive, open, and inclusive environment where honesty, humor, and continuous improvement are celebrated.
Join us in creating a model urban school district that serves all students with excellence. Together, we can make a lasting impact.
Position Summary:
The Assistant Director of Specialized Services (ADSS) will support Mastery Schools of Camden with their compliance and case management practices, including the Child Study Team, to ensure the development and implementation of high quality special education supports and services that will foster strong student outcomes for post-secondary success. The ADSS plays a pivotal role in ensuring effective communication and alignment between programs developed by the central office Specialized Services Team and their implementation at schools. In addition, the ADSS ensures that actionable data and information flow efficiently and consistently between schools and central office functions. The ADSS is responsible for a variety of ongoing tasks and projects, including professional development, information gathering and dissemination, resource development, and project management. The ADSS reports directly to the NJ Director of Specialized Services or designee.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Essential Job Functions:
- Oversee the Child Study Team process to ensure implementation in alignment with New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) timelines and compliance requirements.
- Develop systems to ensure central office departments are informed of federal and state specialized services policies and their implications for how local education agencies (LEAs) support specialized student populations.
- Coordinate school-to-central office communication by developing efficient systems to collect feedback on network supports and strategy.
- Collect, analyze, and share specialized services data from multiple Mastery campuses.
- Maintain accurate files and documentation related to specialized services, in accordance with federal and state policies.
- Coordinate, develop, and facilitate professional development for specialized services staff throughout the year, including onboarding training at the beginning of the school year.
- Support schools in developing specialized programming for students with unique needs.
- Support schools in administering state-mandated assessments to students across the network.
- Review and audit special education files.
- Complete Child Study Team evaluations, as needed.
- Manage various projects at both the school and network level, as needed.
- Perform additional duties as needed to ensure central office supports are effective and schools and students are successful.
- Strong sense of personal agency and accountability for student outcomes.
- Expertise in Special Education compliance and case management, including: disabilities, academic and behavioral interventions, SDIs, and the IEP process (design, programming, and implementation).
- Strong knowledge of New Jersey special education regulations and compliance policies and procedures.
- Strong knowledge of functional behavioral assessments, Positive Behavior Support Plans (PBSPs), School Action and Intervention Plans (SAIPs), and manifestation determinations.
- Demonstrated strength in organizational, communication, and project management skills.
- Strong ability to build trust, engage diverse stakeholders, and utilize a student-first, solutions-oriented mindset.
- A deep belief in the Mastery Schools mission and values.
- A strong desire to provide students with a world-class education.
- Experience analyzing, interpreting, and acting upon data.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with demonstrated emotional intelligence and the ability to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics.
- Experience achieving measurable success supporting students with disabilities in historically under-resourced communities.
- Demonstrated professionalism, responsibility, a strong work ethic, and a drive for personal excellence.
- 5 years experience working in special education, Child Study Team experience preferred.
- Bachelor’s degree in Special Education or a related field required; Master’s degree preferred
- School psychologist certification, LDT-C certification preferred, and/or supervisor certification preferred
- Ability to physically perform the essential duties of the role as outlined above, and to work in the environmental conditions required, such as traveling to network campuses, monitoring and interacting with students, in-person facilitation of trainings, etc.
- This role may require frequent travel between multiple locations. Reliable transportation is essential to fulfill job responsibilities.
We offer a full benefits program and opportunities for professional growth. Some of our most popular benefits include our 403(b) retirement plan for PA employees (with a 5% match from Mastery), enrollment in the State of New Jersey Pension Plan for NJ employees, a robust Employee Assistance Program, mental health and counseling programs, an annual Professional Development Fund, and discounts and perks at a myriad of retailers, travel organizations, insurance providers, and so much more, as well as a Benefits VIP Helpdesk to help you navigate various benefits-related topics. Please go here to see all of our Benefits offerings !
Annual Calendar:
As you plan to make Mastery your new work home, please feel free to review our Calendar for the 24/25 School Year . We like to think our calendar is a benefit of working here too!
Why You Should Apply:
Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. Mastery may consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.
