Why Not You Academy Hiring for Special Education Coordinator Job at Des Moines, WA Full Time

Special Education Coordinator/Advisor 2022-2023
Why Not You Academy
Reports To: Chief Academic Officer
Classification: Full-Time
Location: 22419 Pacific Highway S., Des Moines, WA 98198
Start Date: August 15, 2022

WHO WE ARE

At Why Not You Academy, we are reimagining what free, high quality, public education can look like when built on a foundation of deeper learning, strong mentorship, and personalized pathways. With a culture of high expectations and high support, a student-driven and rigorous focus on preparation for college and career, and a diverse and inclusive community, we will grow to serve 416 students, grades
9-12.

By design, we are a small community where every student is known. Our school is intentionally heterogeneous and reflects the diversity of the communities in which we operate. We invite diverse, driven, and dynamic educators to join our team and support a new vision for high school in the 21st century!

THE WHY NOT YOU ACADEMY MODEL

• An interdisciplinary, college and career preparatory approach to the academic core wherein students learn through projects to apply knowledge/skills to relevant issues and topics and demonstrate mastery of 21st century Deeper Learning competencies.

• Personalized pathways with high expectations and high support, including individual learning plans, data-driven goal setting, embedded tutoring, and literacy and numeracy blocks.

• “Leaving to Learn” through 1:1 mentorship and interest-based, career exploring internships

that supports students in developing 21st century competencies and social/professional networks that will pay dividends in college, career, and beyond.

WHO YOU ARE

• You are empathetic, culturally competent, and part of an anti-racist community with a shared commitment to dismantle systems of oppression and white supremacy.

• You believe all students are capable of success in college, career, and civic life and you maintain high expectations for student engagement.

• You seek to listen and understand before answering and explaining.
• You have high expectations for yourself and all students to communicate effectively, work collaboratively to solve complex problems, and learn how to learn (Deeper Learning).
• You are passionate about helping students to develop a meaningful vision for life after high school and supporting their achievement of that vision.
• You recognize that student success is driven by a preference for long-term goal setting (personal, academic, and post-high school) and the ability to develop the knowledge, skills, and habits of mind to achieve them.

• You are excited to design and lead learning activities, interventions, and supports using a variety of methods including: push-in, pull-out, small group and individual interventions, and formative and summative assessments.

• You are excited about collaborating with colleagues to maintain the academic integrity of planned lessons and learning experiences for students. You find positivity in shared successes.

• You thrive in innovative environments, are comfortable with ambiguity, and welcome iterative, student-centered design processes and challenges.

• You are committed to continuous improvement, see feedback as a positive, and have a growth mindset.

• You use data to track and provide updates on student achievement to students, staff, and family.
• You are a leader, actively participating in collaborative planning and weekly data-driven meetings focused on instruction and student achievement.
• You are committed to the emotional and physical safety of staff and students and to a culture of relevant and rigorous learning.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Being a Special Education Coordinator/Advisor at Why Not You Academy is unlike teaching at a traditional school. You will lead the facilitation and implementation of specially designed instruction, goal setting, and progress monitoring for students with Individual Education Plans (special education), nurturing strong relationships with the students you teach and coach. You will oversee the special education department and supporting and coaching teachers and instructional assistants responsible for planning and implementing specially designed instruction, accommodations and modifications. You will plan and implement professional development with staff related to supporting students with IEPs.

The Special Education Coordinator is a vital member of the school leadership team, collaborating on a systematic approach to interventions for all students, at all tiers. You, as a member of the school leadership team, will support the implementation of the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) for academics and behavior. See the WHAT YOU NEED section below for a detailed outline of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the Learning Specialist role.

As an Advisor, you wil l lead an Advisory of 17-20 students, nurturing strong relationships with the students you coach. Advisors mentor the same group of students for two years, facilitating the development of individual learning plans and using data to support student’s academic and social-emotional growth and self-development. Advisors support students to develop agency and the skills to set and achieve meaningful personal, academic, and post-high school goals.

Individual schedules vary with role and school calendar, but in general you will lead a daily Advisory block, support a caseload of students across instructional and academic intervention blocks, and have a prep period. Advisors are responsible for, and expected to:

• Participate in pre-service professional development in August for onboarding staff in the culture, systems, and routines of Why Not You Academy and the development of professional and organizational goals.

