Senior Vice President of Schools

Senior Vice President of Schools: A Leader Shaping Exceptional Education 

This senior leadership position offers a chance to make a significant impact on the lives of students with special needs. Here's an expanded breakdown of the responsibilities, highlighting the scope and potential influence: 

Building a Cohesive Curriculum: 

• Develop a comprehensive curriculum framework: This goes beyond simply including social skills, life skills, academics, and technology. You'll define the learning objectives, instructional strategies, and assessment methods to create a cohesive program that fosters holistic student development. 
• Embrace innovation in curriculum delivery: Explore the use of technology for personalized learning, project-based learning that connects to real-world applications, and differentiated instruction to cater to diverse learners. 
• Lead curriculum committees: Collaborate with educators, specialists, and parents to ensure the curriculum reflects best practices and meets the evolving needs of students. 

Empowering Staff for Student Success: 

• Attract, retain, and develop top teaching talent: Foster a culture of professional growth, provide opportunities for leadership development, and ensure competitive compensation and benefits. 
• Implement a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS): Equip staff with strategies and resources to identify struggling students early and provide targeted interventions. 
• Champion data-driven decision making: Develop a system for collecting and analyzing student data to track progress, identify areas for improvement, and measure the effectiveness of programs. 

Cultivating Well-Rounded Students: 

• Design appropriate environments and programs for all students   
• Develop a robust vocational program: Partner with local businesses and organizations to create internships and job shadowing opportunities for students to gain valuable work experience and explore career paths. 
• Design engaging after-school programs: Offer enrichment activities that foster social skills development, physical fitness, and a love for learning beyond academics. 
• Spearhead a personalized transition program for 9th grade: Equip students with the critical life skills needed for independent living, including self-advocacy, financial literacy, and public transportation navigation. 
• Establish a comprehensive post-graduation support system: Track alumni outcomes (beyond just Gersh follow-up) and develop programs that support successful transitions to college, work, or independent living. 

Optimizing School Operations: 

• Standardize best practices across schools: While tailoring systems to address the unique needs of each student population, ensure consistent implementation of core processes for efficiency and accountability. 
• Align operational goals with strategic vision: Develop a system of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that connect operational excellence to student success metrics. 
• Promote a positive and inclusive school climate: Cultivate a culture of respect, collaboration, and safety within the schools. 

Financial Stewardship and Growth: 

• Develop a sustainable financial model: Oversee budget development, allocation of resources, and cost-effectiveness initiatives to ensure financial stability and support educational priorities. 
• Explore grant opportunities and revenue streams: Seek out funding opportunities to support innovative programs and expand resources for all students. 

Additional Considerations: 

• As a leader within a geographically dispersed network of schools, you'll need strong communication and interpersonal skills to build relationships with staff, parents, and community stakeholders across multiple locations. 
• This role demands a commitment to continuous improvement. Staying abreast of the latest educational research, trends, and best practices in special education will be crucial. 

Qualifications: 

• Master's degree in Education Leadership, Special Education Administration, Curriculum and Instruction, or a closely related field (Doctorate preferred). 
• Minimum 10 years of experience in educational leadership, with a proven track record of success in developing and implementing innovative educational programs for students with special needs. 
• Experience in a multi-school setting, preferably within a network of schools serving a similar student population. 
• Strong understanding of curriculum development, instructional best practices, and differentiated instruction. 
• Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate staff, fostering a collaborative and professional learning environment. 
• Expertise in data analysis and utilizing data to drive continuous improvement. 
• Proven success in financial management and budgetary oversight. 
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills. 
• Ability to travel as needed (within the US and potentially internationally). 
• This is a New York based position.  

This position provides a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of shaping exceptional education for a diverse student population. It requires a visionary leader with a passion for innovation, a commitment to student success, and the ability to inspire and empower others. 

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Paid time off
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• 401(k) matching
• Retirement plan
• Flexible spending account