Director of Student Services

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN DAY SCHOOL

A Ministry of First Presbyterian Church (PCA), Jackson, Mississippi

“Planting seeds of Christlikeness in the hearts of children”

Job Description for Director of Student Services

OVERVIEW AND MISSION OF FPDS

First Presbyterian Day School is a private Christian school serving over 600 students from early childhood through Grade 6. Accredited by the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools, FPDS offers academic, fine arts, and sports programs. We are located on the campus of First Presbyterian Church of Jackson, MS. 

Believing that children are a heritage of the Lord, the mission of FPDS is:

• Planting seeds of Christlikeness in the hearts of children
• Pursuing excellence in academics
• Preparing students for future service In God’s kingdom in their homes, churches, and professions

If you are interested in being a part of a school administration team in a challenging, professional, Christian environment where you support the mission of the school; where you are treated as a Christian professional and where the pursuit of academic excellence for God's glory is a hallmark of the school, FPDS may be the school for you. Visit our website at www.fpds.org/mission-beliefs for more information on FPDS.

JOB SUMMARY
The Director of Student Services provides strategic and day-to-day leadership for the school’s Dyslexia & Learning Support programs. This full-time role reports to the Upper School Principal.  This position works closely with six dyslexia therapists and oversees a caseload of approximately 75 students, ensuring high-quality intervention, immersion, hybrid, academic coaching, and dyslexia therapy services. The Director manages Student Service Plans (SSPs), departmental testing and screening, professional development, admissions pathways for new and current students, parent communication, and compliance/documentation—advancing student growth and aligning all services with the school’s Christian mission and academic standards.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Leadership & Program Management

• Provide vision, scheduling, and operational oversight for all Student Services offerings: Kindergarten/Grade 1: intervention, Grades 2–4: immersion, Grade 4: immersion and hybrid therapy block, Grades 5–6: academic coaching, and dyslexia therapy (1:1 and small groups of up to 3).
• Ensure program fidelity to structured literacy/multisensory approaches; monitor student placement, and grouping.
• Coordinate the department calendar; manage resources, materials, and ordering.

Student Service Plans (SSPs) & Accommodations

• Lead the implementation and annual review of SSPs; maintain complete SSP folders (evaluations, plans, supporting documentation).
• Schedule and lead beginning-of-year SSP meetings; 
• Ensure only students with SSPs receive accommodations; coach teachers on consistent classroom/testing supports.

Screening, Testing & Admissions

• Oversee dyslexia screening protocols
• Coordinate departmental assessments, progress monitoring, and testing accommodations during schoolwide assessments.
• Manage admission pathways for new and current students, from referral and documentation review to placement decisions and onboarding.

Coaching & Professional Development

• Collaborates with the Upper School Principal in evaluating dyslexia therapists; provide coaching.
• Plan and deliver in-service training for regular classroom teachers on dyslexia and accommodations. 
• Design and lead one week of summer training for department staff to refine program, curriculum, and practices.

Data, Reporting & Compliance

• Establish systems for progress monitoring, attendance/service logs, screening results, and outcomes; analyze data to drive instructional decisions.
• Produce periodic reports for school leadership (enrollment, progress, service delivery, program impact).
• Uphold confidentiality and FERPA compliance; maintain accurate, timely records.

Family & Faculty Partnership

• Lead parent engagement and maintain consistent communication with families regarding student progress, services, and transitions; address concerns promptly.
• Partner with teachers and administrators to support classroom implementation and smooth transitions between grade levels.

Department Operations & Communication

• Convene department meetings to review students, practices, and operations.
• Keep website content accurate and current; conduct an annual review of program pages and resources.
• Support schoolwide initiatives and embody the school’s Christian mission in all services and relationships.

  TERMS
  This is a full-time, year-round position. The summer schedule for this position will differ from the regular school year, with reduced hours and increased flexibility based on the needs of the Student Services Department and school operations.

  Employees with children in school through Grade 6 are required to enroll them in FPDS. Exceptions are made for children enrolled in public school or being cared for by family members. FPDS offers a substantial tuition discount for each child.

  COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
  The Director of Student Services is offered an annual salary, payable in 12 equal monthly installments on the last day of each month.

  FPDS provides a comprehensive benefits package that supports their well-being and financial security. Benefits available to eligible full-time staff members include:

  Medical, Dental, Vision insurance

  Life insurance

  401(k) retirement savings plan

  Tuition remission 

  Paid time off 

  Opportunities for professional development

  A summary of all available benefits will be available once a candidate begins to proceed in the interview process.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS AND ATTRIBUTES

• Profess a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and live out their faith daily. Uphold the Bible as the ultimate authority for life and faith and fully agree with the school’s Statement of Faith. Be an active member in good standing at a local evangelical church.

• Demonstrate spiritual maturity, academic excellence, and leadership that reflect the mission of nurturing students in a Christ-centered environment. Model Christ-like traits such as integrity, humility, kindness, self-control, and perseverance. Communicate respectfully and professionally in written and spoken English. Maintain a clean, modest, and professional appearance consistent with the school’s values and dress code.
• Master’s degree in Special Education, Educational Leadership, School Psychology, or related field.
• Current teaching license/certification and a minimum of 3–5 years’ experience in dyslexia therapy, structured literacy intervention, or learning support.
• Demonstrated success writing/implementing SSPs (or IEP/504 equivalents) and coordinating classroom/testing accommodations.
• Proficiency with structured literacy/multisensory approaches and RTI/MTSS frameworks.
• Experience supervising or coaching educators; strong skills in observation, feedback, and adult learning.
• Data literacy: progress monitoring, analyzing results, and making programmatic decisions.
• Excellent communication with students, families, faculty, and administrators; strong organization and record-keeping.
• Advanced dyslexia credentials (e.g., LDT/CALT, C-SLDS, Orton-Gillingham or MSLEC aligned training). 
• Experience managing department operations (scheduling, materials, website updates).
• Familiarity with student information systems and productivity tools (e.g., Google Workspace) for data, documentation, and communication.
• Background in leading professional development, including designing in-service and summer training.