Chief of Special Education, Division of Inclusive and Accessible Learning - 23614

Position Summary: Under the executive direction of the Deputy Chancellor, Division of Inclusive and Accessible Learning (DIAL), with the broadest scope for the exercise of independent initiative and judgment, serves as the Chief of Special Education. The Chief is charged with the responsibility for leading and setting policy for a broad range of activities related to the New York City Public Schools’ (NYCPS) efforts to provide high-quality programs for students with disabilities.

On behalf of the Deputy Chancellor, DIAL, develops and implements policies, goals, objectives, practices, and procedures in these areas in support of the mission of the school system. Leads related staff development and engagement initiatives in response to identified needs. Keeps abreast of innovative programs, procedures, practices, and methodologies. Performs related work.

Reports to: Deputy Chancellor, DIAL

Direct Reports: Chief of Staff, Senior Executive Directors in the Special Education Office, and the Associate Director of Special Projects.

Key Relationships: NYCPS Leadership team, the Division of Inclusive and Accessible Learning (DIAL), Office of Multilingual learners, Division of School Leadership, Panel for Educational Policy, New York State Department of Education, elected officials, and other external offices to engage and work with key special education stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Special Education Programs and Reform

• Responsible for all systemic special education reform initiatives.
• Establishes organizational framework, systems, and structures for reinforcing relevance, accuracy, and timeliness of federal, state, local (Jose P) mandates, benchmarks, and compliance indicators.
• Engages and informs the NYCPS community, including principals, teachers, families, advocacy groups, and elected officials, in order to build support for Special Education reforms; keeps informed of local and national educational trends and practices.
• Oversees the appropriate development and implementation of system-wide operational initiatives for the Special Education Student Information System (SESIS) and critical decisions related to the Special Education Data Management System (SEDMS).
• Serves as Chief Special Education liaison to the NYS Education Department, Council of School Supervisors and Administrators (CSA) union, United Federation of Teachers (UFT) union, advocates, and other major constituents to ensure that students benefit from flexibility of the continuum.
• Collaborates across DIAL with Committees on Special Education (CSEs) to ensure alignment of policies and practices.
• Provides leadership and oversight of budget, human resources, and performance management.
• Establishes organizational framework, systems and structures for reinforcing relevance, accuracy, and timeliness of federal, state, local (Jose P) mandates, benchmarks, and compliance indicators.
• Oversees management of accountability measures and policies to hold schools accountable for special education program and service compliance under IDEA while closing the achievement gap for Students with Disabilities.
  
  

Communication

• Conducts meetings with administrators, teachers, and other staff members as necessary for the discussion of matters concerning the improvement and welfare of the schools and the children served.
• Confers with professional and lay groups concerning school programs; transmits suggestions to the Deputy Chancellor, DIAL and others, as appropriate.
  
  

Community Relations

• Recognizes the importance of both stimulating and reflecting community needs/wants regarding education in a highly stimulating multicultural environment that is New York City.
• Establishes and maintains a program of public relations to keep the public well informed of the activities and needs of the school system, ensuring a wholesome and cooperative working relationship between the schools and the community.
• Communicates with and understands the needs and perspectives of various community groups.
• Attends, or delegates a representative to attend, meetings of municipal agencies at which matters pertaining to the school system appear on the agenda or are expected to be raised.
• Keeps the public informed about current educational practices, educational trends, and the policies, practices, successes, and challenges of the schools.
  
