Therapeutic School Administrator

Children's Home Society of South Dakota; Rapid City (SD); On-site; USD 74,000 - 111,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Work-Life Balance

Comprehensive Benefits

Financial/Education Assistance

Competitive Compensation

Generous PTO

Retirement Plans

Referral Bonuses

Job summary

Children’s Home Society of South Dakota seeks a Therapeutic School Administrator to lead the Aberdeen therapeutic day school from inception. This founding role involves shaping culture, instructional practices, and partnerships with families and districts to open and grow the program.

You will collaborate with CHS Operations and School Leadership to build systems and supports for students with emotional and behavioral needs, guiding them toward successful transitions back to home schools.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution is required.
• Current South Dakota educator certification or ability to obtain SD certification is required.
• Preferred: SD Elementary/Middle School Principal certification; and/or SD Special Education Administrator endorsement.
• Minimum of four years of successful teaching experience at elementary and/or middle school level.

Responsibilities

• Lead School Development: establish educational model, culture, procedures, routines, and daily operations for the Aberdeen therapeutic day school.
• Provide Educational Leadership: lead high-quality instructional practices, student programming, behavioral supports, and individualized services.
• Lead and Develop the Team: provide day-to-day leadership, supervision, coaching, and support to school staff.
• Support Special Education Services: ensure appropriate educational services and supports per individual needs and plans.
• Build District and Family Partnerships: develop relationships with families, referring districts, and community partners.
• Support Student Growth: collaborate to support academic, behavioral, social, and emotional development.
• Build for the Future: evaluate program needs and opportunities for growth in northeastern SD.
• Promote Safety and Compliance: maintain a safe, trauma-responsive environment and comply with regulations.

Skills

Educational leadership

Administrative leadership

Instructional leadership

Education

Master's degree

Job description

Position Overview:

The Children’s Home Society of South Dakota is seeking a Therapeutic School Administrator to serve as the founding educational leader of our new therapeutic day school in Aberdeen in accordance with the organization’s Mission Statement and Core Values.

This is a unique opportunity to help build a new K–8 therapeutic educational program from the ground up. The Therapeutic School Administrator will work closely with CHS Operations and School Leadership to establish the culture, systems, instructional practices, student supports, and community partnerships necessary to successfully open and grow the Aberdeen program.

Our therapeutic schools serve students whose emotional, behavioral, or mental health needs significantly affect their ability to be successful in a traditional school environment. Through small class sizes, individualized instruction, special education expertise, behavioral supports, and integrated therapeutic services, our team helps students build the skills and confidence needed to learn, grow, and work toward successful transitions back to their home school communities.

As a founding leader, you will have the opportunity to help shape not only a new school, but also CHS’s growing commitment to therapeutic education for children and families throughout northeastern South Dakota.

By joining our team, you will make a difference every day creating positive change for individuals, families, and communities. Each smile, hug, and heart you touch will reflect the meaningful impact of your work.

Benefits of Employment at CHS:

• Work-Life Balance: Monday through Friday work week.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Equal up to 30% of your salary. Two health insurance options (Traditional Plan & High Deductible Health Plan with HSA), vision, dental, employer-paid Group Life Insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D), Short Term & Long-Term Disability, and additional voluntary life and critical illness plans.
• Financial/Education Assistance: Up to $200 per month in tuition reimbursement or student loan repayment for qualifying employees.
• Competitive Compensation: $73,694.40 - $110,552.00 (DOE) with yearly merit-based raises.
• Generous Paid Time Off: Includes a generous PTO package with 40 hours upfront, 10 paid holidays, and 8 hours "Day of Service" for volunteering in the community.
• Retirement Plans: Once entry into the plan, employees receive a 3% employer contribution each pay period and an up to an additional 5% profit sharing. Employees are 100% vested after 4 years of credited service.
• Referral Bonuses: Earn up to $1,000 for referring new employees.

What You Will Do:

• Lead School Development: Help establish and implement the educational model, school culture, procedures, routines, and daily operations necessary to successfully launch CHS’s Aberdeen therapeutic day school.
• Provide Educational Leadership: Lead high-quality instructional practices, student programming, behavioral supports, and individualized educational services within a therapeutic learning environment.
• Lead and Develop the Team: Provide day-to-day leadership, supervision, coaching, and support to school team members while building a collaborative, relationship-centered culture.
• Support Special Education Services: Help ensure students receive appropriate educational services and supports consistent with their individual needs, educational plans, and applicable requirements.
• Build District and Family Partnerships: Develop strong working relationships with students’ families, referring school districts, and community partners. Participate in student referral, placement, progress, and transition planning.
• Support Student Growth: Work collaboratively with educational and therapeutic team members to support students’ academic, behavioral, social, and emotional development.
• Build for the Future: Participate in evaluating program needs, outcomes, and opportunities for growth as CHS establishes therapeutic educational services in northeastern South Dakota.
• Promote Safety and Compliance: Help maintain a safe, structured, trauma-responsive environment while ensuring adherence to CHS policies, educational requirements, confidentiality standards, and applicable state and federal regulations.

Requirements

Education:

• Required: Master’s degree from an accredited institution is required

Licensure:

• Required: Current South Dakota educator certification or ability to obtain appropriate South Dakota certification is required.
• Preferred: South Dakota Elementary/Middle School Principal certification; and/or
• Preferred: South Dakota Special Education Administrator endorsement.

Experience:

• Required: Minimum of four years of successful teaching experience at the elementary and/or middle school level.
• Preferred: Experience providing leadership within special education or alternative/therapeutic educational settings.
• Preferred: Experience working with students whose emotional, behavioral, or mental health needs affect educational success.
• Preferred: Experience supervising, coaching, or developing educational team members.

Skills:

• Required: Demonstrated educational, administrative, or instructional leadership experience.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

• Must be able to adapt to a child's behavior physically and verbally in ways taught by the Agency.
• Must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds.

Must successfully complete all required background and pre-employment checks EEO/AA.

Join the Founding Team

The Aberdeen therapeutic day school is being created in partnership with regional educators and community leaders to expand educational options for children throughout northeastern South Dakota.

The initial school team will include the Therapeutic School Administrator, Teacher, and Teacher Assistant. Together, these founding team members will establish the culture and practices that shape the program as it begins serving students and grows to meet regional needs.

If you are an educator who wants the opportunity to lead, build, collaborate, and help create something meaningful for children and families, we encourage you to apply.

Join Children’s Home Society and Work For Good, helping create new pathways for children to learn, grow, and thrive.