Job Description

TITLE: Adaptive Learning Coach

WHO WE ARE:

Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) is a student-focused, innovative educational organization committed to academic excellence. Our mission is to empower and educate all students to think critically, creatively, and responsibly, to embrace diversity, and to pursue their dreams with a purpose. We are a family of excellent public schools in which every student has the opportunity to succeed and the power to create their own future. Led by forward-thinking leadership and our commitment to prioritizing students, racial equity, and authentic engagement with our families, team members, and communities, our staff have diverse opportunities to develop their careers in a challenging but rewarding environment. We are an organization for people who are passionate about education and committed to the Indianapolis community.

SUMMARY OF OPPORTUNITY:

The Unified Student Supports team is looking for a skilled professional with experience as an instructional champion for students with disabilities within Indianapolis Public Schools. The Adaptive Learning Coach provides direct instructional support to all schools across IPS to increase the achievement of IPS students with special needs. This is a 10-month position with the ability to earn compensation for additional work hours beyond the teacher contract time.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

The following outlines what your core duties and responsibilities will be for this position and provides a sample overview of what your day-to-day may look like.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as the first and strongest advocate for racial and ableness equity and student-centered approaches to teaching, learning, service, and support;
• Provide specific feedback, support, and suggestions to leadership to strengthen teaching and learning for students with disabilities, regardless of LRE;
• Assist principals with decision-making and problem-solving as it pertains to Adaptive Education programming;
• Work collaboratively with district and department coaches, teachers, and classroom assistants with the implementation of Individual Education Plans;
• Strengthen district (coaches & coordinators) and special education staff (teachers, coaches, administrators) knowledge and application of best practices aligned to your area of expertise;
• Support Special Education leaders and District Leaders with the creation of professional development highlighting best practices to support adaptive education;
• Provide adapted education services to students with intellectual disabilities, autism, traumatic brain injury, orthopedic impairments, or other disabling conditions;
• Adapt instructional techniques to the age and skill levels of students;
• Support all stakeholders with essential tools to accelerate learning and protect the rights of students with disabilities and their families;
• Champion Special Olympics, Fit5 Curriculum, and Exercise Connection;
• Design a structured and progressive adaptive education curriculum that aligns with the goals and objectives of Indianapolis Public Schools.
• Implement ongoing assessments and evaluation mechanisms to measure the effectiveness and impact of the adaptive education curriculum on student progress and growth.
• Consistently contribute to Special Olympics and Special Olympic After School programming.
• Consistently shares the vision of the Indianapolis Public Schools team and collaboratively seeks innovative solutions to support students and their families;
• Consistently contribute to a positive team culture by being direct and transparent, helpful and collaborative while prioritizing a customer service orientation;
• Consistently revisit special education program and service procedures to ensure continuity of services and foresight of potential issues;
• Provide Professional Development to teachers and instructional assistants that focus on adaptive education strategies and resources;
• Communicate effectively and in a timely manner with parents and guardians of special needs students to address complaints, issues, and concerns.
• Perform other duties as assigned by USS administration.

“Day In the Life” Overview

On a regular day, as an Adaptive Learning Coach, you may:

• Spend the majority of your time in collaborative work with elective and special education teachers, instructional assistants, school leaders, and other experts to improve learning outcomes for students with disabilities in their least restrictive environment. This collaboration includes but is not limited to direct instructional coaching, professional development, analysis of progress data, seeking out academic and behavioral instructional strategies, and assisting with implementation.
• The Adaptive Learning Coach has a broad understanding of all disabilities and a specialized knowledge of working with students with mild to severe disabilities. On a typical day, you work alongside our special program staff and elective teachers as a thought partner, problem solver, and resource to collaborate and ensure that the needs of our staff, students, and families are met.