• Beginning each day in Advisory where you’ll coach and support the development and progress monitoring of individual learning plans, college and career interest exploration, and academic and social-emotional competencies via a portfolio system.

• Supporting daily literacy or math interventions and personalized learning time, which don’t involve lesson planning. During this time, Advisors provide student support, monitor progress, and check in with individuals or groups of students.

• Explicitly state each student’s progress, in academic and social-emotional terms, through trimester narratives, phone calls to parents, and weekly student meetings.

• Facilitating 3 learning plan-based exhibitions, one per trimester, with each family or guardian.
• Supporting each advisee (in partnership with the Internship Coordinator and school staff) to explore and secure an internship and monitor student internships weekly through site-visits, phone calls, and/or mentor meetings.

• Provide support to students in office hours before and/or after school one day each week.
• Professional development and collaborative planning: Advisors have 3 hours of job-embedded, grade-level team planning every Wednesday morning. Wednesday afternoons, Advisors conduct site visits to student internship sites and support project development. Twice a month, teachers participate in all-faculty after-school meetings where community decisions are made, and professional development takes place. Additionally, teachers engage in weekly coaching cycles of observation and feedback to further their professional goals and development.

• Participate in instructional coaching cycles of observation and feedback to develop skills and apply new practices in support of students with exceptional needs

WHAT YOU NEED

• Familiarity with federal and state Special Education regulations and reporting requirements
• Ability to write, review, and edit compliant IEPs including all aspects of Transition planning
• Ability to manage a caseload of 5 – 30 students:
• Meet timeline requirements for re-evaluations and annual IEPs
• Coordinate Eval and IEP meeting logistics; schedule and ensure participation of all team members, including parents
• Facilitate student-centered and culturally responsive meetings
• Coordinate and ensure delivery of SDI and related services
• Collect and analyze data; report progress to parents as stipulated by the IEP
• Manage a huge influx of incoming IEP paperwork at the beginning of the year (Transition

Reviews and Amendments)

• Ability to collaborate with leadership and teaching staff to ensure delivery of SDI to all students
• Familiarity with high-leverage instructional practices
• Ability to manage and supervise related service providers and special education teaching and support staff
• Ability to administer standardized academic testing instruments for evaluations
• Ability to advocate for the needs of students who are eligible for SPED services
• Ability to meet with parents, families and students who are upset with quality of service or service delivery
• Understanding of budgeting related to services required for 5 – 30 students, including the potential for contracted related services and/or 1:1, nursing, behavioral support
• Extremely effective and efficient organization, time-management, and communication skills
• Commitment to uphold Why Not You Academy’s belief that all students should expect and demand a challenging and relevant course of learning that prepares them for success in college, career, and civic life.

• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice (with experience teaching in diverse classrooms and school settings, or serving underrepresented student populations, preferred).

• Special Education Teaching credential in the state of Washington, or another US stat.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, master’s degree preferred.
• A clear health and background check.

• 3+ years experience in Special Education and IEP case management and 2+ years experience in the implementation of PBIS and/or MTSS within a school or district is preferred.

• Bilingual in Spanish or Somali strongly preferred.

WHAT YOU GET

We are committed to continuous improvement and professional growth. We prioritize developing leaders from within and have invested in multiple career pathway programs for our teachers and school leaders. With dedicated days of professional development built into the academic year and weekly coaching sessions with a school leader, we equip our teachers with the tools necessary to improve their practice and tackle challenging issues.

Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience. We provide all teachers a full benefits package and opportunities for professional growth.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

Why Not You Academy seeks individuals of all ethnic and racial backgrounds to apply for this position with a focus on active recruitment of staff that reflect the cultural diversity of the community we serve.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Why Not You Academy does not discriminate in hiring, nor any programs or activities, on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

If you see yourself and your passion in what you’ve read, please complete and submit a resume; a cover letter outlining how your values, interests and/or experience aligns to this position; and three
(3) professional references.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $75,000.00 – $80,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Education:

• Bachelor’s (Preferred)

Experience:

• special education case management and teaching: 3 years (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• teaching certificate in the state of Washington (Preferred)

Work Location: One location