JOB
The NWESD aspires to be a racially and culturally inclusive staff that reflects the diversity of those we serve. We believe this strengthens our organization, stimulates creativity, promotes the exchange of ideas, and enriches staff engagement.
Summary:
Program Administrators are responsible for developing, planning, implementing, administering and evaluating the effectiveness of a day school program for adjudicated adolescents or a self-contained educational program for at-risk and/or severely behaviorally disabled students in grades K-12. The goal of the program is the remediation of academic, social/emotional, and prevocational/vocational skills.
Essential Functions:
Provides direct supervision of assigned staff, which includes: scheduling, planning, and initiating strategies for performance; assigning and directing work; training; formally reviewing performance including development and monitoring plans of assistance as needed; recommending salary adjustments; interviewing and selecting employees; and resolving disciplinary issues.
Develops, implements, and evaluates academic, behavioral and prevocational/vocational strategies and programs aimed at remediating skill deficits.
Assures that program procedures are adhered to and modifies such as necessary. Develops new procedures in areas that are identified as needing defined guidelines.
Provides oversight, coordination, and support to staff by performing classroom consultations, assisting with student interventions (including physical containments as necessary), mentoring, evaluating outcomes per individualized educational program goals and objectives, identifying and coordinating the implementation of ‘Best Practices” models, and establishing and maintaining effective data collection and reporting systems.
Oversees training for staff in the areas of effective behavior management techniques, de-escalation and containment, effective instructional strategies, and special education discipline regulations.
Oversees training for certificated staff in Individualized Educational Program (IEP) development, curriculum development, evaluation and monitoring of student outcomes, Federal and State regulations, and general program development.
Maintains ongoing communication with appropriate school district personnel, parents/guardians, and community agencies to develop, implement, and maintain educational programming.
Coordinates and facilitates the planning and implementation for District inclusion opportunities and transition services. Provides advocacy for students and parents as necessary to support student education.
Works directly with students to ensure that they achieve both behavioral and academic success.
Administers student services related to medical, transportation, food service, and safety.
Provides outreach training/consultation to school districts participating in the cooperative program and to the educational community.
Performs fiscal administration including but not limited to overseeing District billings, monitoring designated program budget revenues and expenditures, authorizing purchase orders in accordance with NWESD policies and procedures, obtaining competitive estimates and bids, and maintaining program petty cash fund.
Performs program administration including but not limited to developing the school calendar, developing protocols for office operations, developing systems for attendance monitoring, oversight of site vehicles (if applicable), procuring and coordinating the utilization of equipment and information systems, food service coordination, and overseeing the maintenance and confidentiality of required records.
Performs facility administration including but not limited to communicating with fire inspectors, contractors, safety inspectors, and other parties necessary to maintain the building and keep it supplied with necessary materials to ensure that the school runs smoothly and safely.
Performs related duties as assigned. Related duties may not specifically be listed but are within the general occupational series and responsibility level typically associated with the employee’s classification of work.
Required knowledge, skills, and abilities:
Knowledge of federal and state regulations governing the conduct and education of special education students.
Ability to function with a high level of autonomy to accomplish NWESD and program goals.
Knowledge of child development, child psychology, and behavior management techniques.
Knowledge of principles of Applied Behavioral Analysis.
Knowledge of Special Education regulations and Individualized Educational Program development.
Knowledge of general education and Common Core State Standards, and effective instruction.
Skill in effective supervisory techniques and knowledge of effective leadership and decision-making techniques.
Ability to effectively use technology and/or software to perform various Essential Functions.
Ability to effectively work with at-risk and/or emotionally-behavior disordered students to achieve behavior and academic success.
Ability to work collaboratively in a leadership position while maintaining a team approach.
Ability to manage a multitude of short- and long-term tasks simultaneously under often-stressful conditions.
Ability to manage and coordinate human resources and to deal effectively with personnel issues.
Ability to design and implement individualized education programs for cooperative program students and monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of each program.
Ability to problem-solve and constructively manage crisis and high stress situations.
Ability to pro-actively defuse student crisis through school-wide procedures designed to teach appropriate social skills and identify potential “hot button” situations.
Ability to tolerate high stress situations and be flexible and adaptable to changing program needs and circumstances. Ability to work with distraction present.
Ability to read, interpret, analyze, and integrate technical directives into program systems and operations.
Ability to effectively provide consultation and training to diverse groups and diverse individuals.
Ability to coordinate services between community agencies.
Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written format including technical and business writing and public speaking/public relations.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, parents/guardians, school district staff and administrators, community service providers, and the public.
Qualifications
Masters Degree in Special Education, Counseling, or related field and a minimum of five years of successful experience working with SBD or ESD students in an educational, correctional education, or mental health setting preferred. Washington State Program Administrator or Principal credential required. WSP/FBI criminal history background clearance required. Current CPR and First Aid Certification required or be willing to obtain.
Employment Conditions
This position is 215 days per year, 8 hours per day.
Work is performed in an educational environment for at-risk and/or students with special needs in which continual observation and awareness of the surroundings are critical. Must be physically capable of performing de-escalation techniques and self-defense. Lift and carry a maximum of 40 pounds. Travel is routinely required. Adequate manual and finger dexterity, hearing, speech, and vision are necessary to perform the essential functions of this position. Hazards: Due to the nature of the student population, hazards include but are not limited to exposure to weapons, threats, verbal abuse, spitting, fighting, kicking, hitting, punching, biting, scratching, hair pulling and throwing of objects.