Posted: January 19, 2012

Apply online, do not email. www.kippneworleans.org/join-our-team

About KIPP New Orleans Schools:

KIPP New Orleans Schools is a fast-growing network of open-enrollment, public, college-preparatory charter schools. The mission of KIPP New Orleans Schools is to create an influential network of public schools that gives students the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in competitive high schools, colleges and the world beyond. KIPP New Orleans Schools currently operates nine schools in the Recovery School District serving over 2,400 students from grades Kindergarten to tenth grade.

With longer school days, innovative teaching, and a motivating learning environment, we are working to ensure that all of our students are prepared for college and beyond. KIPP students are assigned homework every night, and KIPP teachers are available by cell phone to assist as necessary. KIPP schools in New Orleans embrace the spirit of New Orleans with band, visual arts, or other fine arts available at every school.

KIPP New Orleans Schools is associated with the national KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) Network, which recruits and trains school leaders to open KIPP schools across the country. The KIPP network is rapidly growing; there are currently 110 KIPP schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia, serving more than 32,000 students.

General Position Overview:

The Director of Student Support Services for KIPP New Orleans is a regional level position responsible for building, supervising and evaluating special education programs across schools. The Director of Student Support Services outlines the skill sets and responsibilities required of school-level Special Education Coordinators, Special Education Teachers/Case Managers, Clinical Service Providers and Paraprofessionals as student populations grow and effective service delivery becomes more complex.

The DSSS has prerequisite skills to be:
• A leader and region-wide advocate for children with disabilities and their families
• A manager of the Case Management system
• A supervisor of SPED Coordinators who are supported to support student growth through established performance standards and measures
• A supervisor and manager of speech/ language pathologist and additional contracted service providers who are held accountable for student growth
• An administrator of and technical expert in compliance areas
• A technical expert for developing a continuum of instructional strategies for students with disabilities

Qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree (required), masters in education strongly preferred
• Minimum of three years of teaching / leadership experience in the realm of special education(required)
• Demonstrated success in raising the achievement levels of traditionally under-served students and students with special needs(strongly preferred)
• Experience leading others to improve the quality of special education services in a school or district setting (required)
• Deep knowledge of special education service delivery, law, and compliance issues (required)
• Strong communication and community-building skills (required)
• Strong organizational, communication, and facilitation skills (required)
• Experience working in urban schools (preferred)
• State teaching credential (preferred)
• Belief in the mission and values of KIPP — and that we not only can, but must, revolutionize education in New Orleans — along with zest, grit, hope, love, social intelligence, gratitude, and a sense of humor
• An incredible work ethic and a passion for being part of a team-oriented, mission-driven school culture

Responsibilities (including but not limited to):

Leadership Tasks
• Assumes the role of an equal participant on the school's management team and effectively advocates for children with disabilities and their parents
• Partners effectively with staff to promote inclusion without discrimination and develop training tools that educate teachers while providing important user-friendly information about students with disabilities in inclusion classes
• Take the lead on helping general educators implement IDEA's mandate for a two tiered Response to Intervention (RTI)
• Understands and applies charter laws governing the provision of special education services and the role of districts, if any, in providing special education services and the communication skills necessary to establish a collaborative relationship and equal partnership with district representatives

Service Delivery Management Tasks
• Manages of a comprehensive service delivery system designed to produce measurable outcomes for multi-disciplinary teaming, clinical interventions and instruction
• Establishes a special education mission that wraps around the school's overall mission and philosophical approach to education
• Understands most prevalent eligibility categories and demonstrates the knowledge to conduct holistic individual case analysis and skills to determine accurate eligibility based on evaluation "in all areas of a suspected disability," write meaningful IEPs, document multi-disciplinary meeting results in comprehensive notes and ensure parents, students and teachers participate as equal team members
• Chairs a successful, positive multi-disciplinary team meeting

Supervisor Tasks
• Recruit, hire and evaluate special education staff
• Determine what contract services are needed to supplement employed staff based on student and program data
• Build an accountability system for employees and contract providers