Associate Directors of Support Services (ADSS) are school based compliance and instructional leaders who provide school based support for Special Education Department Chairs, special educators, teacher assistants, paraprofessionals, and case managers. The ADSS is minimally a certified special educator, who may have additional certifications as a supervisor, principal, or child study team member. ADSS have been trained in specially designed instruction for students with special needs. ADSS have experience teaching and or coaching the content and staff for which they support. The ADSS models collaborative planning and teaching practices. ADSS provide bi-weekly coaching and feedback to special educators, teaching assistants and paraprofessionals, and facilitate monthly professional development. ADSS also serve as the liaison between Case Managers, Special Educators, and Parents. Associate Directors will support Case Managers and Special Ed. Department Chairs with ensuring compliant IEPs. ADSS will support and ensure the progress monitoring and reporting on goals and objectives for IEPs each marking period. ADSS have one day weekly dedicated to compliance management and meet at the network office, with four days at the schools dedicated to coaching and support.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Leadership:
- Takes ownership of all data and works collaboratively to develop solutions.
- Drives an inclusive environment.
- Facilitate effective results driven data meetings and professional development opportunities weekly, monthly, quarterly.
- Meet weekly and collaborate with Campus Directors/Principals and Network Director of Special Education to implement recommendations for the inclusion of students with disabilities in all aspects of the educational program.
- Serve as a member of the school leadership team (meeting at least once a month with team) and participate in leadership professional development sessions, instructional rounds, cultural walks and leadership team meetings.
- Serve as a resource to Directors, Social Workers and teachers for effective implementation of the Special Education program.
- Coordinate with Ops Managers, the testing schedules for accommodations for students with special needs.
- Actively continues own professional development and leads team members to continue development.
- Leads with integrity and owns the responsibilities of the role including supporting network vision and professional leadership and student data.
Instruction:
- Coaches teachers across settings in effective differentiation.
- Facilitates weekly IPP meetings for special education teachers to review and support internalizing weekly lessons, inclusion of appropriate accommodations and modifications, review data and align it to weekly lesson plans, set goals.
- Observes, co-teaches, models with staff bi-weekly (dependent on caseload), providing feedback in School Mint with clear next steps for improvement during next observation for special education teachers, co-teachers, teacher assistants and paraprofessionals.
- Provides bi-weekly data reports, aligned to special education goals, to the leadership team with action steps that promote student growth.
- Supports teachers with aligning special education instruction to general education instruction with accommodations and modifications.
Case Management:
- Create and maintain Special Education documentation as required by federal, state and district regulations.
- Protect confidentiality of records and information gained as part of exercising professional duties and use discretion in sharing such information within legal confines.
- With Case Manager, arrange timely evaluation of students suspected of having a disability.
- Collaborate with Case Managers, Special Ed Dept. Chairs, Special Educators to create Individualized Education Plans. Case Manager and Special Education Dept. Chairs prepare student information, transition, program, services and basic hard-shell document and signature pages. Special Educators will write PLAAFP, accommodations, and goal pages. Associate Directors review for accuracy, compliance, services, LRE.
- Weekly monitoring and reporting of special education compliance including SEMI/Medicaid.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIP & EVALUATION
This position will report to the Network Director of Student Support Services and will receive informal feedback and support weekly through observations and interactions, check-ins, and formal evaluations two times per year.
QUALIFICATIONS
Must Haves
- Master’s Degree in Education, Special Education, or related field.
- Teacher of the Handicapped or Teacher of Students with Disabilities NJ Teaching Certificate
- Any other NJ teaching certification.
- 3+ years experience teaching special education
- Strong knowledge of NJ special education regulations and compliance policies/procedures
- Commitment to the GOLCS core values and practices.
- Urban school-based work experience, excellent verbal and written skills in communicating with diverse audiences.
- Experience analyzing student data and creating action plans that support student goals.
- Openness to feedback, and willingness to take responsibility for student success.
- Commitment to continued professional development
- Excellent attendance record
- Attention to detail.
- Flexibility under pressure.
- Documented performance of student growth in special education
- Successfully completes required criminal history proof of U.S citizenship or legal resident status.
Nice to Haves
Principal, supervisor, or student services certificate
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- Experience in a high-performing district or charter environment
- Experience supervising staff.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Great Oaks Legacy Charter School offers competitive salaries commensurate with experience and a comprehensive benefits package, including:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans w/ comprehensive network coverage.
- Tax exempt student loan and tuition reimbursement per year.*
- Reimbursement for external professional development aligned to your role.
- Wellness reimbursement benefit including gym memberships, spa services, and more.*
- Online counseling services - for staff and their dependents - via top-rated therapy app.*
- Pre-tax state pension plan benefit w/ addl. options available via voluntary retirement plans.
- Pre-tax dependent care, health, and transit flexible spending plans available.
- Convenient health screening and telemedicine support via VitalCheck Wellness platform.
ABOUT GREAT OAKS LEGACY CHARTER SCHOOL
Great Oaks Legacy Charter School (GOLCS) is a free, open-enrollment public charter school system in Newark, New Jersey, educating students from Pre-K to 12th grade. Our mission is to prepare every student for college success. GOLCS currently educates more than 2,100 students across seven campuses in the greater Newark area.
We provide all children with the support they need - inclusive of resources that acknowledge and address systemic inequities - to be empowered to thrive. We bridge the educational opportunity gap by supporting rigorous academics with daily individualized tutoring within a community committed to supporting equity and diversity.
These three principles guide our work, every day, in support of our students and mission:
- Creating a community that is built upon genuine and meaningful relationships;
- Being surgical in our approach to differentiation of instruction and support of all students and team members;
Setting and exceeding high expectations for academic growth and character development for all students, in preparation for success in college and beyond.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, & ACCESSIBILITY
GOLCS is committed to building a talented team that reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students. Furthermore, we believe that racial justice and equity is critical to our mission of preparing students for success in college and beyond. We strive to be an organization that is diverse, equitable, inclusive, and elevates our student voices in preparing them for life and college.
GREAT OAKS LEGACY CHARTER SCHOOL VACCINATION POLICY
Great Oaks Legacy Charter School is committed to ensuring healthy and safe working and learning environments, and maintaining our educational commitment to GOLCS students and families - with minimal disruption to instruction. With this in mind, as of October 2021, Great Oaks Legacy requires vaccination against COVID-19 for all employees. Candidates who would like to apply for a reasonable accommodation from this policy based on a qualifying disability or sincerely held religious belief should reach out to HR@greatoakslegacy.org for more information.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT
Great Oaks Legacy provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.