Reports To: Head of Schools

Employment Status: Full-time

Department: School

FLSA Status: Exempt

Job Summary

The Director of Education is the instructional leader of our school campus, providing leadership, oversight, supervision, and support to ensure a safe and rigorous learning environment. This position is responsible for the direction of the school program, curriculum development, and school staff management to ensure the highest quality of services are provided to our students and families.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Duties marked with an asterisk (*) are considered to be essential to this position under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

School Program Development and Direction

• Drive the process of large-scale curriculum direction from research, development, and acquisition of curriculum materials to meet the needs of each class.
• Monitor and purchase school curricula to ensure it meets agency, state, and graduation guidelines.
• Coordinate and manage communication with service providers including behavioral, speech, occupational therapy, and mental health consultant(s).
• Manage all schoolwide policies to ensure compliance. 
• Track enrollment programs, student progress, assessments, transition, behavior management, and crisis response procedures.
• Coordinate State Department of Education school certification process, including annual and triennial on-site reviews.

School Site Operations, Transportation and Logistics Management

• Foster and maintain positive relationships with parents, caregivers, and partner agencies (e.g., NPS, NPA, LEA).
• Determine appropriate placement of incoming students and collaborate with Intake Coordinator to determine suitability of potential student referrals.
• Ensure safe administration of student medication and health-related procedures.
• Ensure accuracy of Individualized Service Agreement contracts for each student.
• Oversee and consult with Office Manager regarding student record-keeping.
• Manage daily school activities to achieve educational and performance goals and ensure school site safety. Make final decisions regarding safety, health, policy and suspensions.
• Manage logistics of daily school schedules, special events, and trainings.
• Establish and manage transportation program, including coordination and institution of routes, and manage drivers and back-ups to ensure adequate staffing.

Staff Leadership and Management

• Interview, hire, train, and manage the daily activities of school staff, including Teachers, Program Counselors, Floaters, and Drivers to ensure smooth operations and goal achievements. Make salary recommendations upon hire.
• Manage school budget (e.g., monitor and approve monthly classroom expenses and educational materials budget).
• Manage and review Teacher’s written communication (i.e., IEPs, progress reports) with parents and school districts.
• Attend IEP meetings and student-related meetings that require management presence.
• Meet regularly with staff to facilitate discussions and encourage effective communications, cooperation, successful conflict resolution, and problem solving.
• Work closely with Head of School, Executive Director, and Leadership team to ensure school programs successfully address the student needs and meet the strategy and objectives of the organization.
• Foster and model an atmosphere of trust, cooperation, respect, and hard work.
• Act as liaison to Leadership team and communicate effectively between school staff and Leadership teams. 
• Coordinate and chair relevant staff meetings and in-service meetings. 
• Responsible for training, monitoring, and modeling behavior management techniques.
• Participate in agency fundraising events.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

Physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met or may be encountered by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The position may require remote work on a temporary or permanent basis, depending on business needs. Remote work does not change the terms and conditions of employment. Remote employees must follow all AchieveKids policies, including adhering to all meal and rest break and attendance schedules. Remote employees are expected to dedicate their full attention to their job duties during working hours.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

• remain in a stationary position 50% of the time
• occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc. 
• constantly operate a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer
• constantly position self to maintain files in file cabinets by stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling
• communicate information and ideas so others will understand, and must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations
• observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer), distance, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus
• move boxes/items weighing up to 20 pounds across office for various needs

Work Environment

This position regularly works in indoor conditions, and may occasionally be exposed to outdoor weather and wet (humid) conditions. Noise levels in the work environment are usually moderate and can sometimes be noisy.

There may be potential exposure to blood, urine, and feces; thereby, potentially at risk for exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, the individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential duty. Requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

• Master’s degree in Education or related field, required or in progress.
• 2 years of experience as an educator or a school administrator.
• Strong educational and managerial background in an academic environment, providing service to children, adolescents, and their families.
• Requires experience working with families and supporting youth with severe behavioral, developmental, and emotional difficulties in community settings.
• Must be an expert in basic behavioral management, and have knowledge of child abuse reporting laws.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Manages school staff and operations.
• Responsible for overall direction, management, and development of this group.
• Carries out management responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws.
• Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; performance development, reward and discipline employees; addressing complaints and resolving laws.

Skills & Abilities

• Clear communication of complex technical, clinical, or business issues.
• Facilitation skills, open communication, and excellent interpersonal and team skills.
• Strong negotiation and public relations skills, as well as conflict resolution skills required. 
• Positive attitude towards programs, inter-organizational functions, and meeting goals.
• Ability to assess and resolve problems at various levels.
• Capable of multi-tasking, decision-making, influencing, and flexibility.
• Plan, prioritize, meet deadlines, and manage time effectively.
• Vision and planning.
• Leadership and excellent presentation skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Effective organizational skills with a high attention to detail.

Other Requirements

• Criminal record clearance or formal exemption.
• Tuberculosis risk assessment clearance within 60 days before hire and every four years thereafter.
• A valid California Driver’s License with a clean driving record.