Position: Special Education Coordinator and Teacher
About Launch
Launch Expeditionary Learning Charter School is part of a network of 11 Expeditionary Learning (EL) schools in New York City and is the NYC network’s first charter school. EL is a proven educational model being implemented in over 150 district, charter and independent schools across the country. Launch’s mission is to prepare students in under-resourced communities to thrive in college and careers by providing a public educational experience rooted in active learning and powerful character development. We believe that students at all levels can be pushed and supported to do more than they think they can.
The ideal candidate will believe:
Students can achieve at high academic levels and deserve an opportunity to succeed in the high school and college of their choice.
Learning is collaborative. School leaders, teachers, students, and families share high expectations for quality work, achievement, and behavior. Trust, respect, responsibility, and joy in learning permeate the school culture.
In order to close the achievement gap for students all staff members must constantly demonstrate a “whatever-it-takes” attitude and a growth mindset.
Excellence can be achieved. All members of the Launch community continuously strive to improve themselves and persevere when things are hard.
It is essential to educate the whole child. Strong character education is as important as academic rigor.
Coordinator Responsibilities
The Support Services Coordinator is responsible for three key areas of operations at Launch:
Coordination of Special Education Department Services, Teacher Support, and Student Support. The responsibilities in these categories include, but are not limited to:
Coordination of Special Education Department and Services:
Maintain all special education and Section 504 files
Ensure that all students’ with IEPs receive the appropriate school services, including coordinating the provision of related services through the CSE and monitoring the speech-language and counseling schedules to ensure that all students get their services weekly
Ensure that all students with IEPs and Section 504 Plans receive their mandated testing modifications and accommodations during state and local exams
Coordinate the evaluation, reevaluation, triennial, annual review, and MDR process on behalf of the school by collaborating with the local Committee on Special Education (CSE)
Collaborate with the CSE to ensure that special education processes occur within appropriate time frames
Assist parents and guardians with obtaining appropriate evaluations and services for their students
Regularly communicate with parents and guardians regarding their students’ performance, needs, and/or scheduled evaluations and meetings with the CSE.
Ensure that all IEPs include data-based, accurate, and timely reports of student levels of performance, well-written SMART goals, and are accurate and complete.
Complete quarterly charter school invoices
Provide the Director of Finance with information for state reports
Other duties as needed and assigned
Teacher Support
Provide teacher coaching for a small team of special education teachers through frequent observation, feedback, collaboration on professional growth plans, data-analysis, and frequent coaching meetings.
Plan and lead support services team meetings and professional development sessions in collaboration with Principal
Collaborate with school leaders to create, plan, and deliver professional development sessions about special education, intervention services, at-risk student needs, differentiation, co-teaching, and other topics related to support services as needed
Supervise related services providers and work with them to create open lines of communication between teachers and providers.
Ensure that teachers develop specialized skills related to their role as a Special Education Teacher, including assessing students, writing high-quality IEPs, and providing specialized instruction by reviewing lesson plans, revising IEPs, observing instruction, and providing written and verbal feedback on all work.
Student Support
Teach two periods per day in a co-taught classroom
Ensure that an appropriate Response to Intervention system is in place, including research based interventions
Analyze student data to ensure that the highest need students receive appropriate intervention and instruction
Work with both students at-risk and students with disabilities to provide them with appropriate instructional services, assessments, and support
Conduct Functional Behavioral Analysis and draft Behavior Intervention Plans, both informally and formally for inclusion on IEPs
Provide a range of instructional, management, and assessment strategies to meet the different needs of students
Work collaboratively with teachers, service providers, and school leaders to ensure that all students, both those with and without IEPs, receive appropriate instructional services and support
Assist teachers with differentiation
Provide support for English Language Learners (ELLs) and coordinate testing for the NYSESLAT
Skills and Attributes
High standards and an unbreakable belief in the ability of all children to succeed
A growth mindset that supports a continual pursuit of excellence
Hopeful and optimistic
Excellent classroom management skills
A deep belief in the Expeditionary Learning model, coupled with an ability to build on the model by joining it with other successful practices from the education reform movement
Humble, with a “workman-like” attitude toward building a school of excellence
Highly skilled in communicating clearly and consistently with all stakeholders
A team player
Curiosity about the world and passion to engage kids in meaningful and authentic learning experiences
Candidates should have:
Minimum 4 years urban teaching experience in a special education setting
Experience in a roles successfully leading a team
Middle school experience
Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred)
Competitive and commensurate with experience
Interested candidates please visit: www.launchschool.org/careers-launch.
Launch is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any individual or group for reasons of race, color, creed, sex, age, culture, national origin, marital status, sexual preference or mental or physical disability.