Director of Special Programs
19 days ago
Austin
Job Description The Goodwill Excel Center is the first free, public charter high school in Texas that provides adults ages 18-50 the opportunity to earn their high school diploma, complete an in-demand professional certification, and begin postsecondary education. There are seven campuses within the charter district. Two campuses are in Austin: one at the Goodwill Community Center and one in South Austin in partnership with American YouthWorks. The other five campuses are located within correctional facilities across the state. For more information on the Goodwill Excel Center Adult High School, visit . The Director of Special Programs (DSP) is responsible for leading the design, implementation, and evaluation of all special programs and services across the school district, ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal regulations. This role oversees district-wide efforts related to Special Education, Section 504, and ESL/ELL services. The DSP will supervise Special Programs district team members and work closely with campus and district leaders to foster equitable learning environments that drive strong academic outcomes for all students. In collaboration with the Academic Services and Student Supports teams, the DSP will help implement instructional strategies, interventions, and professional development to ensure alignment and consistency across all Special Programs. Additionally, the DSP will strategically manage federal, state, and local resources to support staff development, including initiatives such as Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). This role will also lead standardized onboarding and performance review processes for Special Programs team members. Regular in-state travel is required to provide support across the district’s five Excel Justice Education campuses. Role and Responsibilities • Leadership, Evaluation, and Management, • Provide leadership, guidance, and supervision to Special Programs District team members., • Set clear expectations and goals for special programs team members, ensuring alignment with the District strategic plan., • Support school administrative teams in creating collaborative and equitable learning environments for students and staff., • Foster positive and collaborative opportunities among school leaders, promoting professional growth and development., • Support Campus Directors and special programs team members to provide high-quality professional development and other content implementation strategies, and the integration of data analysis to improve the effectiveness of instruction., • Conduct regular evaluations of Special Programs team members performance and progress, providing constructive feedback, support, and identified areas for improvement., • Develop a program for onboarding new special programs team members in collaboration with District HR and Campus Directors., • Support the administration of the District’s evaluation program to ensure Campus Directors provide regular feedback to campus special programs team members using the District’s performance evaluation system., • Support learning communities for instructional and special programs staff in collaboration with the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment and the Director of Schools., • Support the implementation of Special Programs initiatives and priorities by facilitating professional learning with school-based team members., • Support schools in developing and implementing solutions to address student-specific challenges by conducting student observations, advising on the direction of IEP/IAP development, and facilitating strong staffing and ARD meetings as needed. Administrative Development & Compliance • Oversee special programs (special education, 504, MTSS, and dyslexia interventions, and ESL departments)., • Supervise personnel to ensure the timely identification of special programs students and provision of appropriate services is provided., • Develop and manage a district-wide MTSS program that addresses the unique needs of adult students., • Supervise and monitor the identification of 504, special education, and emergent bilingual students., • Supervise and monitor facilitation of the 504 meeting, admission, review, and dismissal (ARD), and language proficiency assessment committee (LPAC) processes., • Regularly review special programs data within Skyward to ensure data is current and accurate., • Serve as the district transition designee., • Monitor special programs accountability timelines and requirements and coordinate timely completion of administrative tasks., • Coordinate the annual completion of State Performance Plan (SPP) indicators., • Collaborate with the Data and Finance teams to complete grant applications and reporting., • Develop and implement policies and procedures aligned with district and state guidelines., • Monitor campus-level administrative operations to ensure consistent adherence to established standards, regulations, and policies across all campuses, • Articulate goals and rationales of strategic initiatives to Special Programs team members., • Monitor and analyze student data, identifying trends, and implementing targeted interventions where necessary., • Maintain systems and structures that ensure operational excellence and 100% compliance with state and federal laws, procedures, and timelines. Other Duties and Responsibilities • Foster collegiality and team building among teams by:, • Encouraging active involvement in the decision-making process by all team members;, • Communicating expectations for high-level performance to staff and hold them accountable to identified goals;, • Recognizing staff achievements;, • Ensuring effective and quick resolution of conflicts among team members., • Promote positive and effective communication and collaboration among team members to enhance service delivery, program development, and student and staff satisfaction., • Comply with policies established by federal and state law, including, but not limited to, State Board of Education and local Board policy., • Participate in preparing and administering a budget that funds district and campus priorities and oversee use of resources in accordance with the budget., • Assist district and campus teams with outreach and engagement events throughout the school year (periodically at nights and on weekends)., • Perform other related duties as assigned. Supervisory Responsibilities This position supervises campus-level special programs team members at community based locations and supports the supervision of campus-level special programs team member at justice education locations. Required Qualifications and Skills • Master’s degree from an accredited college or university., • Texas Teaching Certification in Special Education for high school grades., • Texas Teaching in English as a Second Language certification for high school grades., • Texas Principal Certification (or commitment to obtain within 1 year of hire)., • Certified Texas Teacher (T-TESS) Evaluation & Support System appraiser (or commitment to obtain within 90 days of hire)., • Two years’ experience in a special programs leadership role., • Five years’ experience as a classroom teacher., • Understanding of specially designed instruction, Universal Design for Learning and Explicit Instruction., • Wide-ranging familiarity with Texas educational requirements and practices, including curriculum, assessment, instructional coaching, and the state accountability system., • Knowledge and skills related to federal, state, and local requirements for 504/dyslexia, MTSS, special education, and English as a Second Language., • Experience and skills around facilitation of professional learning with teachers and paraprofessionals., • Familiarity with the Effective Schools Framework., • Ability to oversee, coordinate, and influence team members and processes in a proactive and strength-focused manner and evoke mission-focused change., • Strong sense of professionalism, administrative ability, systemic understanding of student dynamics and socioemotional approaches, and effective communication and interpersonal skills., • Superior leadership, supervisory, organizational, verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to handle multiple tasks or crisis situations effectively., • Experience working with high school age students in urban, non-traditional, and/or adult education setting; Possess understanding of marginalization and how it impacts those Goodwill serves and employs; Exhibit respect for diversity of thought and have experience to advance it in teams/organization., • A valid Texas driver’s license is required. This position will require periodic travel to campus and district locations across Texas. Preferred Qualifications and Skills • Five years’ experience as a lead/department teacher, instructional coach, campus principal, or district instructional department leader., • Experience working within the Justice system. BENEFITS • Teacher Retirement System, • 403b participation, • Generous paid time off, • Free mental health counseling, • Tuition/Certification support, • Employee discounts and discounted gym memberships, • 6 weeks of paid parental leave, • Affordable medical, vision, and dental coverage, • Company paid life insurance Compensation and Schedule Based on experience and qualifications. This is a 12-month position. Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: Goodwill Central Texas is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law. Background Check Requirement: Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment background check. This may include verification of employment history, education, criminal background, and other information relevant to the position.