  

Qualification Requirements

Minimum

• A master’s degree from an accredited college or university in education, educational psychology, educational leadership, public administration, public policy, social work, or a closely related field, and two years of satisfactory, full-time progressively responsible professional experience in education administration, in such areas as: portfolio planning, educational grants/funding, student enrollment, assessment and accountability, youth development, special education, early childhood, program evaluation, policy research, college and career readiness, health and wellness, immunization, diagnostic and treatment services for parents and children, out of school programs, career and occupational education, curriculum development, evaluation and testing, educational planning, and educational statistics, or a related field, at least 18 months of this experience must have been in an executive, managerial, consultative, administrative or supervisory capacity in education administration; or
• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and four years of satisfactory, fulltime progressively responsible professional experience, in one or more of the areas as described in “1” above, at least 18 months of which must have been in an executive, managerial, consultative, administrative or supervisory capacity; or
• A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent and six years of satisfactory, full time professional experience, in one or more of the areas as described in “1” above, at least 18 months of which must have been in an executive, managerial, consultative, administrative or supervisory capacity; or
• Education and/or experience equivalent to “1”, “2”, or “3” above. Undergraduate education above the high school level may be substituted for professional experience, in the areas described in “1” above, at the rate of 30 semester credits from an accredited college or university for each year of experience, up to a maximum of 4 years. Graduate education in areas other than those mentioned above, may be substituted for the professional experience, at the rate of 15 graduate semester credits from an accredited college or university, for 6 months of experience, up to a maximum of 1 year of professional experience. However, all candidates must have a high school diploma or its educational equivalent and 18 months of experience in an executive, managerial, consultative, administrative or supervisory capacity in education administration as described above.
  
  

Plus

• A mix of therapeutic and instructional experience in the field of special education, with demonstrated success providing effective and appropriate related services in a school-based setting, including serving in leadership roles.
• Strong team building, organizational collaboration, and leadership skills, and the ability to lead large, diverse groups.
• Knowledge of the fundamental principles and accepted practices, current trends, literature, and research in the field of special education.
  
  

Preferred

• Ability to think strategically to design and implement large-scale organizational initiatives.
• Knowledge of the special education educational programs and philosophy of NYCPS.
• Ability to manage policy research on difficult, complex, controversial, and sensitive issues affecting public education.
• Record of success in improving outcomes for all students; developing teachers, school leaders, and teams, including in large and/or urban districts; and turning around low-performing schools.
• Ability to think strategically to design and implement large-scale organizational initiatives.
• Knowledge of NYCPS program policies, procedures, organizations, issues, and initiatives.
• Ability to understand and respond to policy research on difficult, complex, controversial and sensitive issues affecting public education.
• Ability to generate initiatives and ideas helpful to the school system and supportive to the accomplishment of its mission.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively articulate issues and problems and generate recommendations in matters of policy and of organizational implementation.
• Sharp focus on equity, with manifest determination that all students have the potential to achieve at high, rigorous levels.
• Cross-functional knowledge of personnel management, financial management, public administration, labor relations, and other operational aspects of the organization.
• Executive-level experience in managing a multifaceted and complex service delivery organization.
• Ability to make critical decisions that have a significant financial impact.
• Ability to communicate clearly with staff, parents, students, and the community, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to involve the community in developing and implementing goals, viewing the community/school relationship as a partnership. Strong commitment to leading the effort to define and deliver an effective, consistent curriculum K-12 to the children of the City of New York.
• Ability to motivate, lead, guide, and direct people.
• Commitment to supervise and evaluate school programs in the spirit of continuous improvement; understanding of educational practices, research, and national/state/local initiatives, including the ability to frame issues for discussion, reach timely decisions, and implement change.
• Committed to and fosters continuous staff improvement.
• Emphasizes both system-wide and individual development.
• Maintains open communication with the various State, City and Government leaders.
  
  

Salary: $210,000 - $220,000

(Internal candidates who are selected for this position and who currently hold comparable or less senior positions within the DOE will not earn less than their current salary.)

Please include a resume and cover letter with your application.

NOTE: The filling of all positions is subject to budget availability and/or grant funding.

• New York City Residency is NOT Required *
  
  

We encourage all applicants from the New York City tri-state area to apply.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

DOE Non- Discrimination Policy

The Department of Education of the City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's actual or perceived sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or pregnancy. For more information, please refer to the DOE Non-Discrimination Policy.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.