Exceptional Student Services Director

Only online on-time and complete applications will be considered for review.

Position Title: Exceptional Student Services Director

Department: Network Staff

Reports To: Executive Director

Salary Range: $97750 to $150000 annually

Position Type: Exempt

Schedule: 12 Month Calendar

All employment at PSAS is under the PERA retirement plan. By accepting employment at PSAS you agree to participate in automatic payroll deposit and abide by all policies and procedures put forth by the administration of PSAS.

BENEFIT INFORMATION:

We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• PSAS pays 70% of your medical benefits including your family benefits
• Twice your annual salary life insurance
• Long-term Disability coverage
• The average amount PSAS pays annually for the medical benefits package is $17000.
• Extensive professional development opportunities including 11 days per year a new teacher induction program and an emerging leaders program
• 12 sick and 30 vacation days per year
• Inclusion in the PERA Retirement Program

Primary Role and the School Culture:

The Pueblo School for Arts and Sciences (PSAS) has the mission to provide a robust education based on Paideia Principles. Paideia is an instructional framework that emphasizes the integration of social-emotional learning and critical thinking across all subjects. As PSAS we strive to provide a well-rounded education that exceeds the Colorado State Standards. Our core beliefs are centered around fulfilling our mission and supporting teachers students and support staff. At PSAS we value open communication inclusiveness honesty respect ethical and moral behavior and a commitment to the belief that all students deserve an excellent free public education.

In order to support the culture and vision of PSAS the ESS Director will work with teachers staff and administration to deliver specialized instruction and support for students with individualized education plans (IEP). The ESS Director will work collaboratively with students teachers administration and parents to integrate and diversify instruction based on student needs. The director will manage the ESS caseload and will be responsible for managing the timely completion of all IEP meetings and special education evaluations. Additionally the teacher will provide both push-in and pull-out support to students as indicated by their IEP plan. The teacher will support each ESS student in meeting their goals through interventions direct instruction and assessments.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

MINIMUM REQUIRED:

• MA degree from an accredited college or university in special education or related field of special services such as school psychology School Social Worker or speech pathologist as approved by the Colorado Department of Education

• Colorado Teaching Endorsement in Special Education or the ability to enroll and complete a Teacher in Residence or Teacher education program in a reasonable amount of time after hiring.

• Science of Reading training completion or the ability to complete the mandatory training within 3 months of hiring (as mandated by the READ Act)

PREFERRED:

• Previous experience teaching in the K-8 or K-12 environment.
• Previous experience teaching at a charter school.
• Previous administration experience including evaluating certified staff

• Demonstrated technology proficiencies in the use of Microsoft Office Internet Simple Webpage building Electronic Gradebook and Email.
• Demonstrated ability to work on a team and create instructional units.
• Verifiable experience dealing with conflict resolution.
• Verifiable experience working in a position that required organizational and planning skills.
• Demonstrated implementation and use of instructional strategies to promote student engagement.
• Knowledge and experience with IDEA 2004.
• Ability and willingness to lead a team of teachers paraprofessionals and educational assistants.
• Demonstrated flexibility in teaching and scheduling.
• Ability to implement and knowledge of standards-based curriculum.
• Experience using data to make instructional decisions.
• Knowledge/experience teaching diverse learners especially students who may have a specific learning plan such as an IEP ILP ELL 504 etc.
• CPI Trained and Certified.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Primary Skills and Responsibilities

1. Plan coordinate collaborate about and execute an elementary-high school program anchored in the Colorado State Standards Paideia Principles and other PSAS curricula.
2. Deep understanding of childhood development and age-appropriate academic physical and social development.
3. Develop activities that support units of instruction including field trips guest speakers student exhibitions cross-grade level or cross-curricular instruction and community service projects.
4. Instruct and support the development of student behavior that fosters a positive learning environment for all learners.
5. Using demonstrated knowledge of both English and Math educational standards design and implement interventions that differentiate instruction create meaningful and engaging educational experiences and create supportive learning environments.
6. Use an Early Literacy Assessment tool interpret the data and formulate the appropriate intervention based on the science of reading.
7. Manage and coordinate a team of teachers and paraprofessionals to support students in achieving their specific learning goals.
8. Work collaboratively to plan meaningful instruction interventions and accommodations alongside classroom teachers.
9. Advocate for students on special plans to ensure their accommodations and goals are met.
10. Knowledge of technologies available for use in an instructional setting including hardware and software that support instruction.
11. Support the policies and procedures for students parents and staff.
12. Participate in a robust evaluation system that includes accountability for conveying a professional image demonstrating initiative supporting the mission and vision demonstrating time management skills demonstrating appropriate decision-making skills being open to coaching and continuous feedback and conflict resolution skills.
13. Strong interpersonal and communication skills that lead to a collaborative team environment that includes staff parents students and administration.
14. Demonstrate organizational problem-solving and team-building skills.
15. Uphold the promises and commitments of the Paideia model by way of their active involvement in life-long learning through setting professional goals demonstrating completion of those goals and seeking professional development.
16. Collaborate with families students and staff to ensure optimal academic success which may include phone calls emails and meetings with families and communication with team members to discuss strategies for growth.
17. Evaluate and record student academic performance using the pre-established grading tool in a timely manner and input data that supports student plans into the data warehouse system.

Essential Physical Responsibilities

1. Work at a desk conference table or in various meeting configurations.
2. Have the ability to circulate the classroom or instructional environment.
3. Hear and understand speech with/without aides at normal levels.
4. Be able to see with/without aides close up at a distance and have depth perception.
5. Communicate with others and be clearly understood in normal conversations.
6. Bend twist stoop kneel run crawl and reach in all directions.
7. Carry up to 25 pounds.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Reasoning Ability

1. Defines problems collects data establishes facts and draws valid conclusions.
2. Interprets a wide range of technical instructions.
3. Synthesizes complex or diverse information.
4. Collects and researches data.
5. Utilizes intuition and experience to complement data analysis.
6. Design workflows and procedures.

Instructional Environment

The primary instructional environment for this position is the physical school building where teachers are present every working day as outlined in the teacher calendar. This position may be completed remotely if students are unable to be physically present in school due to school closures external mandates or orders or other unforeseen circumstances. Remote work is not otherwise considered a reasonable accommodation for serving students.

Other Duties and Requirements

1. Other duties as assigned by the director principal or designee.
2. The ability to work occasional evenings to support all programs including field trips staff meetings parent-teacher conferences and other supporting events.
3. The ability to monitor students before/after school or during lunch and recess.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Participation in payroll automatic deposit.
• PSAS is a public employer operating under the Colorado General Assembly as outlined in Title 24 Article 51 of the Colorado Revised Statutes. All employees are members of the Colorado Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA). For more information visit the PERA website at .
• All employment at PSAS is under the PERA retirement plan. By accepting employment at PSAS you agree to participate in automatic payroll deposit and abide by all policies and procedures put forth by the administration of PSAS.

THE PUEBLO SCHOOL FOR ARTS AND SCIENCES IS AN

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER.

Required Experience:

Director