WHAT YOU’LL BRING: SKILLS AND MINDSETS

As an ideal candidate for this role, you will be able to achieve the following:

• Growth Mindset - Continuously seeks to improve individual work, demonstrating candor and ability to identify weaknesses. Finds lessons in the failures and successes of others. Proactively seeks and acts on feedback.
• Effective Influencer - Inspires others to work towards common goals to meet the needs of urban school students despite obstacles. Advocates the importance of the district’s role in serving schools and communicates with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong Collaboration & Cross-Functional Skills - Builds rapport and cooperative relationships with others. Establishes and maintains strong relationships with relevant stakeholders. Places high priority on team and organizational goals.
• Confidentiality - Makes effective decisions regarding sensitive and confidential information. Respect the privacy of others and maintain the confidentiality of information.
• Communication Skills - Possesses effective verbal and written communication and should be able to adapt communication styles to suit different audiences.
• Strategic Thinking - Identifies challenges and guides the team toward solutions. Creates space for productive debate and alternative perspectives. Encourages innovation and creativity from the team. Identifies risks and ways to mitigate them.
• Project Management - Manages projects from end to end, identifying and monitoring project milestones and holding the team accountable for achieving results.
• Fidelity in the application of the following:
• Highly developed communication skills (written/verbal) and interpersonal savvy
• Results/action orientation; project management skills
• Racial equity mindset and other critical indicators related to DEI
• Organizational agility; developed negotiation skills
• Unquestionable personal code of ethics, integrity, diversity, and trust
• Able to successfully navigate within varying degrees of ambiguity in a fast-paced environment
• Strong strategic analysis skills
• Ability to be creative in developing alternatives to meet students’ instructional needs
• A track record of developing and maintaining strong working relationships with and among a diverse group of actors
• Close attention to detail coupled with the ability to exercise good judgment
• Proactive nature; able to anticipate conflicts before they arise
• Ability to work well independently as well as collaboratively
• Able to work non-traditional work hours.
• Ability to execute meetings, calls, and emails with professionalism, courtesy, and accuracy
• Personal qualities of maturity, humility, strong work ethic, sense of humor, and diligence
• Ability to effectively allocate and prioritize time to several tasks to ensure completion of all tasks.
• All other assigned duties

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Special Education Certification and/or Physical Education Certification with Working knowledge of federal and state special education laws, rules, and practices, including IDEA and Article 7.

This role provides privileged access to the inner workings of the IPS Unified Student Supports and District Enrichment Programs, service providers, and partner organizations. The successful candidate will be discrete, high-energy, agile-minded, strategic, proactive, a direct communicator, highly organized, and committed to the vision and values of Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) and USS. In addition, the following standards will generally define the successful incumbent:

• Certification or ability to be fully certified by the Indiana Department of Education in Special Education or Physical Education
• 5 to 7 years of experience as a skillful practitioner and evidence of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to execute this role at a high level
• Working knowledge of federal and state special education laws, rules, and practices, including IDEA and Article 7
• Working knowledge of federal and state special education rules, regulations, and practices (Article 7 and IDEA)
• Broad knowledge of the theories, principles, practices, and methodology of special education
• Working knowledge of Indiana and IPS special education policies, procedures, and programs.

FLSA CLASSIFICATION:

Exempt

ELIGIBILITY FOR REMOTE WORK:

Not Eligible

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Supports students' physical mobility needs as applicable after being trained by a physical therapist.
• Lift at least 50 lbs.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally to work in wet and humid conditions and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• This position requires travel between school locations.

EEOC STATEMENT:

Indianapolis Public Schools, in accordance with its nondiscrimination policies, will not discriminate in its programs, facilities, or employment or educational opportunities on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, familial status, domestic violence victim status, homelessness or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations, or ordinances. Indianapolis Public Schools does not tolerate any form of retaliation or bias-based intimidation, threat, or harassment that demeans individuals’ dignity or interferes with their ability to learn or work.

DISCLAIMER:

Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the above representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This job description is illustrative only and is not a comprehensive list of all essential functions and duties performed by the occupant of this position. Factors such as regular and punctual attendance are not routinely listed in job descriptions but are an essential function.