Senior EC/ESS Specialist

Great Hearts Academies; North Carolina; On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Great Hearts Academies seeks a Senior Exceptional Children/ESS Specialist to lead the ESS program across Bonnie Cone academies in Charlotte, NC. You will guide program leaders, recruit ESS faculty, and drive professional development in alignment with GH mission.

You will ensure compliance with state and federal requirements for SPED, 504, EL, and counseling while collaborating with the National Accessibility Team and GH executive leaders. Local travel within NC is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree required and 5 years of NC public school experience preferred.
• Experience leading special education/exceptional children programs in NC.
• Charter school experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop ESS program leaders at Bonnie Cone academies.
• Assist recruitment, interviewing and onboarding of ESS faculty.
• Direct regional professional development for ESS services.
• Advise on NC disability law changes and program best practices.
• Ensure state and federal compliance for SPED, 504, EL and Counseling.
• Assist with escalated parent/community complaints resolution.
• Support staffing transitions and special projects as needed.
• Collect and analyze data for program review and improvement.
• Monitor national/state trends affecting ESS implementation.

Skills

Leadership

Team player

Emotional intelligence

Relationship-building

Conflict resolution

Organized

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Job description

JOB SPECIFICATION

POSITION: Senior Exceptional Children/ ESS Specialist

DEPARTMENT: National Academics

LOCATION: Charlotte, North Carolina

REPORTS TO: Sr. National Director of Accessibility

EEO Classification: Professional

FLSA STATUS (Salaried-Exempt, or Hourly/Non-Exempt) Salaried-Exempt

Salary: $80,000 to $90,000 annually

Position Summary

The Senior EC/ESS Specialist is primarily responsible for leading the ESS program, which includes Special Education/Exceptional Children, section 504, EL, and Counseling.

First and foremost, the Senior EC/ESS Specialist is responsible for supporting and developing the leaders of these programs at the Bonnie Cone academies (Bonne Cone Classical Academy, and Bonnie Cone Leadership Academies). Additionally, the Senior EC/ESS Specialist is responsible for executing the short- and long-term priorities for ESS program development in North Carolina in collaboration with the National Accessibility Team, attending to input from the BC academies, and in collaboration with the GH Executive Directors. Last, the Senior EC/ESS Specialist is ultimately responsible for responding to Bonnie Cone Academy and CMO needs relative to service to students touched by these programs.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Academy Leadership Development - Serving and leading the academy program leaders at the Bonnie Cone academies within the broad philosophy of Great Hearts service to all students.
• Supporting Recruiting and Hiring - Assisting Bonnie Cone academies with the recruitment, interviewing, and onboarding of ESS faculty
• Professional Development & Coaching- Directing regional professional development on topics relevant to the service of all students, including coaching academy program leaders and providing training directly to academy faculty and staff as needed.
• Academy ESS Program Advisement- Staying abreast of changes in NC disability law and best practices and adapting/improving Bonnie Cone ESS programs as appropriate and consistent with the GH mission, in collaboration with the National Accessibility Team.
• State Reporting and Monitoring- Ensuring that Bonnie Cone academies comply with state and federal law with regards to service, data collection and confidentiality, and reporting for students in our programs (SPED, 504, EL, Counseling).
• Support on Escalated Cases- Assisting academies with the resolution of parent or community informal and formal complaints.
• Emergencies (typically staffing related) - Supporting a Bonnie Cone academy through a staffing transition, as needed.
• Special Projects - Initiating and completing special projects (e.g. curriculum deployment, guidance documents, research projects, etc.) as needed.
• Program Review - Collecting and analyzing data about academy and student performance and other trends for the purposes of program review and improvement.
• Program Vigilance - Maintaining awareness of and responding to state and national trends, opportunities, and threats to implementation of our programs.

Qualifications, Competencies & Strengths

Education: Bachelor of Arts or Higher Education required

Experience: 5 years' experience leading special education/exceptional children program in a public school in North Carolina (preferred in Charter).

Special Skills

• Track record of leading with a servant's heart
• Track record of the behaviors of a team player
• Passionately committed to the Great Hearts purpose and mission
• High degree of emotional intelligence
• Skill in relationship-building with emphasis on trust and collaboration
• Skill in conflict resolution and mediation
• Organized and systems thinker

Additional Requirements

Type of fingerprint clearance: Must complete criminal history background check per state regulations, which includes state and FBI fingerprint-based checks.

Physical functions: Requires but is not limited to standing, sitting, repetitious hand and body movements, bending, squatting, and reaching. May be required to move or position equipment up to 15 pounds approximately.

Travel required: Will need to travel locally within North Carolina to the Bonnie Cone academies.

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a criminal history background check and fingerprint clearance in accordance with state requirements.

Travel required: May need to travel locally for training and professional development opportunities.

This description reflects management's assignment of essential functions. It does not exclude or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Great Hearts Academies is an Equal Opportunity Employer.