Details
Posted: 28-Apr-22
Location: New York, New York
Type: Full Time
Required Education: Masters
Salary: Competitive
Categories:
Other
Main Purpose of the Role:
The Director of Student Support Services will be responsible for managing and coaching learning support specialists, school nurses, school counselors, and school psychologists, while providing necessary support to the school administration. This position requires a strong instructional leader who can develop, implement and supervise the program and services for students with learning support/and or social and emotional needs to enhance student welfare and maintain a positive school environment. The Director of Student Support Services is a member of the Administrative Collaborative Team.
Essential Duties:
- Develop and coordinate learning support processes and procedures to address the developmental needs of students across early childhood through high school, utilizing a Response to Intervention (RtI) model to ensure continuity of the program
- Set up clear structures for before, during and after-school support time
- Supervise and conduct performance reviews for Upper School Learning Specialists, school nurses, school counselor and school psychologist
- Collaborate closely with division heads to discuss programming, students in need of internal learning support, external support, evaluations and/or counseling out
- Schedule and coordinate Learning Specialists for learning resource center classes, push-in, and small group instruction
- Coordinate the documentation of student needs in lower & upper schools and maintain confidential databases
- Schedule and facilitate student study team meetings, PK3-12, to discuss students’ needs and appropriate instruction/intervention plans; coordinate services with psychologists and other student support personnel as needed
- Liaison with the NYC Department of Education and private evaluators to conduct evaluations and participate in annual IESP meetings
- Assist administrators in developing and maintaining related school policies and procedures essential to the needs of the students
- Develop and maintain protocols for short-term counseling to support the needs of students as they arise
- Design and supervise comprehensive Social Emotional Learning (SEL) program and supports for students, families, and staff
- Support nurses in delivering health care practices that are consistent school wide
- Responsible for informing administration regarding Department of Health guidelines and requirements and planning for on-site implementation
- Ensure that required health and immunization reports are submitted to the health department
- Collaborate with nurses to facilitate compliance from families in completing annual health and immunization forms
- Coordinate testing schedules with Division Heads and IB Coordinator for students who receive accommodations when external standardized assessments are administered
- Observe classroom instruction focusing on differentiation with the intent of providing PD for learning specialists and classroom teachers regarding instructional support/suggestions
- Review files of prospective students for Admissions and assign services if admitted
- Review documentation to identify specific learning disabilities, developmental disorders, attention deficit disorders
- Provide Student Support Services Program orientation to new students, their parents, and new teachers
- Coordinate and supervise services provided on-site by external providers (Speech/Occupational Therapy)
- Serve as a school-wide resource for faculty, students, parents, and administration in addressing questions and concerns pertaining to the learning support model & student needs
- Coordinate all accommodations requests with The College Board, ACT and other testing organizations for students enrolled in the Learning Support Program and supervise individual student’s testing accommodations provided for them by the Accommodations Coordinator
- Attend Upper School Grade Team meetings when possible and work with Grade Level Leaders and Division Heads about student concerns and Tier 1 interventions
- Serve on the curriculum council as a standing member advising Department Heads about differentiated curricula and social/emotional needs of students
- Facilitate meetings among Learning Specialists and mainstream teachers as needed to discuss and assign support services
- Identify and make recommendations for staff development opportunities for Learning Support and mainstream faculty to ensure professional growth and improvement in meeting students’ needs
- Review, monitor and update all publications, websites and databases pertaining to Learning Support
- Collaborate with Human Resources and Division Heads in hiring, supervising, mentoring and evaluating support staff and learning specialists
- Schedule & facilitate PK3-12 ELL/Learning Support meetings
- Assist support staff in sourcing and ordering supplies and resources
- Collaborate with Residential Life to ensure effective communication and implementation of appropriate student supports are in place
- Perform other duties as assigned
Qualifications
- Master’s Degree in Administration, Special Education, and/or Psychology. PHD and/or Certification in Administration is preferred
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience as a practitioner; 3 years in a school leadership position, preferably in student services
- Possess significant knowledge of learning disabilities, the ability to interpret results of IQ, achievement, and learning disability diagnostic tests as well as training in developing and implementing strategies that will allow different learning styles to achieve success
- Strong understanding and experience using the Response to Intervention (RtI) model
- Experience providing professional development in differentiation and curriculum development for diverse learners
- Knowledge of Orton-Gillingham, Wilson Foundations or other multi-sensory approaches to reading instruction
- Ability to problem-solve complex student issues with professionalism and discretion
- Strong communication and collaboration skills.
Contact: To be considered for a position, please send a letter of interest, a resume, salary requirements and contact information for three references to Debbie Aragon, Director of Human Resources, at [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and the position will remain open until filled.
