Director of Student Supports

Description

Position Overview  

The Director of Student Supports (DSS) provides strategic and operational leadership for the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of AXIS’s Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS) across Academic (MTSS-A) and Social Emotional Learning/Behavior (MTSS-S) domains. 

The DSS ensures that all students receive the academic, behavioral, social-emotional, and specialized supports needed to thrive in a multilingual learning environment. This leader partners with school leadership, staff, families, and community agencies to build strong systems that promote student growth, remove barriers to learning, and ensure compliance with state and federal regulations. The DSS serves as a key member of the school’s leadership team.

Key Responsibilities 

MTSS Leadership? 

• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of a comprehensive MTSS framework aligned to school goals 
• Supervise, support, and lead the HR cycle for student services staff, including academic and behavioral interventionists and special education providers 
• Lead MTSS-A and MTSS-S teams using structured, data-driven processes, including weekly meetings 
• Oversee development, implementation, monitoring, and compliance of student support plans, including: 
• IEPs 
• 504 Plans 
• READ Plans 
• Advanced Learning Plans (ALPs) 
• English Language Plans (ELPs) 
• Kindergarten School Readiness Plans 
• Other intervention and support plans  
• Co-facilitate student assessment cycle with Director of Operations 
• Lead monthly Special Education team meetings 
• Serve as the liaison to our authorizer (CSI) and report on student support programming and plans  
• Assist in planning budgetary resources and procurement for MTSS programming and materials 
• Coordinate and/or provide professional development on current evidence-based instructional practices on MTSS, intervention, instructional practices, and other related areas 
• Facilitate risk assessments, crisis interventions, and violence prevention strategies as needed 
• Promote family and community engagement to support student success, attend parent meetings and IEP meetings, as needed or designate an IEP admin. 

Operational Collaboration 

• Develop a school-wide intervention schedule, internal and external master calendar, and assessment calendar in collaboration with the Director of Operations and Head of School.  
• Collaborate regularly with the Director of Operations to ensure Programming and Operations work in tandem, not in silos.  
• Direct technology onboarding for related programs. 
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal laws and regulations and court orders relevant to instructional practices and staff.? 
• Collaborate with registrar and enrollment team to ensure plans of incoming students are reviewed and the team and resources are prepped for plan implementation. 

Organizational Leadership? 

• Partner with school leadership teams (to include leadership team and content leaders), grade level problem solving teams, and meet with teachers on an ongoing basis to improve classroom instruction, classroom management, and student engagement. 
• Lead staff in developing and maintaining a healthy school culture aligned with the mission, vision and core values of AXIS. 
• Create a culture of excellence, teamwork, and collaboration among the staff, teachers, students, and families. 
• Facilitate effective communication and collaboration across diverse stakeholder groups, including authorizer (CSI) leadership, school administrators, families, community partners, and external agencies. 
• Support the Head of School with Board of Directors Meetings and lead the Program Excellence Committee. 
• Fully engage as a member of the leadership team. Take ownership of team decisions with positive communication among AXIS stakeholders. 
• Be able and willing to step into the Head of School role on an interim basis as needed. 
• Other duties as assigned. 

Requirements

Required Skills 

• Leadership, staff supervision, and team facilitation. 
• Exceptional ability to prioritize and manage time efficiently. 
• Public speaking, writing, listening, problem-solving, and dispute resolution. 
• Support administrators, teachers, and staff to strengthen schoolwide practices. 
• Research, data collection, and program evaluation. 
• Interpersonal skills and building collaborative relationships with staff, families, and students. 
• Innovation and independent problem solving. 
• Use instructional technology to support learning and data management. 

Additional Requirements 

• Current Special Education License or willingness to renew/attain (ideally CO). 
• Minimum of five years of successful performance as a school administrator or teacher leader. 
• Knowledge of special education curriculum and programming, Colorado and federal special education law and regulation. 
• Experience working with diverse student populations. 
• Experience supporting students with behavioral disabilities and social/emotional challenges. 
• CPI (Crisis Prevention Institute) certification and/or experience conducting risk assessments or willing to attain. 
• Salary commensurate with experience and aligned to administrator salary scale. 
• Summer days are required for training and planning. 
• Citizenship, residency, or work VISA in the United States required.