Director of Special Education and English Language Development

Philosophy

Phoenix Charter Academy's mission is to challenge young people in our area with an academically rigorous and individually tailored curriculum. Phoenix scholars will have the support, resources and training needed to succeed academically in high school and college, and become economically secure in their future. Phoenix Charter Academy is named after a mythological figure of strength, healing and renewal.

Phoenix schools challenge resilient, disconnected young people with rigorous academics and relentless supports, so they take ownership of their futures and succeed in high school, college, and as self-sufficient adults.

Leadership Commitment

Leaders are expected to go above and beyond to ensure scholar achievement and believe that all scholars can achieve. All leaders model the core values and mission of Phoenix Charter Academy in every piece of their work and at all times. In order to be successful, all leaders must be innovative, relentless, humble and communicative with all members of the Phoenix community. Further, leaders should have a strong desire to take ownership of various projects and should possess an entrepreneurial spirit.

Qualities of a Phoenix staff member:

• Unwavering Belief in Phoenix Scholars - Phoenix staff operate with the deeply held belief that all young people want to and can succeed even in the face of what can seem like insurmountable barriers and societal constraints.
• Ability to Put Scholars First - Phoenix staff go above and beyond to ensure mastery of the skills and development of positive self-identity that will ensure success for college, careers and beyond.  Phoenix staff find every opportunity to engage in teaching and learning with scholars, using conflict to build supportive relationships with scholars and never taking things personally.
• Eager to Learn Under Pressure - Phoenix staff must be able to learn as they go in a fast paced, ever evolving, urgent environment. They have the desire to receive direct feedback and the ability to implement the feedback into practice quickly.
• Humility - Phoenix staff approach problem solving with curiosity and desire to understand the perspectives of others.  They carry an internalized sense of “I can always learn more” from others, and know that adults at Phoenix must model the qualities of being open-minded and willing to make mistakes and learn from them.
• Experience with Low Income Communities -  Staff have the proven ability to work across cultures and experience serving low-income communities and/or academically-disconnected adolescents.  
• Ability to Find Inspiration In the Small Things - In the face of challenge and hard work,  Phoenix staff must have the ability to find humor, inspiration, success and joy in the day to day interactions with scholars and the larger Phoenix Community.
• Personal Commitment to Cultural Proficiency and Ongoing Development - Phoenix staff are ongoing learners about diversity, equity and inclusion and seek to understand the ways that their self-identity and experiences impacts and interacts with their daily work, colleagues and scholars.

Specific Responsibilities

Vision and Program Development

• Lead, direct, and supervise all Special Education and English Language Development programming and related services in partnership with the Chief Academic Officer, Managing Network Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Heads of School, and school-based Special Education and ELD team to ensure that all scholars achieve at high levels and are effectively supported across Phoenix Charter Academy Network schools
• With Network Director of Curriculum and Instruction, refine and share a coherent vision for Special Education and English Language Development (ELD) programs.
• Develop, communicate, and supervise clear systems, processes, and procedures for providing research-based and highly effective support for Special Education and ELD scholars across Phoenix Charter Academy Network schools

Instructional Leadership and Professional Development

• Supervise and coordinate identification of ELLs using ACCESS and appropriate screening tools, leading network wide curriculum design using the WIDA standards, and instructional improvement initiatives
• Work with the Managing Network Director of Curriculum and Instruction to develop and implement professional development programs to strengthen staff and leaders’ skills in supporting scholars with diverse learning needs, including specific plans for Special Education and ELD teachers and expanding general education teachers’ repertoire of inclusion, sheltered English immersion, and differentiation strategies
• Participate actively in school-based data cycles and ensure that Special Education and ELD interventions align with priorities identified during data analysis and action planning to ensure that all scholars achieve at high levels
• Participate regularly in Instructional Leadership Team meetings across schools to partner with instructional leaders in the development and supervision of Special Education and ELD programs and staff
• Monitor the grades and academic progress of all Special Education and ELD scholars to ensure that they have effective interventions and supports and are achieving academically
• Observe Special Education and ELD teachers regularly to ensure all teachers are accommodating needs of all scholars; give teachers timely and prompt feedback;
• Contribute data and feedback to mid-year and end of year formal evaluations with Director of Curriculum and Instruction and Head of School
• Develop assessment systems to monitor progress of scholars in the English Language Development Program
• Support integration of Network-wide competencies in Special Education and English Language Development classrooms

 Scholar Support

• Communicate with Heads of School and Directors of School Culture to ensure alternative disciplinary methods are being used when necessary; oversee and direct creation of basic behavioral intervention plans
• Communicate regularly with school-based leaders about scholars of concern; meet with the Director of School Culture on a regular basis
• Ensure that adult supporters of Special Education and ELD scholars have access to learning, communication, and partnership with leaders and staff

 Program Oversight and Compliance

• Monitor and ensure compliance with federal and state Special Education and English Language development regulations and ensure that all functions are consistent with network vision, goals, and policies and DESE regulations
• Support school leaders to identify and create contracts with individuals and organizations to provide services for scholars as identified in their IEPs
• Supervise eligibility determinations of all scholars referred for Special Education and English Language Development programming and protocols for review meetings
• Oversee all state and federal entitlement grants for Special Education and ELD
• Supervise and coordinate instructional services provided to scholars with identified Special Education learning needs as articulated by IEPs and 504 Plans
• Ensure that school based staff maintain accurate and comprehensive scholar records and can verify that ELD and Special Education regulations are implemented consistently across schools
• Represent the district in mediation or due process hearings, as necessary
• Prepare and supervise for DESE program evaluations of Special Education and ELD programming, including but not limited to DESE school site visits, Coordinated Program Reviews, and English Language Development program evaluations

We seek a diverse workforce. Phoenix Charter Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Phoenix Charter Academy is committed to providing equal opportunity to staff and applicants in all areas of employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status, or any other area protected by federal, state or local law. Phoenix Charter Academy is committed to making any reasonable accommodation necessary to support an individual's employment.

**It is understood that this Job Description is a summary of the primary duties and responsibilities of the position. It is not intended to be a complete and total description of each and every duty and responsibility. As such, this job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. He or she will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other duties requested by his or her supervisor.

It is also understood that the Network retains the right to modify this Job Description at any time, for any reason, at the Network’s sole discretion**