Response To Interventionist (RTI) Specialist - Middle School

Job Description

Job Description

KIPP Capital Region is a part of a national network of high-performing public Charter Schools committed to creating joyful, academically excellent, and prepared students with the skills, ability, and confidence to pursue their paths to college, career, and beyond.

Located in both Albany and Troy, NY, KIPP Capital Region serves 2,500+ students in grades K-12 across seven schools. We believe every individual walks through the doors of schools bearing gifts. Talent. Perspective. Drive. Inspiration. So at KIPP Capital Region, we support every student and educator to see those gifts, and then build the skills and confidence they need to thrive.

We are committed to furthering anti-racism, equity, and racial justice in all our efforts, and expect all of our stakeholders to participate in this work so that we can create a future without limits for our students, together.

Position Overview

Grade(s): 5th/6th – 8th

The RTI Specialist is primarily responsible for supporting the instructional program, with specific responsibility for assisting in assessing at-risk students' needs for Response to Intervention (RTI) services, implementing the RTI program strategies, monitoring and reporting student performance, and providing information to appropriate school internal and external stakeholders.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Collaborates with instructional staff, School Leadership Team, and parents to assist in evaluating needs for and progress of RTI intervention strategies.
• Communicate with the Director of Student Support Services, parents, and teachers via emails, phone calls, in-person meetings, etc., to advise them of progress or provide information on needed follow-up services.
• Plan and deliver instruction while maintaining and improving instructional techniques and classroom management, including assessments, grading, and other classroom responsibilities.
• Advocate for students and believe specialized instruction and related services increase academic achievement.
• Assists teachers in preparing materials and strategies for each group to ensure the use of sound teaching practices consisting of evidence-based instructional practices implemented with fidelity.
• Supports classroom teachers and other school personnel to assist them in implementing curriculum and integrating RTI intervention strategies.
• Assists with the monitoring of Reading and Math instruction to ensure the use of sound teaching practices consisting of evidence-based instructional practices that are implemented with fidelity.
• Engages the learning community in identifying and systematically addressing professional learning needs related to RTI.
• Collaborates with parents in the RTI process to ensure effective communication at every tier.
• Ensures that teachers and teams adhere to legal requirements to protect the legal integrity of the system and students.
• Facilitates and supports teacher's use of classroom-based, developmentally appropriate interventions for individual children and groups of children to enhance their social/emotional and cognitive skills acquisition.
• Maintains records to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local guidelines and reporting requirements.
• Meets with teachers individually or in grade-level teams to help interpret data, determine intervention efficacy, and plan the next support steps.
• Models and assists teachers in using data to place students in intervention groups and define the focus of instruction for each group.
• Oversees school and classroom level data collection and progress monitoring at Tier II and Tier III to monitor, evaluate, and recommend interventions.
• Participates in meetings, workshops, and seminars as assigned (e.g., representative for domain meetings, annual reviews, IEP review meetings, etc.) to convey and/or gather information required to perform functions.
• Performs other related duties as assigned to ensure the efficient and effective functioning of the work unit.
• Plans and delivers ongoing staff development for teachers and paraprofessionals to accomplish the goals of RTI.
• Plans, schedules, and leads RTI and SPED Team meetings with the principal, support staff, parents, and instructional staff to facilitate Tier II and Tier III interventions.
• Provides training, technical assistance, and support on the effective use of school-based intervention teams, including collaboration, communication, and cohesion across various team members (administrators, teachers, counselors, ISTs, school psychologists, etc.) to implement RtI and provide appropriate support to students.
• Assists students, individually or in small groups, to practice and/or reinforce intervention strategies.
• Ensures technical guidance and support for teachers and RTI/SPED teams to effectively use behavioral support models (PBSIS) and tools (functional behavior assessment, positive behavioral supports, and behavior intervention plans).
• Supports teachers in measuring and documenting student progress and monitors the school's implementation of the Response to Intervention (RTI) model to increase student achievement.
• Utilizes understanding how to select and analyze data related to individual students, groups of students, and classrooms to impact achievement and behavior positively.
• Works collaboratively with SPED Data Teams to facilitate eligibility for special education when needed.
• Designing and implementing assessments that measure progress towards academic standards and analyze benchmarking and progress monitoring data.
• Offer academic, emotional, and physical support while maintaining high expectations.
• Provides appropriate supervision of students during class, breaks, meals, and transitions to maintain an optimal work environment and to ensure students’ safety and well-being.
• Create an inclusive and safe environment where students feel empowered to become self-guided learners.
• Assist with work inside and outside the classroom, including supporting the main office team, teaching and helping coordinate Enrichment classes, organizing student events, and developing mentoring learning partnerships with students.
• Attending and participating in events outside regular school hours (e.g., family nights, student performances, prom, field trips, report card nights, Teacher-Parent Conferences, June and August Family Saturday Orientations, etc.).Be available for open houses, parent-teacher conferences, and other events involving parents.
• Adapt and execute a rigorous, standards-aligned curriculum and assess students’ progress.
• Teach one or more classes or small groups of students (middle and high school) or one or more subject blocks (elementary school), if applicable.
• Support students by providing one-on-one and small group tutoring daily, small group intervention, and student support, with the potential to teach small groups of students.
• Meet regularly with a coach and school leadership to implement feedback on lessons and instruction.
• Problem-solving and making timely determinations with classroom issues in a solution-focused manner.
• Lead advisory/homeroom in the morning and afternoon.
• Supervise students during transitions, breakfast, lunch, and after school.
• Establish and maintain strong communication lines with all parents, share continuous progress, and be available for open houses, parent-teacher conferences, and other events involving parents.
• Engage in practice-based professional development, mentorship, and coaching sessions.
• Participate in weekly, school-wide meetings to cultivate community, model our core values, and encourage student achievement.
• Partner with grade level teams to develop academic goals and practice instructional strategies.
• Participating in collaborative curriculum development, grade-level activities, school-wide functions, events, and trips with School Leadership and the Culture Team.
• Providing consistent and clear rewards and consequences for student behavior.

