Dean of Diverse Learners

Job Description

Position: Dean of Diverse Learners

Department: K-4 of 5-8

Supervisor: K-4 or 5-8 Principal

Type: Full-Time, 12-Month, Salary

Position

In accordance with the Explore! Community School mission and values, the Dean of Diverse Learners is instrumental in the development of Explore! Community School, leading students and staff to ensure that all students are supported to achieve at high levels. This role will oversee Exceptional Education and RTI-A programs, both of which are critical in ensuring strong support systems for students. These key responsibilities will accelerate learning for our most vulnerable and lowest-performing students. Explore! knows that schools are as great as their people so we are seeking a diverse team of smart, passionate, driven educators who believe that all students can learn at the highest level. We look for teachers and leaders who are genuinely warm and kind, thrive in an entrepreneurial culture, care about having fun at work, have a track record of high performance, and are committed to high-quality, progressive instruction for all students.

About Explore! Community School

At Explore!, we always begin with our mission: to foster the independence, critical thinking, and creativity of a diverse community of learners so they are fully prepared to become confident, conscientious leaders who change the world. To achieve our mission we emphasize interactive, hands-on, project-based learning to build upon our rigorous, standards-based curriculum and ensure learning is authentic, meaningful, and fun. We focus on the whole child, nurturing the social and emotional development of Explorers while fostering their academic excellence.

Currently serving 550+ students in K-8, we anticipate growing to 700 students over the next several years. Explore! occupies a beautiful new facility in Nashville; a 90,000 square foot building constructed in 2019 in partnership with the city of Nashville as a key component in the new Envision Cayce development. Explore! Community School is an educational outreach of the Martha O’Bryan Center, Nashville’s oldest anti-poverty nonprofit that has been serving the city and Davidson County for over 100 years.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Response to Instruction and Intervention for Academics (RTI-A):

Collaborate with the stakeholders to create the vision for an exemplary Response to Intervention (RTI) framework and codify the vision into replicable systems for teachers and staff

Collaborate with K-4 or 5-8 Principal to create a schedule that ensures academic interventions can be executed with fidelity

Plan and execute professional development sessions to train teachers and staff on intervention systems, routines, and curriculum resources

Routinely conduct fidelity checks, observing the execution of systems and routines and providing feedback on interventions to improve the quality of instruction

Make and communicate improvements to intervention systems, routines, and curriculum resources

Ensure a data-driven approach to meet the needs of students in Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions

Plan and supervise NWEA MAP administration during each testing window (Fall, Winter and Spring)

Conduct ongoing fidelity checks on both data collection systems and execution of interventions

Collect, analyze, plan, and communicate student data and progress monitoring regularly to families and other stakeholders

Ensure all data compliance deadlines through MNPS and TDOE are met with fidelity

Plan and facilitate K-4 or 5-8 data team meetings, in collaboration with the school psychologist and other members of the leadership team

Provide direct management and coaching to K-4 or 5-8 academic interventionists

Exceptional Education:

Compliance and Collaboration

Ensure compliance across all grade levels and file holders, including meeting protocols and records maintenance requirements with district, state, and federal laws

Serve as the liaison for the MNPS Department of Exceptional Education, related service providers, and vendors (ONE PERSON)

Coordinate with MNPS regarding parent concerns or legal action that is brought against the school or staff members, in collaboration with the Executive Principal

Serve as the administrator for TN PULSE, responsible for training on the effective use of the tool; assisting staff with troubleshooting issues; and monitoring weekly for compliance

Work in partnership with teachers and leaders to provide direction, support and expertise related to Exceptional Education and any related family communication

Serve as the LEA for IEP meetings or delegate to other leaders, if needed

Teaching and Learning

Plan or lead professional development on strategies for Exceptional Education students, teachers or staff

Design paraprofessional training, including asynchronous modules

Plan and implement explicit instruction incorporating research-based and high-leverage instructional practices

Support teachers with the implementation of accommodations and modifications, removing barriers to accessing the General Education curriculum

Academic Supports and Compliance:

Oversee the planning and execution of 4th Grade high-dosage tutoring groups that are required as part of the 3rd Grade retention legislation

Oversee the screening, development, and parent communication of the Individualized Learning Plan for Students with Characteristics of Dyslexia (ILP-D)

Collect, analyze and import student data into databases, as required by MNPS or TDOE

Ensure all data compliance deadlines through MNPS or TDOE are met with fidelity

Qualifications

Evident passion for Explore’s mission, matched with a strong work ethic, and a belief that all students, including those with special needs, can achieve academic success

A “systems thinker” with the ability to create, codify, and communicate policies and procedures

A minimum of 3-5 years of teaching experience required

Bachelors degree required, Masters degree preferred

Holds or is eligible to secure a valid TN State teacher certification (Special Education required)

Successful experience serving as Interventionist with data to support the ability to move traditionally low performing students

Demonstrated strong classroom and time management skills

Strong organizational skills with unrelenting attention to detail and follow-through

Possess the energy and willingness to do whatever it takes to ensure success

Maturity, humility, sense of humor, and love for students, staff, and families

Commitment to building a diverse, inclusive, and equitable community

Proven ability to work as a member of a team with a commitment to his/her own learning and professional development

Additional skills that enhance students’ academic experience (e.g. multi-lingual, musician, carpentry, etc.) highly sought

Compensation

This position offers a competitive salary range commensurate with experience, paid leave, and robust benefits including medical, dental and retirement through Metro Nashville Public Schools. More details can be provided upon request.

As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability.

Full-time