Director of Education

Job Description

Job Description

OPERATIONAL LEADERSHIP TEAM

JOB TITLE: Director of Education

DEPARTMENT/PROGRAM: School

SUPERVISOR: Chief Program Officer

FLSA STATUS: Exempt

GRADE: 86 ($90,000-$100,000, commensurate on education and experience.)

STANDARD WEEKLY HOURS: 35 (12-month)

JOB SUMMARY:Under the general direction of the Chief Program Officer, the Director of Education is responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of Villa of Hope School. Ensuring school compliance with all applicable state and federal laws, NYS Education Department (NYSED) regulations, and agency policies is required. Ensures compliance with the Villa of Hope and the NYS Justice Center Codes of Conduct.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Leads the strategic planning process for the school in alignment with agency-wide strategic objectives. This includes monthly, quarterly, and annual planning, project management, and monitoring and reporting of progress and results via membership in the Operational Leadership Team and other workgroups, teams, or committees as assigned.
• Provides operational leadership to the school, including a framework for compliance and continuous quality improvement, policies and procedures, staffing, robust educational and vocational programming, and responsibility for financial and quality performance of the program.
• Ensures the highest quality of care and customer service for students and families through the intake, admission, enrollment, and discharge processes. This includes building a therapeutic relationship with every student and family; being a visible presence throughout the school; implementing NYS course and curriculum requirements; overseeing the CSE process and provision of IEP services for all students; and acting as the CSE chair for residential students.
• Oversees the recruitment and hiring process, with attention to the value of diversity in the workplace. Ensures training, bi-weekly supervision, and professional development for all school staff. Develops and maintains acceptable standards of professional practice for all school staff.
• Builds and maintains collaborative partnerships with all stakeholders, including but not limited to: all Villa of Hope departments, programs, and staff; NYS school districts; BOCES; NYSED; NYS Justice Center; 853 Coalition; COFCCA; and other human services organizations.
• Continuously and systematically pursues information and trends affecting the special education field and the operation of an 853 Day School in NYS.
• Develops and presents Professional Development that is Trauma Informed and Instructional Best Practice.
• Conducts annual Performance Reviews for all staff, aligned to the NYSED standards and Performance Indicators.
• Other duties as assigned.

POSITION SPECIFICS:

Education: Masters degree in Education. NYS School District Leader or School Building Leader Certification required. Additional certification in Special Education strongly preferred.

Experience: Special education population/setting required. 3+ years of supervisory experience required. Prior administrative experience preferred.

Skills: Must be able to obtain and maintain certification as a trainer of Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI). Visionary and engaging leader. Exemplary verbal and written communication skills. Critical thinking, ability to organize and manage competing demands. Flexible and adaptable. Attention to detail. Ability to partner collaboratively with students, families, staff, and external stakeholders (ex: school district representatives, NYSED, Justice Center).

Physical Demands:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• The following lists physical demands an employee will perform on a regular basis: standing, walking, sitting, bending, stooping, squatting, kneeling and climbing. Must be able to perform a variety of tasks, climb stairs, move throughout the building, work cooperatively in a team environment and quickly respond to emergencies.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully complete TCI trainer certification Training: the ability to drop repeatedly to knees, twist and turn, exert oneself physically at an intense level, and support another adult’s weight.

Other: Knowledge of Federal and NYS laws and regulations in the areas of Special and Regular Education (especially Part 200).

Travel: Occasional and mostly within NYS.

COMPETENCIES:

Leading Self

• Character and Courage (Integrity and Trust)
  1. Do the right thing, because it is the right thing, even when no one is looking. Truth to Power.
• Customer Focus
  1. Build positive relationships through communication and collaborative problem solving.
• Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Justice and Equity
  1. Believe in the dignity and humanity of all people to reach their full potential.

Leading Others

• Process Management
  1. Develop and monitor processes and organize resources to achieve desired results.
• Develop Self and Others
  1. Continually develop self and others capabilities to attain the highest level of performance possible.
• Managerial Courage
  1. Make difficult decisions, own those decisions, and have difficult conversations, all in the best interest of the agency.

Leading the Organization

• Strategic Agility
  1. Anticipate future market trends and create breakthrough strategies and plans
• Drive for Results
  1. Push self and others for results