Associate Director, Special Education

Educational Alliance brings together and partners with diverse communities in Lower Manhattan, offering individuals and families high-quality, multi-generational programs and services that enhance their well-being and socioeconomic opportunities. We are a place where everyone is welcome and where progress is powered one relationship at a time. We are proud of our legacy as a Jewish organization, and we provide high-quality, transformational services and programs to all New Yorkers through our network of community centers on Manhattan's Lower East Side and East Village. As we have for 130 years, we offer best-in-class programming-now across 15 sites-focusing on a mix of education, health and wellness, arts and culture, and civic engagement. JOB PURPOSE Early Childhood at Manny Cantor Center is an inspired, responsive and progressive preschool serving children ages 0-5 years old, built on the following principles: all children are competent, capable, and curious; all families have something to contribute; we are stronger together. Our pioneering blended-funding early childhood center incorporates Head Start, Early Head Start, 3-K, Universal Pre-K and tuition funding to serve all families on the Lower East Side and beyond. Inspired by the schools of Reggio Emilia, our classrooms are joyful and nurturing learning environments that foster inquiry, exploration and reflection. With the support and supervision of our Education Admin team, our teachers work collaboratively with children to co-construct a curriculum that draws inspiration from children's interests and the world around us. Our ADE-Sped works to advance the vision of our school, ensuring that all children are welcome and have the resources needed to thrive in our school and beyond. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Special Education related: Assist in the completion of documentation necessary for the referral process. Develop and maintain tracking system to monitor all children receiving support services, or who are in the process of receiving services. Obtain all relevant paperwork including IFSP/IEP reports Establish and maintain relationships with outside service providers. Conduct classroom observations of children with potential developmental delays. Coordinate and implement parent workshops pertaining to children who may need additional support. Consult with parents about the referral process and the progression of services for their child/children on a regular basis. Provide information regarding community resources for children, families and staff. Collaborate with child's team to create specialized support plans if needed Maintain hardcopy and digital files, using One Drive and ChildPlus Coordinate all support services offered onsite by providers (Speech, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Special Education Itinerant Teachers, ABA therapy) Collaborate with the Senior Leadership team to continue to expand the school's use of the Pyramid Model to address pre-referral equity and supports for all students Any other job duties deemed appropriate Program Development and Classroom Support Responsible for supervising up to 4 classrooms in the ITT, 3K and UPK programs Support the documentation/reflection/planning cycle in classrooms and serve as co-thinker with teachers around curriculum and project planning. Plan professional development and growth opportunities for teachers and staff. Partner with our Early Childhood Social Worker to develop a trauma-informed whole child approach to supporting children and families. Serve as a thought partner and collaborator with the Early Childhood Senior Director in determining the overall approach and direction of the school. Facilitate regular meetings with teaching teams to discuss ongoing project work and investigations, documentation, and communication with families. Observe in classrooms to provide feedback, strategies and coaching to individual teachers and teams. Conduct formal assessments as necessary. Support teachers to use documentation as the basis of the reflection and planning process, and to make children's learning visible to children, families and the community. Work with teachers to ensure that align such documentation with the DRDP assessment system or Teaching Strategies Gold Provide mentorship and coaching to teachers. Document professional development plans and coaching logs as required by DOE and/or Head Start. Participate in parent meetings as needed. Participate in interviewing, recruitment, training and development of teachers, assistant teachers and additional support staff. Provide orientation to welcome new staff into our approach and philosophy. Collaborate with other programs and departments within Educational Alliance and Manny Cantor Center as appropriate. Maintain classroom compliance for DOH, DOE and other regulatory requirements. Attend staff meetings and trainings as required. Perform special projects and other duties as assigned. JOB REQUIREMENTS MA and teaching certificate in special education required At least 5 years' experience in the field of Early Intervention or special needs. Experience with government grants, contract compliance and data collection Experience with Early Intervention (EI), Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE), and working with children across developmental variations Proficient Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word and Forms Additional Skills Preferred The ideal candidate will be a passionate and warm collaborator, excellent communicator with proven success connecting and relating with students, parents, staff, and the community. Experience supervising a teaching team Experience with the Pyramid Model Outstanding written and oral communications skills Ability to interact with families of diverse religious, cultural and social backgrounds required. Familiarity with the Lower Manhattan community preferred. Ability to multitask and handle challenging situations in a professional and courteous manner. Ability to maintain confidentiality of records and information and operate in a deadline-driven environment. Understand developmental milestones, appropriate practice and assessment for all age groups in the school. Team player with a passion for building relationships and fostering partnerships, both internal and external to Manny Cantor Center Self-motivated, highly efficient, and able to problem solve Demonstrated ability to handle stressful situations in a professional, warm and friendly manner Conversational in Spanish and/or one or more Chinese dialects BENEFITS Generous PTO Policy Competitive Salary Medical & Dental Insurance Pension Plan 403b Retirement Plans Discount Perks for Movies, Broadway Shows, Amusement Parks, etc. Free Gym Membership to our Manny Cantor Center Gym & 14TH ST Y Gym Discounts to programs at Educational Alliance LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMER The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the position EEO INFO Educational Alliance is committed to workplace diversity and inclusion. We are equal opportunity employers and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity and expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Educational Alliance takes affirmative action in support of its policy to employ and advance in employment individuals who are minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities. Educational Alliance is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For further information about Educational Alliance, please visit Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM 40 hours per week

Created: 2024-10-19