Founding Director of Specialized Services

26-27 Founding Director of Specialized Services

• Full-time
• Start Date:
  
  Next year opening
• Department:
  Regional Support and Leadership
• Compensation: USD 120,000 - USD 135,000 - yearly

About KIPP New Jersey

KIPP New Jersey is part of the nationally recognized “Knowledge Is Power Program” network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools dedicated to preparing students for success in college and in life. In 2002, KIPP New Jersey first opened its doors in Newark’s South Ward as a single class of 80 fifth graders and has since grown to educate students in grades K-12 across 18 schools in Newark, Camden, and Paterson.

More than 90% of KIPP New Jersey students currently qualify for free or reduced meals.

The Director of Specialized Services oversees and executes the success and implementation of specialized programming in KIPP Paterson. The Director ensures compliance with state and federal legislation related to our special populations. Our specialized services department provides programming for students with IEPs, 504s, MLL, bilingual and gifted and talented services. The Director drives academic results by establishing and maintaining strong team culture, coaching teammates and envisioning, designing, inspecting, and iterating on the systems that drive excellent programming for all students.

Develop and execute a vision for specialized services at KIPP Paterson

• Develop and execute a vision that is unique to the context, but aligned to the regional vision for specialized services, including a full continuum of special education services at KIPP Paterson, prioritizing an inclusive model for student service, multilingual education services and a gifted and talented program
• Leads SPED diagnosis walkthroughs to improve specialized services and systems in collaboration with school based leaders. Progress monitors follow through and effectiveness of actions.

Coach and develop School Leaders and Assistant Principals in developing content knowledge and instructional leadership capacity in all domains of KIPP Specialized services, including:
Special Education, Multi-lingual learners and gifted and talented programing

• Engage in coaching & strategy sessions with Assistant Principals to support with execution of specialized programming on campus. Provide coaching sessions focused on continuous learning of special education practices and policies, data analysis, response to data analysis, planning teacher coaching experiences, etc.
• Co-plan, conduct classroom walkthroughs analyzing LS instructional effectiveness and areas of growth, model coaching and lead professional development experiences for APs
• Collaborate with School Leaders on the development of their Assistant Principals, and on driving initiatives that will improve academic outcomes for kids receiving specialized services in our region.

Ensures the district’s compliance with federal, state, and local requirements on specialized programs

• Prepares all Federal, State and local reports on special education, MLL and gifted programs
• Keeps district staff, parents, and appropriate members of the public informed of all legal requirements governing special programs (SPED, MLL and G&T)
• Develops and maintains complete and cumulative records of all classified students and monitors access to records in a manner compliant to code
• Prepares the district’s Special Education Program for onsite monitoring by Federal and State officials.
• Ensures district procedures for student referral, identification, evaluation, eligibility, classification, IEP, placement, annual review and reevaluation that comply with requirements for parental notice, participation and consent
• Develops procedures for periodic review of status of all classified pupils including monitoring of computerized IEP and database system
• Represent the district in mediations

Oversee child study teams and lead all functional areas in special education in the region through the management, coaching, development, and progress monitoring.

• Develop and manage systems for strong facilitation of child study teams including assignment of Child Study Team members, teachers, therapists and instructional assistants to ensure…