KIPP Capital Region

• Perform other duties outlined by School Leadership and the Director of Scholar Support Services.
• Committed to furthering anti-racism, equity, and racial justice in all our efforts, and expect all our stakeholders to participate in this work so that we can create a future without limits for our students together.
• Complies with all charter, federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including the NYS Department of Education, Department of Health, and NYS Office of Children and Family Services
• Adheres to organization policies and procedures; promotes and supports mission, vision, and values, including developing and participating in internal surveys and data collection for continuous improvement initiatives.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited College or University is required.
• Valid NYS Certification in Special Education is preferred within the grade span of your role (Birth - 1, 1-6, 7 -12 & K - 12/All SPED Certification)
• Academic expertise in Special Education, the Humanities, Social Sciences, STEM, or related fields of study, preferred.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience as a school educator, preferably in a charter or public school environment, preferred.
• Knowledge of national, state, and local Special Education statutes and the law required.
• Prior experience working in schools and urban communities is preferred but not required.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule outside of regular business hours.
• Aptitude to create and work within an inclusive environment that honors and supports a diversity of backgrounds and perspectives.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Prolonged periods were spent sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to access and navigate all areas of the school and other facilities as needed.
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• The employee needs to read, write, and speak English fluently.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, sit, use fingers to type, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms, climb stairs, balance; stoop/bend and reach, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk, hear.
• Dexterity requires writing and operating standard office machines such as computers, printers, copiers, fax machines, phones, and calculators.
• Ability to occasionally lift and move up to 20 pounds.

Work Perks
When you join KIPP Capital Region, you are joining in on our promise to families that their children will enter college and the professional world able to thrive academically due to their literacy, numeracy, and core knowledge in science and social studies. We also promise that our students will develop a passion for learning and the drive necessary to persevere as they climb the mountain to and through college and career. Our graduates will be prepared to return to their community as teachers, leaders, and architects of continued growth in the Capital Region. And while the biggest perk to working at KIPP Capital Region is doing work that makes a lifelong difference in the lives of our students, you'll find that's not the only benefit we offer:

• Industry-leading medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Aggressive employer 403(b) contribution match
• Childcare benefits
• Unparalleled work/life integration
• Casual dress code
• Relocation stipend (conditions apply)
• And so much more! For more information on the benefits of joining KIPP Capital Region, please view our Employee Benefits Summary .

Learn More:
KIPP Capital Region offers a competitive salary ranging from $56,000 - $76,669 with a $5,000 Sign On Bonus.

Salaries are determined using an equitable compensation scale that accounts for years of experience relevant to the role and longevity within the KIPP network. KIPP Capital Region will evaluate and determine the step/level a new hire will be placed within our teacher salary scale at point of hire.

All staff and educators at KIPP Capital Region are committed to anti-racism and inclusion, are part of a close-knit diverse community, and are encouraged to show up authentically, inspiring our children to do the same. Learn more about what it’s like to work at KIPP Capital Region: kippcapital.org/join -our-team/

This role is located at KIPP Capital Region schools in Albany, NY.