Chief of Diverse Learners, School District of Philadelphia
Alma Advisory Group, United States
Job Description
The School District of Philadelphia (SDP) is the eighth-largest school district in the nation, serving a historic and culturally vibrant community. We are a community of 19,000 dedicated employees working together with parents, families, volunteers, and community members to support the limitless potential of more than 203,000 young scholars. We are committed to educating and graduating generations of thought leaders, entrepreneurs, artists, government officials, and change makers. Our goal is simple; to become the fastest-improving district in the country. Our mission is to deliver on the civil right of every child in Philadelphia to an excellent public school education and ensure that all children graduate from high school ready to succeed, fully engaged as a citizen of our world. To meet our mission, we seek leaders who have a passion for working with schools and communities dedicated to ensuring all students achieve. Serving a population as diverse as ours requires creativity, commitment, and vision. Will you join us?
Job Summary
The Chief of Special Education and Diverse Learners is charged with overseeing, supporting and monitoring the delivery of educational services to our special populations including Special Education Services, Multi-Tier System of Support (MTSS), Multilingual Students, and Gifted Students for the School District of Philadelphia. This person in this role provides leadership to ensure that the District’s Goals and Guardrails are met and that the varied and diverse needs of students are addressed and incorporated seamlessly into academics, student supports, and instruction. The Chief of Special Education and Diverse Leaders reports to the Deputy Superintendent of Academics.
Essential Functions
Strategy and Leadership for Special Education and Diverse Learner Supports
- Plans, develops, and implements a comprehensive program for diverse learners, and ensures that programming addresses the needs of students, establishes objectives and priorities, prioritizes strategies to achieve objectives, and evaluates programs.
- Represents the Superintendent and other District leadership during public presentations, speaking engagements, or other activities associated with District business, as requested; facilitates forums and other public meetings.
- Manages targeted, high-priority strategic projects on behalf of the Superintendent.
- Advises District leaders on matters related to diverse learners.
Program Design and Effectiveness
- Support parents and caregivers of diverse learners to ensure all SDP students are provided with the best services and resources to support high academic achievement.
- Apply research and best practices to inform the development of theories of pedagogy, and intervention programs and improve the delivery of special education and related services including guidance counseling, and psychological and social services.
- Establishes and maintains a system for monitoring the effectiveness of program implementation and ensuring compliance with individualized education plans (IEPs) for students with disabilities.
- Directs the development and revision of programs, policies, and procedures to comply with federal, state, and local legislation and District policy.
- Develops project plans, work breakdown structures, and schedules required to successfully complete projects on time and within budget constraints.
Diverse Learner Team Leadership
- Plans, coordinates, and directs the teams who oversee the overall operation of services for special education, multilingual services, MTSS, and gifted education.
- Defines, delegates, and evaluates the services of staff supporting the Diverse Learner departments.
- Oversees recruitment, selection, placement, and evaluation of staff who support the Diverse Learner departments.
- Provides professional development for staff based on established program goals and objectives.
- Develops project plans, work breakdown structures, and schedules required to successfully complete projects on time and within budget constraints.
- Provides appropriate supervision, mentoring, and professional growth and development to assigned staff; develops and implements professional growth plans to include keeping abreast of current developments, literature and technical resources of information.
- Ensures direct reports and departments within their purview provide excellent customer service to schools, parents, and the community.
Effective Special Education Operations Management
- Assesses the effectiveness of the department and effectively prioritizes, plans, and implements improvements, as needed.
- Ensures responsive and efficient services including appropriate due process in t