Dean of Special Services at KNDLA (26/27 School Year)

Dean Of Special Services

This role can be placed at KIPP Northeast Denver Leadership Academy (Far Northeast High School)

About the Dean of Special Services Role: The Dean of Special Services reports to the Principal and is a member of the Campus Leadership Team. In support of the mission of KIPP Colorado, the Dean of Special Services is responsible for leading and building capacity in academic leaders and teachers to implement and continuously develop exceptional instruction, a strong focus on results and continuous improvement, and a culture of consistent and high expectations. The Dean of Special Services works with the Principal and key stakeholders to set the vision for student special services with respect to services and programming for students with IEPs, 504 plans, MTSS, and mental health supports, establish strong progress monitoring practices, and invest and develop capacity within others to ensure the support of all learners across the school. The Dean of Special Services works from the belief that excellent schools develop and sustain the capacity of teachers and leaders to lead and take ownership of their classroom, department, and school's success. This role sits on the campus leadership team. The DoSS reports to the Assistant Principal of Instruction.

About KIPP: Together with families and communities, KIPP creates joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world. KIPP is a national network of tuition-free, public charter schools open to all students. There are 255 college-preparatory KIPP schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia, serving more than 100,000 students. Nationally, KIPP students are graduating four-year colleges at three times the national average for low-income students.

Who we are: KIPP Colorado Public Schools is a network of six free college-preparatory public charter schools open to all students. Our 350-person staff educates 2,600 students from ECE to 12th grade. At KIPP Colorado, we partner with our KIPPsters, educators, families and communities to ensure that we are all united around the goal of a choice-filled future for our KIPPsters. Our KIPP Forward Team supports our 1,000+ high school Alumni as they create their own paths. Our core values of excellence, belonging, belief, advocacy and courage are central to who we are and how we operate at all levels of our organization.

What we do: We believe in the unique gifts and brilliance of every student. We believe in setting a high bar for joy and academic excellence to ensure the infinite possibilities our students have before them become a reality. We aspire to create and reinforce a culture of achievement, belonging and support. We know that every student is different and we personalize learning based on a student's needs, skills, and interests.

Role Responsibilities and More About How You'll Spend Your Time in this Role

Professional Responsibilities

• Believe deeply in the mission, values, and Race, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (RIDE) commitments of KIPP Colorado Schools and that all children can and will learn
• Assume personal responsibility for student achievement
• Read, internalize, and adhere to the KIPP Colorado Policies and Procedures manual and guidelines
• Provide an active presence, strategic supervision, and intentional monitoring to ensure student safety and engagement in rigorous learning (regardless of my role and its proximity to students)
• Take ownership for the development of your craft and engage actively in coaching sessions (meet 1-2 times every 1 or 2 weeks (depending on need and role) with a manager, receive coaching, implement all provided feedback, engage in active practice, etc.)
• Commit to being prepared. Such as: internalizing and preparing for lessons, preparing for O3s/coaching, preparing for meetings, coaching, PD, reading and internalizing written communication, etc.
• Meet professional obligations including and not limited to meeting deadlines and honoring schedules
• Consistently leverage existing professional tools, including but not limited to Google Suite (google documents, etc.) and Microsoft Suite (including but not limited to your KIPP Colorado email, Teams chat / meetings, Teams phone, and Microsoft Outlook calendar)
• Maintain strong attendance each day and be on time to all responsibilities
• Collaborate with colleagues and seek feedback in the spirit of continuous improvement
• Reflect on professional practices to meet individual professional development goals
• Actively participate in professional development, grade level, and department meetings
• Actively engage and implement in all school-wide and Org wide professional development
• Serve as a positive, contributing member of a grade team or functional team, collaborating with colleagues to tackle common challenges and implement org and grade-wide initiatives
• Share candid, solutions-oriented feedback with peers and leadership on a regular basis, assuring that feedback is shared directly with the intended recipient. Ensure that feedback is focused on improving outcomes and experiences for students
• Assist with both student and staff recruitment and engagement- including events, home visits, calls home, and other determined and related requirements
• Know that your role, professional development, org wide meetings, etc. may require you to travel around Denver to other KIPP Campuses, our Home Office, or other KIPP or PD events
• Assist with other duties as assigned (such as but not limited to, lunch duty, arrival/dismissal duty, bathroom duty, hallway duty, school support duties, etc.)

Lead with KIPP Values

• Internalizes, champions, and holds self & others accountable to KIPP Colorado values
• Demonstrates the ability to understand and navigate issues of identity, power, and privilege
• Values the range of different backgrounds people bring to our work, appreciates how those backgrounds make us better at what we do, and strives to create an environment in which everyone who demonstrates our values and delivers on their responsibilities thrives
• Expresses high expectations for all students and families, and expresses belief in their potential to complete college and succeed in life
• Seeks to understand the needs and motivations of students and families, and makes decisions with student best interests and needs in mind

Lead through Instructional and Cultural Leadership

• Collaborate with the principal, and key stakeholders, and the regional director of special services to drive vision for systems of compliance and programming to identify and support students with IEPs, 504 Plans, and Gifted and Talented
• Manage and evaluate campus-based special education teachers, social workers, and academic interventionists (in alignment to campus program) to achieve their individual development goals, coordinate action plans for professional growth, and evaluate progress to student outcomes and campus-wide goals (including compliance timelines)
• Provide continuous coaching and evaluation on all competencies of the KIPP Colorado teacher performance rubrics
• Support the development of teacher-driven professional goals through a regular coaching cycle
• Support teachers in monitoring and responding to the growth of students towards individual and school goals through the implementation of data cycles
• Perform performance reviews of a cohort of teachers
• Collaborate with internal staff (social workers) and external supports (including outside agencies and DPS partners) to support mental health needs of all students across the school
• Coordinate contracted service providers (school psychologist, occupational therapists, physical therapist, speech therapist, etc)
• Collaborate with principal and stakeholders to establish, provide training on, and progress monitor on academic and behavioral MTSS systems
• Lead team to execute on Functional Behavior Assessments and Behavior Intervention Plans with consistency, fidelity, equity, and excellence
• Collaborate with other leaders to implement and respond to data systems in order to identify students who need additional layers of support, intervention, or an evaluation
• Manage, develop, and oversee implementation of 504s, Special Education Program, Gifted and Talent, and MTSS
• Manage reduced caseload of students with IEPs (as needed)
• Provide development opportunities for academic and culture leaders to delegate and partner towards achievement of intervention and special services programmatic visions
• Collaborate with the Principal to plan and implement teacher and leader professional development, including coordination of action research collaboratives and whole-staff professional development sessions
• Support school-wide and grade level rituals and systems as needed throughout the year including, but not limited to, arrival, dismissal, and lunch
• Provide collaborative coaching for general education and special education teachers as needed with regard to implementation of student services