Director of Student Supports

Network Team/Central Office Openings Network Team Office, Chelsea, MA

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Description

Organization Overview 

Excel Academy is a network of 5 schools in Massachusetts and Rhode Island that prepares students in grades 5-12 to succeed in high school and college and engage productively in their communities. The majority of our 1,700 students identify as Latinx or Hispanic and will be the first in their families to graduate from college. Families choose Excel because our students consistently outperform their peers in growth and achievement and are 5x more likely to graduate from college. 

At Excel, we believe that every student—regardless of race, zip code, or economic status—deserves access to a free, high quality holistic education. During their middle school journey with us, students grow at a pace faster than most peers in their state. This is possible through a combination of high expectations, rigorous instruction, and individualized support. At our nationally ranked high school, students achieve at the highest level and are poised for success in their chosen college or career path. 

 

About our Team

Everyday, our team members choose to be positive, drive their own growth, uplift one another, and hold the highest possible beliefs for what students can achieve. 

About the Role

Serving as a key member of the Network Team’s academic leadership, the Director of Student Supports provides oversight, coaching, and support to all Excel schools. This position will report to the Chief Schools Officer, and will ensure all students have access to high quality support services that meet their needs, in line with Excel’s rigorous and inclusive goals.

Your Impact

Set and uphold the vision for the Excel approach to Special Education

  • Lead the department to articulate and implement Excel’s philosophy and approach to special education in accordance with state and federal guidelines
  • Ensure that schools with high-needs programs or individual students can serve them in alignment with Excel’s approach to Special Education
    • Support the Dean of ROSE programming and the Head of School at Excel Academy East Boston to create and uphold a vision, both academically and behaviorally, for the substantially separate program 
  • Map and source resources (related service providers, technology, assessments, curricula) in accordance with student-specific IEP requirements and in collaboration with DOSSes
  • In collaboration with DOSSes and School Leaders, make decisions on network-wide learning support team onboarding, meetings and professional development
  • Oversee and manage the Network Special Education budget

    Set and uphold the vision for the Excel approach to Multilingual Learner (MLL) Education

    • Support the Network ELL Department Heads to make decisions on network-wide ELL team meetings and professional development
    • Support the Network ELL Department Heads and School Leaders to ensure alignment of service delivery and programming access for English Language Learners across the network
      • Map and source resources (technology, assessments, curricula) in accordance with student-specific ELL requirements and in collaboration with the ELL department heads

    Oversee Network Compliance for Special Education

    • Through direct management of the Director of Compliance, oversee compliance with DESE reporting requirements related to special populations (for example, CPR, Focused Tiered Monitoring)
    • Serve as Local Educational Agency representative (LEA) for the network in situations when that responsibility is not delegated to school-based special education administrators or the Director of Compliance

    Oversee Network Compliance for English Language Learners (ELLs)

    • Through direct management of the Director of Compliance, work to ensure that ELL compliance measures are met (SEI endorsement, staffing changes as needed for caseload minutes, implementation of the LOOK act, file compliance, etc.) 

    Coordinate Student Support and Intervention Leadership and Guidance

    • Serve as the Network Liaison to the Network Nursing and Counseling Departments
    • Serve as a resource and support to school-based Student Support Teams and foster sharing of information and best practices related to student supports across the Network.
    • Serve as Foster care liaison for the Excel network 
    • Serve as Civil Rights Coordinator and Title IX officer for the Excel network

    Directly manage and cultivate key staff members

    • Support Deans of Student Supports at each school, and facilitate regular meetings and collaboration between the school-based special education administrators
    • Directly manage and support key shared service-providers across the network, including Speech Language Pathologists, Reading Specialists, and network school psychologists

    Serve as a productive member of the Network team:

    • Do whatever it takes to ensure that the mission of the school is fulfilled. This mission of Excel Academy is to prepare students to succeed in high school and college, apply their learning to solve relevant problems, and engage productively in their communities.

     

    Mission Alignment

    • You share a commitment to and belief in all students and the mission of Excel Academy Charter Schools, including Excel’s values and educational model;
    • You are committed to addressing racial and economic inequity in education;
    • You work effectively in a team environment and have a willingness and desire to support others in doing their best work; and
    • You are open to change, are willing to problem-solve, and seek feedback for your own professional growth and improvement.

    Qualifications

    • A Bachelor’s degree is required; a Master’s degree is preferred.
    • License or a plan to pursue DESE required licensure prior to the start date: 
    • A minimum of five years’ teaching experience is required; experience working in a high-performing, urban public charter or district school is strongly preferred
    • Experience formally coaching and/or leading teachers required;
    • Demonstrated efficacy in raising academic achievement for historically under-served students;
    • Ability to promote rigorous classroom instruction and culture.

    Excel Academy Charter Schools do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, ancestry, athletic performance, special need, proficiency in the English language or a foreign language or prior academic achievement.

    Applications will be reviewed as they are received and candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

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