Associate Director of Special Education in Oakland, California at Envision Education

Envision Education seeks an Associate Director of Special Education to lead support for diverse learners at our four Bay Area schools, paving the way to college and career success in a diverse, compassionate community.

Who We Are

Our mission is to transform the lives of students - especially those who will be the first in their family to attend college - by preparing them for success in college, career, and life. Envision Education currently operates three small campuses in San Francisco, Oakland, and Hayward, as well as a national educational consulting firm called Envision Learning Partners. Envision Education has made an explicit commitment to becoming an exemplar network of schools with an instructional and cultural vision rooted in an anti-racist and pro-Black framework. The following represents Envision Schools’ vision for 21st-century skills, character traits, and cognitive and social-emotional skills that learners need for success in college, career, and life.

• Knowledge and Love of Self and Land
• Collectivism
• Critical Thinking
• Self Determination
• Criticality
• Leadership

Who You Are

• You are equity-focused. You are unapologetic about your deeply held belief that all children can achieve. You believe that anti-racist and pro-Black practices and frameworks are essential to change the status quo for all students.
• You are collaborative. You make decisions in partnership with others, focused on what is best for the students.
• You are invested in our core values. You hold high expectations for the entire school community. You examine your own biases in your pursuit of equity for all.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Reporting to the Senior Director of Student Services, the Associate Director of Special Education is responsible for managing and enhancing the special education programs and services at all school sites. This role collaborates regularly with the Program Specialist, School Psychologists, Learning Specialists, Instructional Assistants and School Site Administrative Teams to create and implement supportive and compliant systems so students graduate prepared for success in life, college, and career.

Strategy & Implementation

• Serve as initial contact and apply judgment when problem solving issues related to IEP implementation, placement, services, transition or other IEP-related services
• Creates resources and support services around post-secondary transition for school sites
• Coordinate site-based ERMHS counseling and other services as need with site teams
• Monitors compliance and educational benefit, per IEP procedural regulations, including State and Self-Review process
• Supports the Sr. Director of Student Services to establish procedures to process and place eligible pupils; develop screening programs for academics and behavior; use data to determine eligibility for special education services; and provide research-based instruction and interventions
• Collaborate with the Sr. Director of Student Services on budget recommendations as well as maintain expenditure control on established Special Education Budgets

Compliance & Accountability

• Develops a system for and leads all Child Find efforts for the schools
• Advise principals and staff on the legal requirements of special education and interpret the objectives of special education services to staff plus assist school teams with disciplinary procedures and manifestation determinations for students with IEPs
• Collaborates with site teams to support with communication between personnel, students and/or parents for the purpose of evaluating situations, solving problems and resolving conflicts; serve as lead on any mediation or due process
• Coordinate with HR and appropriate staff for recruiting, screening, scheduling activities related to new special education hires and contracted DIS service providers
• Support hourly employee timesheets, material ordering, expense management and/or reporting
• In-depth, knowledge of current State and Federal laws
• Working knowledge of behavior and disciplinary procedures for identified students
• Adept understanding of well-written IEPs, IEP meetings, Behavior Support Plans and Progress monitoring

Professional Development & Leadership

• Develop and oversee capacity of each site’s special education team, including school administrators, Learning Specialists and Instructional Assistants
• Act as liaison to community agencies (ie. County Mental Health, Community Colleges, Regional Occupational Center)
• Support school teams in their understanding of learning and behavior disabilities and their manifestations in the classroom through teacher coaching, site-based workshops, and Envision-wide professional development
• Plan regular professional development for Special Education team, foster team-identity and job-alike dialogue
• Participate in monthly EDCOE / Charter SELPA Steering committee meetings
• EDCOE/Charter SELPA liaison for SEIS, information distribution, management of CASEMIS reporting, meetings & scheduling, professional development, and other related responsibilities related to SELPA
• Document and share successful strategies and tools Special Education for presentation to other members of charter community
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

• 5+ years Special Education teaching. Preferred: experience with full-inclusion, co-teaching, and/or general education setting
• 2+ years in a Special Education administrative role such as coordinator or program specialist
• Preferred: Masters in Special Education or equivalent
• Valid California Education Specialist credential or out of state equivalent with ability to transfer required.
• English Language Learner authorization or in process.
• Administrative Services Credential preferred
• Knowledge of Compliance, CA Ed Code, and IDEA federal law
• Demonstrated success working with parents and families, especially Black, African American, Latino/a/x, and immigrant families.
• Unfaltering belief that all students have potential for academic success regardless of disability
• Commitment to the mission of Envision Education.
• Commitment to anti-racist and pro-Black ideologies in the workplace.
• Receptiveness to feedback and desire to continuously improve to meet outcomes.
• Bilingual Spanish speakers preferred.

LOCATION
This position is onsite and requires travel between our Support Office and 3 campuses located in San Francisco, Hayward, and Oakland

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The salary range for this role is between $95,000-$110,000 and is dependent upon years of aligned experience and credentials.

• Paid sick and personal necessity leave.
• Excellent health benefits package with employer contribution to benefits.
• Optional Flexible Benefits Plan including dependent care, medical care, parking, and commuter benefits.
• Retirement system from STRS.
• 403b Plan.
• Life Insurance at no cost to employee.
• Optional Housing Benefits.
• Optional Pet Insurance Benefits.
• Access to ongoing opportunities for learning, professional, and leadership opportunities.

As an equal opportunity employer, we believe deeply in diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all people. Envision Education recruits, employs, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, disability, age, veteran status, and the many other characteristics that make us diverse.