High School Director of Specialized Services

High School Director of Specialized Services
A full-time, competitively paid position at a first-rate college preparatory school for boys.

Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia seeks a High School Director of Specialized Services to, in partnership with school and senior leadership, prepare students for success in high school, college, and beyond. The ideal candidate will share the school’s educational philosophy and embrace the vision of college for all students, holding themselves and others to high standards in order to achieve ambitious goals. The director will lead the High School Specialized Services Department, which is comprised of the Special Education, 504 Service Agreement (“504 Plan”), Language Instruction Educational, and Homebound Instruction programs, in alignment with the school’s mission, goals, and policies, and all applicable laws. Reporting to the High School Principal and serving on the High School Leadership Team, the director will provide leadership on all specialized services endeavors, including talent management, professional development, curriculum and instruction, related services, compliance, and extracurricular and other student programming.

The director will perform the following duties:

• Lead the recruitment, management, development, evaluation, and retention of high-quality specialized services faculty and staff, including special education teachers, special education case managers, and instructional assistants.
• Lead the Special Education Program, supporting all students who receive special education services via an Individualized Education Plan (“IEP”), developing and implementing the school’s Child Find Policy and related procedures; securing and managing approved private school (“APS”) placements; serving as the Local Education Agency (“LEA”) representative in all IEP meetings; planning and operating the Extended School Year (“ESY”) program; and ensuring IEPs are implemented with fidelity.
• Lead the 504 Plan Program, supporting all students who receive services via a 504 Plan, developing and implementing the school’s Section 504 Notice and related procedures and 504 Plans compliantly and with fidelity.
• Lead the Language Instruction Educational Program (“LIEP”), supporting all students who receive services via a LIEP, developing and implementing the school’s LIEP Policy and all LIEPs compliantly and with fidelity.
• Lead the Homebound Instruction Program, supporting all students who receive homebound instruction, developing and implementing the school’s Homebound Instruction Policy; securing required documentation and staffing for all homebound instruction placements; and ensuring homebound instruction is delivered compliantly and with fidelity.
• Manage the related services for all students receiving specialized services, including counseling, social skills, vision, hearing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech, transportation, and other similar services, contracting high-quality providers and ensuring timely, compliant, and effective service.
• Manage the records of and records requests for all students receiving specialized services, including both hard and soft copies, and utilizing the school’s student information system (PowerSchool and PowerSchool Special Programs), and the School District of Philadelphia student information system (Infinite Campus), and all other state and federal reporting systems.
• Manage the specialized services budget, ensuring the department is resourced effectively and efficiently.
• Lead regular informational, professional development, and other similar sessions on specialized services for employees and parents.
• Prepare and submit all local, state, and federal compliance reports related to specialized services by the deadline, and lead the cyclical monitoring and support the charter renewal processes.
• Ensure the progress of specialized services students toward realizing academic, non-academic, IEP, LIEP, and 504 Plan goals, partnering with parents, employees, and related service providers to provide instructional and emotional support and resources.
• Commit to the school’s extended day structure, serving students outside of the regular school day, supporting the Leadership Academy, Saturday School, and summer academy programs.
• Champion the school’s traditions and rituals and serve as a culture keeper of the Boys’ Latin mission.

The director will demonstrate the following competencies:

• Unwavering commitment to the school’s mission of preparing boys for success in college and beyond.
• Desire to continuously learn and increase effectiveness as a professional to drive results among students.
• Willingness to be flexible and go above and beyond to meet the needs of all students.
• Be a thought leader, experienced manager, strategic problem-solver, and dedicated team player.
• Ability to cultivate strong relationships with all members of the school community, including students, parents, faculty and staff members, administrators, and external partners.
• Excellent organization, prioritization, time management, and verbal and written communication skills with a keen attention to detail.
• Bachelor’s degree and Pennsylvania Instructional Certification: Special Education PK-12 required; Master’s degree and Pennsylvania
  Supervisor – Special Education PK-12 or School Admin. – Principal PK-12 Certification preferred.

Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia prepares boys for success in college and beyond. Founded in 2007 to address the dearth of quality educational opportunities for boys in Philadelphia, Boys’ Latin provides a world-class college preparatory education to 800 students in grades six through 12. As a public charter school there are no admissions requirements and students enroll by randomized lottery. With a 12:1 student/teacher ratio, Boys’ Latin offers an intimate learning community in which each young man is encouraged to be the architect of his own fortune by pursuing excellence across a range of endeavors. The school’s rigorous academic model blends classical education and contemporary pedagogy, and sets high standards for achievement, character development, and emotional intelligence. Learning is underscored by practical experiences and extracurricular activities. Over the past decade, the school has built an effective model for educating students historically underserved in traditional school settings. Since the first class graduated in 2011, Boys’ Latin students have matriculated to and persisted through college at rates three- to four-times greater than Philadelphia averages.

Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the school to not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, color, age, gender, height, weight, disability, religion, marital status, or sexual orientation in any of its employment practices, educational programs, services, or activities.