The Lang School seeks a 12 month Director of Special Education K-12 to support our twice-exceptional (2e) students — gifted students with learning differences — across a variety of grades, subjects, and clinical support areas.

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We offer our highly promising learners in grades K-12 a rigorous, learner-centered, empirically validated education with integrated supports that foster independence and self-advocacy.

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Candidate Preferred Requirements:

• Master’s degree required

• Certification in Special Education

• Experience with developing curriculum across grade bands and utilizing assessment data to drive instructional moves

• Experience developing and facilitating team meetings and professional development

• Experience with IEP’s and neuropsych evaluations and utilizing these documents to develop support plans for students and instructional approaches

• At least five years of progressive experience in education

• At least three years of developing a culture of SEL and supporting various stakeholders

• Experience in an independent school

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States and does not require sponsorship for an employment visa to work in the U.S. now or in the future

 

Successful candidates:

• have an authentic connection with our school's mission and our student population of twice-exceptional learners

• have experience working in educational environments, and have deep knowledge in and passion for their area(s) of specialty

• are tenacious and possess a “whatever it takes” attitude to support The Lang School, that derives from adaptability, flexibility, and unwavering kindness and patience

• are excellent communicators who actively listen and ask probing questions with/of all members of the community and know how to be candid and empathic at the same time

• are community and collaboration-focused, and know the importance of leveraging divergent viewpoints for the improvement of our collective work and the building of positive relationships

• hold their colleagues accountable, and are receptive and humble when held accountable

• are comfortable with ambiguity and not always having or knowing the answers, but are an intellectually curious, growth-focused lifelong learner who picks up new ideas quickly

 

Responsibilities:

• Commit to a 12-month position 

• Report to the Assistant Head of School

• Manage schoolwide assessment and data collection, evaluation and response

• Lead the alignment of all K-12 curriculum and instruction and support its implementation in collaboration with the Head of School, Assistant Head of School and LS/US Directors 

• Spearheads student acceleration protocol with all staff

• Develops and oversees the Advisory and WIN structures in alignment with Lang’s vision and mission

• Drive the implementation of various social emotional and instructional initiatives such as Project Based Learning and Social Thinking

• Develop a process to review lesson plans, curriculum, scope and sequence across K-12 and provide feedback and coaching 

• Conduct regular and consistent staff observation and provide feedback and coaching to improve instruction K-12

• Direct, observe, mentor, coach and evaluate all personnel K-12, supporting their growth and adherence to school policies and practices focused on meeting the diverse learning needs of all students 

• Develop a comprehensive professional development program for faculty and staff K-12 in collaboration with senior leadership

• Identify the PD needs of each staff member and find appropriate support for their professional learning.  Coordinate with Directors of LS/US

• Support the development and implementation of our strategic plan 

• Support the LS and US Directors with student response and intervention as needed. 

• Teaching- Model our instructional expectations by teaching at least one class per year for faculty and staff to observe and learn from also push-n to classes, as needed to model instructional strategies as part of your teacher development and coaching work

• Facilitate and participate in meetings for individual teaching teams, grade bands, committees and lead the development and execution of grade-level scope and sequences, pacing guides, and unit planning

• Work regularly with faculty, parents, student support counselor, learning specialists, and external service providers and organizations to support student needs

• Collaborate with our speech therapist to support the data collection and staff preparation for various IEP and IHO hearings and coordinate with the Controller as needed, regarding tuition reimbursement needs as part of this process. 

• Attend IEP and Impartial Hearing meetings on behalf of Lang when needed

• Enhance the strong sense of community by building healthy, trusting relationships with students, faculty, staff, and parents, and using those relationships to help members of the community become their best selves

• Collaborate with the Student Support Team and classroom teachers to facilitate a multi-tiered student support system that includes support plans for academic learning and behavioral direction

• Be a visible and supportive presence throughout the school, engaging regularly with students and parents, supporting their needs and the overall community

• Willingness to support with additional tasks or committees as requested by Head of School or Assistant Head of School as need will change from time to time and this role requires a flexible thinker who is willing to do whatever it takes. 

• Support with the planning and coordination of parent teacher conferences

• Provide feedback to staff on their written student progress reports to ensure alignment with skills and standards.

 

The Lang School (thelangschool.org) is a progressive independent school located in lower Manhattan serving grades K-12. Our high potential and gifted learners also have learning challenges, such as ADHD, anxiety, EF difficulties, dyslexia, or autism. These twice-exceptional (“2e”) learners have a unique set of social, emotional, and intellectual needs. We meet students where they are and empower them to achieve their next levels of excellence with research-based supports and a robust Talent Development Program.

Our mission is to create a safe and engaging learning environment for students with an emphasis on creative thinking and assets-based approaches. Our students are both unique and diverse, and we seek out and celebrate diversity in our community — in our identities (race, ethnicity, gender expression, socioeconomic status), as well as our backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

To Apply:
 

 

 

We will follow up with promising candidates who align with potential openings. At Lang, we appreciate that people's professional paths aren't necessarily linear and that they can be punctuated by purposeful gaps. Questions can be directed to employment@thelangschool.org.​

Compensation: Salaries are competitive and based on experience and training. (Salary range $100,000 - $130,000)  The Lang School offers a competitive benefits package, including employer-paid health insurance, 401k matching options, and ample professional development opportunities.

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