Superintendent

Louisiana Special School District (SSD)

Superintendent

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Superintendent of the Special School District (SSD) will have the opportunity to improve the education, choices, and quality of instruction for thousands of K-12 students in Louisiana.

Success will require this leader to champion the vision for SSD and its unique student population; identify metrics and communicate a higher set of expectations for the district; and drive related transformation efforts to build a broad base of support through engagement with the community, civic leaders, and policy leaders at the state level, as well as grassroots leaders in homes and schools throughout the state. The SSD Board of Directors seeks a seasoned, high-caliber Superintendent to accomplish its vision: to empower students to turn challenges into opportunities as big as their dreams.

ABOUT LOUISIANA SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (SSD)

The Special School District is an educational service agency governed by a 12-member Board of Directors that is responsible for hiring the Superintendent. Since its inception in 1977, SSD has provided educational opportunities to Louisiana students with low-incidence disabilities and a variety of unique needs. 

SSD operates two schools: Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired (LSVI) and Louisiana School for the Deaf (LSD). These state-operated schools provide educational programs to all eligible Louisiana students who meet the admission criteria and who are deaf or hard of hearing, blind or visually impaired, or identified as having other low-incidence disabilities. Students can enroll as residential or day students at no charge regardless of their place of residence in the state. 

SSD also provides educational programs to students enrolled at privately operated, public health, and correctional facilities. These programs span across four entities: the Office of Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, the Office of Behavioral Health, the Office of Juvenile Justice, and the Department of Public Safety and Corrections. 

JOB FUNCTIONS

The Superintendent will continuously work to:

• Increase the academic achievement level of all SSD students by working collaboratively with the Chief Academic Officer, Assistant Superintendent for Special School Programs, Director of the Louisiana School for the Deaf, and Director for the Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired.
• Facilitate a collaborative effort to review and refine SSD’s vision, mission, and beliefs to focus on developing a statewide model of excellence in serving students who are deaf or hard of hearing, blind or visually impaired, or identified as having other low-incidence disabilities.
• Develop an annual academic strategy for SSD schools anchored in high expectations and measurable growth in student performance and college and/or career attainment for all students, while understanding and celebrating what is unique about each school’s student population and tailoring school strategies with these distinctions in mind.
• Ensure an academic setting that provides students with opportunities and support to build independence and self-advocacy skills on the path to adulthood. This element is essential not only at school but also in dormitories and off-campus venues where students learn to interact with the community at large and gain invaluable work experiences.

Additional job functions include:

• Maintain a visible presence in schools, programs, and the community.
• Communicate with the public through available opportunities such as the SSD website, newsletters, social media, media releases, and public speaking engagements.
• Provide the SSD Board of Directors, students, families, staff, and community with clear, frequent, and accessible information about each schools’ mission, curriculum, and academic performance.
• Ensure administrators and teachers communicate student progress and academic resources.
• Develop strong, sustainable partnerships with stakeholder agencies including Local Education Agencies.
• Develop and implement a hiring and retention plan that complies with applicable state and federal laws and targets the most qualified teachers, administrators, and shared specialty service personnel.
• Foster an environment of continuous learning and improvement among faculty and staff.
• Administer and track an educator evaluation program that aligns with state requirements, supports teachers and school leaders, and defines expectations for student learning.
• Develop a strategic plan as required by the Office of Planning and Budget to achieve agreed-upon strategic goals.
• Maintain and increase an appropriate budget for SSD by working collaboratively with the Division of Administration and the legislature. 
• Ensure instructional staff are fairly compensated and schools are receiving fair and equitable services through shared specialty services.
• Develop systems of collaboration between SSD, state agencies, and experts both in and outside of Louisiana to become a highly functioning, valued resource for the State.
• Administer the development, implementation, and annual assessment of educational programs consistent with state and federal requirements.
• Ensure that policies, procedures, and school rules promote a safe, respectful, and healthy school.
• Conduct administrative decisions necessary for effective and efficient operations of SSD facilities.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Master’s Degree earned at a regionally accredited college or university.
• 5 years of experience in leadership, management, or school governance (state, parish, or city) as a superintendent, assistant superintendent, supervisor of instruction, principal, or assistant principal in a State-approved system, or experience certified as equivalent to any of these by the Board.

Preferred

• Experience in a superintendent or assistant superintendent role.
• Professional experience with the deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired, and/or low-incidence disability community. 

SKILLS

• Proven ability to recruit, manage, and retain high-functioning talent and teams.
• Deep and excellent capacity for relationship-building across teams, organizations, geographies, and interests.
• Seasoned and innate instincts for authentic, effective communication with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Tested experience in managing systemic systems-change processes, including articulating a new, clear, and thoughtful vision with evidence of driving a team effectively through that change.
• Track record for holding schools or organizations accountable for high academic or industry standards.
• Experience navigating and leading effectively within a public advocacy context.
• Experience developing a team or organizational strategy and being accountable for its results.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

The salary range is $135,000 – $175,000. Salary will be based on qualifications and experience.  

Benefits include:

• Participation in state retirement package and deferred compensation
• Life insurance, dental insurance, health insurance, supplemental benefits, and flexible spending accounts
• Annual, sick, military, civil, and funeral leave
• State holiday leave
• Workers’ compensation
• START Saving Program (LA Student Tuition Assistance and Revenue Trust Program)
• LA HIPP (If you or a member of your family received Medicaid and are determined eligible, LAHIPP will reimburse the premium paid for the policyholder and Medicaid and Medicaid eligible dependents.)

LOCATION

The Special School District operates from a central campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and services sites all over the state. The Superintendent must live in Louisiana and be able to travel to all SSD sites. The Superintendent must physically report to work and be visible and available to staff and the SSD Board of Directors.

GOVERNANCE

The Superintendent is an employee of SSD and is subject to an annual evaluation by SSD Board of Directors. The 12-member SSD Board of Directors comprises individuals from across Louisiana with diverse backgrounds who represent the agencies and organizations that serve the youth under the umbrella of SSD. The Superintendent reports directly to SSD Board of Directors. 

The Superintendent has two direct reports that oversee the following functions:

• Operations, facilities, grounds, risk management, and finance
• Academics for the Louisiana Special Schools and Programs

TO BE CONSIDERED

This position is open until filled and may close at any time. Candidates are encouraged

to apply early in the process for optimal consideration. Application materials will be reviewed and evaluated throughout the recruitment process.

To be considered, candidates must submit a cover letter and resume to

ssd@consultssa.com. Should you have any questions regarding this position or the recruitment process, please email Camille Fruge, SSA Consultants directly at ssd@consultssa.com. Confidential inquiries are welcomed.