School Program Director

As a School Program Director at The Menta Education Group, you will collaborate on the development of school plans and procedures for instruction, student’s social/emotional needs, safety, building procedures, and other building needs.

8:00am-3:30pm CT, Monday-Friday, following a school calendar.

12 month position

Direct Hire with our school: Return school year after school year (no annual contract)

• Support school-wide initiatives in special education
• Drive change by working alongside staff and students to improve academic and behavioral achievement and support the overall learning environment
• Lead the school by building high performing teams and responsibly manage work and people while enlisting others in the school vision
• Promote the success of students by creating an instructional program that continually strives to improve teaching and learning
• Create and maintain a school environment that focuses on students and emphasizes high academic expectations, a personal approach, caring, discipline, and order
• Encourage professional development and effectively supervise teachers and staff in order to improve student learning and academic achievement
• Confer with students, parents, and staff to resolve issues and problems

• PEL with Principal Certification is required
• PEL with LBS1 Certification is strongly preferred, but not required
• A strong knowledge of the IEP process and special education
• A strong knowledge of the PBIS model 
• Excellent organization, time management, and follow-up skills
• Knowledge of Common Core Standards  
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with demonstrated ability to speak and write clearly and persuasively
• Ability to successfully handle multiple projects concurrently

• In accordance with the Pay Transparency amendment to the Illinois Equal Pay Act of 2003, information about pay ranges and employee benefits can be found at the following links:
• Compensation Information:
• https://menta.com/compensation-arizona-and-illinois/
• Please refer to the "School Leadership" section for this position's category
• Benefits Information:
• Our benefits package includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance; paid time off (PTO); and a 403(b) retirement plan with an employer match. For more information visit: https://menta.com/employee-benefits-full-time/

About Menta Academy DeKalb K-12 and Menta Academy 912

The staff at Menta Academy DeKalb is dedicated to seeing each child reaches their potential in becoming 3-C Ready: College Ready, Career Ready, and Citizenship Ready.

Educational services are intended to meet both the developmental and individual learning needs of each student. Classrooms are designed to be active learning environments where young people have the opportunity to experience educational and behavioral success on a daily basis.

For students requiring intensive transitional services, a continuum of support is established. After earning necessary credits and demonstrating self-management of behaviors, students learn to generalize classroom skills in a community setting within Menta. This allows them to practice new skills and behaviors in a safe environment and be assessed through various methods.

Students learn employability skills such as problem-solving, effective communication, time-management, self-advocacy, community integration and transportation, adaptive living skills, and related work behaviors like grooming, hygiene, communication, following dress codes and schedules, completing tasks, and taking initiative.

Menta Academy Dekalb 912 is a collaboration with Dekalb Community School District 428 and like other Menta programs utilizes a unique curricular framework that relies on the Expanded Menta Method and Trauma Informed Practices as the foundational principles for the teaching, counseling and mentoring work done by our highly trained staff. Every aspect of the framework supports students with attainment of graduate competencies.

Our curriculum is personalized to meet the needs of each student, with technology and skilled teachers creating a dynamic learning environment. At Menta's Academy Dekalb, our unique learning spaces combine traditional teaching with cutting-edge technology and innovation. These flexible spaces support inquiry-based and project-based learning, designed to prepare students for real-world work environment. Menta Academy Dekalb Transition program readies students for their desired post-secondary opportunity, including college, technical schools, trades, military or gainful employment. It emphasizes the language and expectations of the workplace and offers job development and placement services in entry-level positions.

Professional Associations and/or Partnerships

The Menta Education Group affiliates are members/partners with CEC, CASE, Autism Speaks, ASBA, AAPSEC, AASA, CCSSO, SEAA, ASCD, and many more associations that focus on the education of children with disabilities.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Menta Education Group (“Menta”) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, gender identity and gender expression), color, national origin, religion, age, pregnancy or related conditions, veteran status, sexual orientation, disability or any other basis protected under federal, state or local law.   Any individual needing assistance in making an application for any opening should contact Menta’s office.

Salary : $75,000 - $108,000