High School Director of Special Education

New Foundations Charter High School is seeking a full-time Director of Special Education (SPED) for the 2024 - 2025 school year. This position is a full-time, 12-month supervisor role, part of the HS Leadership Team, and is not part of the bargaining unit.

The HS Director of SPED will lead all things in the HS SPED Department. The Director is directly responsible for improving the academic and behavioral performance of students with specialized learning needs. The Director will lead, supervise, and professionally develop a team of 15 staff, including teachers, paraprofessionals, and related-service providers.

The HS SPED Director reports directly to the HS Principal. As a member of the HS Leadership Team, the SPED Director will support the implementation of the vision and mission of New Foundations Charter High School. The HS SPED Director will collaborate with, not report to, the K-8 SPED Director.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Lead the HS SPED department, including all IEPs and 504s
• Professionally develop the special education staff
• Professionally develop the general education staff in all things special education related
• Collaborate with HR in hiring special education staff to ensure the school is always 100% staffed
• Lead the SPED department with a strong vision aligned with the school’s mission
• Implement, supervise, and facilitate any and all special education intervention curricula and programs
• Supervise and coordinate with teachers IEPs and 504s to ensure both quality and compliance
• Supervise and coordinate with the school psychologist evaluations and reevaluations to ensure both quality and compliance
• Supervise and coordinate with related service providers to ensure both quality and compliance
• Coordinate testing groups and accommodations for midterms, finals, placement testing and all standardized tests
• Serve as LEA at all relevant meetings
• Chair and conduct manifestation determination meetings and any other needed special education meetings
• Ensure the implementation of IEPs, including modifications and accommodations, in the general education environment
• Ensure the student files are in full compliance with all special education laws
• Serve on the MTSS Team, HS Leadership Team and Department Chair Team
• Provide leadership on the school’s leadership team
• Conduct both formal and informal evaluations for special education teachers and other staff members
• Collaborate with families in a variety of ways (meetings, parent trainings, etc) so that families are a valued member of the SPED community

Qualifications

• Valid PA Instructional Certification, with a supervisory certification preferred
• Minimum Bachelor’s Degree; Masters Degree in Special Education is preferred
• PA Special Education Certification. Leadership Certification is preferred.
• At least 5 years of special education teaching experience
• Strong knowledge of state and federal special education laws
• Knowledge of teaching methods, curriculum, interventions, and education programs designed for students with disabilities
• Knowledge of all types of special education reports and paperwork - IEPs, Evaluations, Reevaluations, 504s, Positive Behavior Support Plans, Manifestation Determination, Functional Behavioral Assessments, NOREAPS, Progress Monitoring, etc.
• Strong knowledge of special education compliance
• Knowledge of all disabilities and specific strategies for how to best serve students with specific disabilities
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written
• The ability to develop trusting relationships with students, staff, families, and providers
• A strong sense of person accountability for student progress and achievement
• A belief that all students should be held to high academic standards
• Be a model for professionalism, responsibility, and a strong work ethic

About New Foundations

The mission of the New Foundations Charter School is to provide students with the academic, social, and emotional foundations and skills necessary to become high-achieving, socially competent stewards of their communities. The teachers and staff of New Foundations Charter School will ensure a commitment to lifelong learning and achievement of all of our students by creating an atmosphere of caring that pervades every aspect of school life and promotes responsibility for all members of our school community.

Founded in 2000, New Foundations focused on two core ideas- be student-centered and growth focused. We still believe that in order for our children to thrive as leading members of society, they must grow academically, socially, and emotionally today.

More than twenty years later, New Foundations remains a prominent public charter school serving 1500 students across grades K-12 in Northeast Philadelphia and a leader in academic excellence, social emotional awareness, and community engagement.

We are a big “small” school - a family, rather than just a group of coworkers - caring, kindness, and compassion matter in employee and employer relationships at New Foundations.

Compensation

New Foundations offers a competitive salary and benefits package, a strong commitment to developing all staff as professionals invested in life-long learning, and the opportunity to work with the best students in Philadelphia.

Visit us at www.newfoundations.org

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $80,000.00 - $95,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Referral program
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Supplemental pay types:

• Signing bonus

Experience:

• Teaching: 5 years (Required)

License/Certification:

• Special Education Certification (Required)

Work Location: In person