Special Education Teacher

Dean: Metcalf Middle School

Position Summary

FTE:  1.0

Hours:  8

Days:  190

Compensation / Benefits:  Per Unit Agreement

Description:  ISD 191 is a suburban Minneapolis system of 9,300 students comprised of the communities of Burnsville, Eagan, and Savage. The District is seeking a high quality, innovative educational leader for the position of Dean. District 191’s dynamic leadership team is highly committed to working each day to align the work of adults throughout our system, and within our community, around improving the learning of each of our students. We are committed to finding innovative leaders who value working in a collaborative culture with colleagues and staff.

Essential Job Functions

License / Education Requirements: Valid Minnesota Teaching license required as a TOSA. Secondary administrative and teaching experience and Principal license preferred.

Job Responsibilities: The Dean of Students is responsible for helping staff establishing a safe, positive and respectful school culture in which students are supported and are recognized for excellence.  The Dean of Students in One91 schools will work in a highly visible leadership capacity to maintain a supportive, productive, and enriching school culture. The dean will play an instrumental role in establishing and reinforcing high expectations for an actively engaging learning environment. The dean will maintain consistent and constructive communication with teachers, administrators, students and student families in an effort to ensure that school culture norms are effectively defined and reinforced.  The dean will support teachers in their development of creating a culture of learning and an environment of respect and rapport.

Essential Responsibilities
Working with the Principal and Associate Principal to support teachers in the development of classroom management skills
Responsible for coordinating and supporting student attendance, behavior, and crisis-intervention plans to achieve site identified goals
Coaching and supervising the school’s PBIS processes
Serving in the role of student advocate when dealing with staff
Serving as a behavior and engagement coach for teachers
Facilitating faculty and staff professional development related to school culture, restorative practices, student engagement, consistent implementation of PBIS, and social-emotional support for students
Using knowledge of students and families and their diverse needs to ensure equitable healthy and effective responses to student needs
Supporting faculty and parents in creating intervention plans and individual behavioral contracts and helping to monitor student progress with those plans
Designing, attending and participating in events outside of normal school hours, and performing such other duties as the school may reasonably assign from time to time
Coordinating supervision of study hall program, before school/after, cafeteria, and passing time
Managing student transitions and coordinating faculty presence at key locations
Assisting with the coordination of MTSS, STAT meetings as well as grade level or department student themed meetings
Creating community by leading restorative and responsive practices, student groups/circles and student celebrations
Encouraging multiple perspectives and uses their knowledge of all perspectives in their daily practices
Serving as an administrative designee for Child Study and IEP meetings
Coordinating student recognition and other accolades
Providing continuous and ongoing structures and supports that empowers students to grow and ensure their needs are met
Liaising with families
Educating students, staff, and families regarding the handbook guidelines, and holding all constituents accountable for adhering to the handbook
Acting as an active member of the school’s building leadership team
Holding in person meetings or phone calls outside of school hours, as is reasonably requested by the Principal or Associate Principal with parent(s)/guardian(s)
Seeking to study, review, and share related research materials and documents to increase understanding around the classroom environment
Creating and presenting formal reports on school culture and safety, as requested
Setting measurable goals for the upcoming academic year and plan ways to make them a part of school culture
Proactively construct a positive student culture and mitigate disciplinary infractions before they occur
Working with Associate Principal or Principal to develop the tools to create a common language with students, faculty, parents and administration around the desired culture for the school
Maintaining systems for collecting and tracking accurate school culture and safety data, including documentation of student discipline records and communication with families
Analyzing data for needs, and evaluating the issues around student engagement, classroom management, classroom procedures, and other identified areas
Using multiple data points to impact dialogue and practices and helps make meaning of the data for all students
Proactively collaborates with individual or teams of teachers to have a defined and targeted plan of action
Additional Duties

Performs other related tasks as assigned.
Note: The above description is illustrative of tasks and responsibilities. It is not meant to be all inclusive of every task or responsibility.

FLSA Status: Exempt

Qualifications

The successful Dean will be an individual who…

… firmly believes:
all students can learn and that their learning can be directly influenced by focusing on factors over which we have control
that student learning guides practice and decision-making throughout the school and system
in shared accountability and responsibility through working interdependently
in fostering a commitment among staff and parent communities to create the conditions for equity and excellence resulting in elimination of the achievement gap
in a model that promotes professional reflection and continuous improvement
in positive approaches to managing student attendance and behavior through establishing clear expectations and implementing appropriate, individualized supports
… has demonstrated:
successful experience in facilitating high-quality professional learning and remarkable outcomes through application
the ability to effectively manage and lead change, including changing practices and structures in our school system that may perpetuate inequities based on race and class
outstanding skills in written and oral communication, talent management, and school operations
effective facilitation and personal use of technology as a communication tool to improve student achievement and manage work
personal professional learning and development through a strong understanding of literature related to education, student learning, and leadership
the ability to manage dialog effectively, valuing alternative points of view in planning and decision-making
that he or she is a visible instructional leader
courage to do what is best for students
knowledge of applicable laws and regulations regarding student discipline, bullying, sexual harassment, etc
flexible and adept student behavior management techniques
dispute resolution techniques and ability to engage in dispute resolution
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others contacted in the course of work
Successful experience working with children at risk
Equipment

Use standard office equipment such as personal computers, printer, copier and fax machines, and telephone.
Travel Requirements

Travel to school district buildings as required.
Physical and Mental Demands, Work Hazards

Work in standard office and school building environments.

Application Process

Our online application system offers the opportunity to upload additional information such as a cover letter, resume, references and transcripts. Paper or e-mail copies of these materials will not be accepted.
Interviews will be conducted with candidates that best meet the current needs of the District.
Review of materials will start immediately.
The position will be filled on an undesignated timeframe when, and not until, the right candidate emerges.