School Year 2026-2027 Elementary School Dean of Student Supports

Overview

Originally founded in 1991 as Harlem RBI, DREAM has grown to serve more than 2,500 youth across East Harlem and the South Bronx through seven PreK-12, extended-day, extended-year DREAM Charter Schools and community sports-based youth development programs. Through our commitment to rigorous academics, social-emotional learning, deep family and community engagement, and health and wellness, we create lifelong learners who are equipped to fulfill their vision of success in and out of the classroom.

We dream big, with a five-year plan to expand to 3,500 students across seven schools—growing our organization’s impact and leveling the playing field for all children. To learn more, visit wearedream.org.

Reporting to the Principal, this position will serve as a leader for staff and parents with regard to special education services and regulations. The Elementary School Dean of Student Supports will work closely with the Network Director of Special Education and the school-based leadership team to ensure the implementation of special education policies and the integration of student support services.

• General Leadership: Serve as a member of the School Leadership Team, and advocate for special education in team meetings; reinforce clear expectations and routines aligned with the school’s vision for meeting the needs of all learners; create a positive, achievement-oriented, structured learning environment with a high joy factor so that students are excited about and invested in their academic excellence.

• Teaching Caseload: Teach and progress monitor a caseload of students with IEPs, analyze data, plan interventions with fidelity; provide a variety of research-based reading intervention strategies to promote reading growth; maintain ongoing communication with content-area teachers; participate in weekly grade team meetings; model responses and provide visual anchors; integrate IEP goals into reading interventions and share data in IEP meetings; engage parents and families in academic success and communicate progress and IEPs.

• Special Education Compliance: Oversee and manage a caseload of students with IEP/504 plans, ensure delivery of instruction and related services, facilitate IEP meetings with a strengths-based, family-centered approach; coordinate with the DOE to schedule IEP meetings; ensure developmentally appropriate, curriculum-aligned, and strength-based IEPs integrated into daily lesson plans; coordinate with the student’s special education team to maintain timely documentation; ensure data platforms are up to date and communicate IEP-related information to families and teachers.

• Response to Intervention: Actively participate in RTI processes, support grade-band RTI Scholar Talks, coordinate with relevant leaders to form RTI groups, monitor plan implementation, and ensure weekly RTI data entry.

• SPED Department & Teacher Development: Observe and support implementation of interventions, coach teachers, co-facilitate planning meetings, develop data-based agendas, provide professional development on IEP management, supervise reading intervention and ELL teachers, oversee ELL compliance, and collaborate with mental health providers when onboarding paraprofessionals.

• Family Engagement: Communicate the special education process to parents, engage families in academic success, and lead monthly parent forums to support families in understanding and supporting their child with disabilities.

• Student Recruitment & Enrollment: Explain DREAM’s special education process to prospective families, review current IEPs with newly enrolled students, determine services DREAM can provide, and assist families in transitioning to DREAM; support families in collecting their child’s IEP from their previous school; perform additional duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s Degree required;
  Master’s Degree in Special Education preferred
• Three years of teaching experience in an Integrated Co-Teaching or special education setting with a track record of high student achievement
• Experience coaching, leading people, and delivering professional development in large or small groups is strongly preferred
• New…