Description

The 12-month position of Director of Student Services will oversee all aspects of

the student experience for Marie Philip School and Walden School students. This position is

designed to create a unified approach to the overall student experience in both programs. The

Director is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of related student services and

after school programming. This includes, but is not limited to working with program leaders to

create and implement policies and procedures, special projects, community/business services,

and student technology.

The Director of Student Services will oversee Student Life, Food Service, Transition

Services, student transportation logistics, Athletics, after school and recreational programming,

summer programming, MPS’ school clinical team, maintenance when relevant to educational

programs, and the development and expansion of student experiences and recruitment.

Priorities are to be developed for long and short-term plans for the day-to-day operations of the

schools in collaboration with the Superintendent and Director of Walden School. The Director will

supervise and coordinate the work of student services departments and staff under their

purview. Additionally, to manage the budgets for these particular departments/programs, as

assigned by the Superintendent.

Supervisor: Superintendent of Marie Philip School; with support from the Director of Walden School.

Responsibilities and Functions

Act in an administrative capacity:

• Provide positive and proactive leadership for staff and students (e.g., improving communication, collaboratively resolving challenges, developing strategies, conflict resolution, goal setting, etc.);
• Work collaboratively with other leaders at multiple levels of the organization, with an emphasis on consensus-building and cohesion among teams
• Support quality residential programming for students (e.g., lifelong learning skills, behavior modification, recreation, dormitory living, social interaction, personal hygiene, IEP/ISP development, community outreach programming);
• Support recommended and current policies, procedures, and programs that enhance the safety and well-being of students; to support DESE and EEC compliance and licensing requirements.
• Review and assist in the development of the various program budgets and direct expenditures of the school clinical team, athletics, after school program, as well as other relevant programs.
• Support new students’ arrival to ensure a positive beginning to the residence
• Update the superintendent and the Director of Walden School regularly on assigned program/department issues (e.g., facility, student, and staff needs).
• Serve as a representative, as needed, on behalf of the superintendent and the Director of Walden School at meetings relevant to the school programs.
• Represent MPS and WS in the community on matters pertaining to student needs and services.

Coordinate and manage the student support services:

• To ensure that student experiences reflect the varied students’ multicultural identities and diverse needs.
• Participate in interdisciplinary meetings to discuss student progress;
• To collaborate with Information Technology department regarding student technology and its extensions for successful student learning.
• Communicate with parents;
• Review of disciplinary reports of direct reports from MPS. Also, review all reports in both programs to ensure compliance and equity of the policies pertaining to the specific approaches applied at each program.
• Actively support and administer the MPS mobile crisis intervention efforts and to make calls to state agencies pertaining to students’ safety after reviewing incidents with the Superintendent.

Supervision of staff:

• Supervise assigned direct reports,
• Participation on interview teams for new staff
• Support staff evaluations and make recommendations for personnel actions.
• Meet regularly with each assigned program supervisor (and program staff, as needed) to review and edit student progress notes, schedules, and program goals, collaborating with others as needed.
• Assure that supervisors/coordinators are trained and/or provide training to staff (e.g., staff development, dormitory routines/procedures, safety/emergency practices, accountability logs); to work alongside Walden School’s Director of Staff Development and Training to ensure collaboration.
• Monitor and approve assigned staff requests for personal time off, professional development, and purchases.
• To present fiscally responsible decisions while handling and determining the needs and priorities of programs or departments assigned to the Director.

Quality and growth of programs:

• Implement anti-racist principles and practices throughout all aspects of programming and interactions.
• Develop and expand services within each program, based on the needs and interests of the students served; explore related funding opportunities. Review monthly reports on student activities that show increased student participation.
• Develop and expand summer programming and extracurricular opportunities. Support the Superintendent and the Executive Director with grants discussions and management, when applicable.
• Work cooperatively with athletic, afterschool, residential recreational programs, the transition coordinator, the school counselor supervisor, and MPS clinical staff to maintain a commitment to fulfilling the social-emotional education curriculum. Provide a monthly report of evidence of SEL implementation and outcomes.
• To maintain weekly communication with the head of campus facilities pertaining to academic buildings and grounds; ensure that tickets are filed, updated, and closed (based on priority and urgency).
• Oversee the overall implementation (along with the transition program) of a residential life curriculum that provides recreational experiences, life experiences, practical living skills, informal counseling, and appropriate behavioral models and intervention for deaf young adolescents and provide quarterly updates of its successes and areas of improvement.
• To work closely with the Food Service provider about daily operations. To engage with students in both programs and measure students’ meal satisfaction. To review budget expenditures. To collaborate with the Chief Operations Officer regarding short-term and long-term food service provision.
• Encourage and lead the coordination of activities and skills development between student programs, including Transition, to support successful bridging of the completion of high school for students. To emulate successfully developed programs at other schools serving deaf students and best practices.
• Work with the superintendent and the executive director to develop and create plans for supporting the programs within the scope of the role with weekly updates and action tasks.
• For monthly professional development, implement PD options or trainings for non-instructional staff and provide evidence of the training and its dates.
• *Perform other tasks as assigned by the Supervisor.

Requirements

• Advanced degree in leadership, business, or related field;
• Preferred 10 years experience in the field with at least 5 years in a senior management position in a school for the deaf or related non-profit organization
• Significant previous financial responsibility