Job Description

About KIPP NYC

KIPP NYC is a non-profit network of free, public charter schools that prepare students for success in college and life. In 1995 we started our first middle school, KIPP Academy, in the Bronx.  Our goal was to graduate students with the strength of character and academic abilities needed to succeed in high school, college and beyond – and in so doing, to prove what is possible in urban schools.  Today, our New York City network is comprised of five middle schools, three elementary schools, one high school, and KIPP Through College, a comprehensive support program for our alumni.  KIPP NYC serves over 3,700 KIPP students and alumni, employs 420 talented professionals, and has a combined operating budget of over $56 million.  Upon realizing our current growth plan, KIPP NYC will have eleven schools, serve more than 6,500 students and alumni, and employ more than 500 staff.

Position Overview

The Director of Special Education ensures that all special education students, across all schools, produce breakthrough academic results. The Director holds primary responsibility for the development, implementation, and assessment of all specialized services, including special education, academic interventions, counseling, and other related services for all KIPP NYC schools. The Director ensures that the IEP needs of all special education students are met with robust and rigorous strategies. The Director reports to the Managing Director of Teaching & Learning and provides support to principals and all KIPP NYC schools.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage the Special Education program across KIPP NYC:
• Design, develop, and coordinate a long term Special Education program for the KIPP NYC network.
• Ensure that all KIPP NYC schools are in full compliance with federal and state special education laws.
• Support schools to ensure that students who are at-risk for academic underperformance due to academic, emotional, or physical challenges succeed in a rigorous academic environment.
• Liaise with city, state, and national entities involved in providing support and services to students with disabilities.
• Manage the Teaching & Learning support of SPED services to KIPP NYC schools.
• Teacher Support:
• Observe Special Education classes/teachers and provide feedback to continually improve KIPP NYC’s support of students with needs.
• Promote dialogue and peer learning among special and general educators and paraprofessionals; support co-teaching teams.
• Create instructional coherence by aligning key aspects of special education reform with citywide instructional work on integrating the Common Core standards and providing meaningful feedback to teachers.
• Facilitate teacher teams as issues surface and engage in collaborate consultancy, promote robust special and general education partnerships, develop teacher facilitators and coaches, and assist school communities in developing problem-solving strategies.
• Develop procedures, forms, and templates for the provision of all special education services.
• Work with and support school-based SPED coordinators and teams.
• Student Support:
• Develop progress-monitoring systems for interventions, counseling, and special education programs.
• Advocate for changes in practice that will support improved performance of SWD (Students with Disabilities) and English Language Learners.
• Identify special services providers for school psychology, speech and language therapy, and other services.
• Ensure that student records and documentation for special education issues are accurate, timely, and meaningful.
• Professional Development:
• Provide ongoing professional training and coaching to special education teachers and school administrators.
• Design and facilitate professional development to help school practitioners understand and implement the key aspects of the special education reforms, including flexible programming, Universal Design for Learning, Response to Intervention, and the design of meaningful IEPs.

 

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Qualifications:

• Zest, grit, hope, love, social intelligence, gratitude, and a sense of humor
• A passion for the mission of KIPP NYC
• Strong knowledge of intervention strategies
• Five plus years of experience in teaching, teacher coaching, and/or student support
• Familiarity with intervention programs in reading and mathematics
• Strong leadership, management, and communication skills
• Detail-oriented and highly organized with strong analytical writing skills
• A proven track record of student achievement for special education students
• Master’s or Education Specialist degree in Special Education, School Psychology, or related field
• Applicant must possess a valid New York State certificate in School Administration/Supervision (SAS), School District Administrator (SDA), or School Building Leadership (SBL), as well as a Certificate of Eligibility for Supervisory Placement or a valid New York City license in the specific area for which they are applying

How to Apply

Contact: Please submit an online application at http://lnk.kippnyc.org/dofsped

Job Categories: Full-Time.