Description:
EMBRACING ABILITIES. EXPANDING POSSIBILITIES.
Easterseals Academy is a therapeutic school that provides schooling for children with an autism spectrum disorder, emotional disability, developmental delay, or intellectual disability. School districts refer students to Easterseals Academy where the schools provide an alternative school placement for these students to help them to achieve independence. Easterseals Academy has three campuses, located in Chicago, Machesney Park, and Tinley Park.
For more information about our organization, please visit us online at www.eastersealschicago.org.
The Assistant Director of Instructional Support is a district-level role that drives the instructional practices of all three Easterseals Academies through curriculum design, training plans, and direct support to school-based instructional coordinators via collaboration with the principals of each respective Academy.
This position can operate out of any of our Academy locations:
- Easterseals Academy - Chicago Campus at 1939 W. 13th Street, Chicago 60608.
- Easterseals Academy - Machesney Park Campus at 8301 Mitchell Road, Machesney Park, IL 61115.
- Easterseals Academy - Tinley Park Campus at 17300 Ozark Avenue, Tinley Park, IL 60477.
MAJOR FUNCTIONS/ACCOUNTABILITIES:
Instructional Leadership:
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Cyclically evaluate and update a curriculum map for the Academies.
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Identify curriculum and intervention strategies for broad classroom use as well as unique student learning needs. Support the implementation of these strategies in schools and classrooms.
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Develop and implement an annual training plan to ensure teachers and paraprofessionals are prepared to implement curricular best practices, as outlined in 23 ILLINOIS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE 401.250.
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Provide direction and supervision to the instructional leaders at each Academy to ensure consistent practices that represent the “Easterseals Way” of instruction to meet the needs of the individual students.
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Collaborate with human resources in the recruitment, hiring, and training process for new staff.
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Oversee the implementation of mentoring, student teaching, and peer feedback processes.
School and Student Progress:
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Provide monthly observations and coaching at each Academy to model and support instructional growth and development.
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Develop data-driven reports based on these observations that can be shared with leadership and used to determine supports and strategies to further progress for the schools.
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Lead quarterly progress data meetings with each Academy, reviewing data at the grade band, classroom, and student levels to drive individual and school planning.
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Ensure school materials are age-appropriate, students have access to the general education curriculum, and instruction is differentiated, in partnership with principals.
Compliance and Operations:
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In partnership with the principals, annually evaluate the instructional leaders at each school based on performance outcomes.
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Through a defined review process, ensure IEP plans are high quality and student-centered.
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Ensure each Academy complies with all state requirements related to instruction, including for student testing, as outlined in 23 ILLINOIS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE 401 and 34 CFR 300 and the Illinois Compulsory Attendance Act.
Requirements:
Education/Certification:
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Master's degree in Education or Related Field
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Type 75 strongly preferred
Experience Required:
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A minimum 5 years experience in a K12 school setting in a professional capacity, with evidence of increasing responsibility.
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A minimum of 3 years experience coaching and mentoring school-based team members.
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Expertise in understanding, supporting, and serving a population of students who have significant support needs related to disabilities.
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Experience with adaptive curriculum and other research-based educational approaches that are evidenced-based related to a population of students with diverse learning needs.
Skills/Abilities
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Ability to influence and develop leaders, build effective collaborative teams, and coach team members to ensure professional growth.
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Ability to clearly articulate a vision and build consensus among a diverse set of stakeholders around the common purpose of setting high standards for all students, helping students succeed and effectively driving schools to fully commit to high expectations.
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Adept at seeking out and sharing research and evidence-based best practices; exploring innovative ideas, understanding the practical challenges and how to overcome them.
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Aptitude and commitment to continuous self-improvement, and an unwavering belief that all students can achieve at high levels.
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Ability to make challenging decisions, remain professional under stress and exhibit exceptional judgment.
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Ability to organize and utilize data to define and prioritize school-level and student-level practices based on evidenced-based practices.
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Ability to understand complex information and environments and strategically communicate to advance efforts at the schools.
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At least intermediate-level skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, and Teams.
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Excellent verbal and written communication.
ADA: Easterseals will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disability Act of 1990. Unless exempted by the Americans with Disabilities Act, all persons hired for this position are required to possess the ability to perform the physical tasks necessary to treat clients, i.e., bending, floor-sitting, etc., as well as to have the ability to lift up to 50 pounds frequently.