This is a twelve-month (year-round) full-time position at the Minnesota State Academies in Faribault, Minnesota. The Director of Curriculum and Educational Programs at MSA manages the Academies’ administration, operations, strategic planning, human resources, communication, budgetary needs and requirements, and coordination of services/instruction related to curriculum and educational programs at MSA with focus with deaf, hard-of-hearing, deafblind, blind, and visually impaired students, including those with additional learning and physical needs.
The Director also ensures compliance with the students’ Individual Education Programs by providing staff with curriculum, resources, and training necessary to provide required instruction and services.
Responsibilities include:
1) Maintaining and extending contacts and partnerships with schools for the deaf and/or blind nationwide; state agencies, other educational institutions; school districts and cities statewide; and other residential educational facilities to maximize the Academies’ access to best practices in D/HH and B/VI instruction
2) Collaborates with administrative team and educational staff to formulate and implement
strategic plans to extend and improve education for all students at MSA.
3) Development, implementation, and support for curricular and instructional changes to ensure high expectations and supports for high quality educational experiences for our students;
4) Support the Board of MSA in carrying out the policies and annual school goals, including regular reports and information sharing;
5) Collaborates with other directors/supervisors to establish appropriate instructional programming that provides high quality instruction to students who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, deafblind, blind, or visually impaired in order to help them progress academically and socially through the implementation of MSA’s educational program and components of each student’s Individual Education Program (IEP) or Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP).
6) Maintaining, developing, and expanding curricular content, resources, and training available to MSA teachers, support staff, paraprofessionals, and students/families.
7) Developing and supervising professional development opportunities for MSA staff.
8) Oversees and supports the accreditation processes for both schools.
9) Guides enrollment process to ensure support for prospective students, families, and school districts.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications (must show all minimum qualifications on the resume and they must be verifiable)
• Master’s degree in Deaf or Blind Education, Curriculum Development, Educational Leadership, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of educational experience working with deaf, hard-of-hearing, deafblind, blind, and/or visually-impaired students in a school environment, including at least 2 years of experience supervising an educational program at a residential school serving deaf and/or blind children.
• Current valid teacher licensure, in any state, D/HH or B/VI education is required. (Out-of-state candidates must be able to obtain Minnesota licensure within the first 3 months of employment)
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills in implementation of curriculum programs, outreach services, assessment and evaluations, and/or educational program development for children of all ages (Birth-22), including the ability to share information about educational approaches, programming, curriculum, and IEP procedures with MSA stakeholder groups.
• The ability to work effectively with a number of systems, including local, regional, and state-wide education programs, state agencies (including the Minnesota Department of Education), various advocacy and consumer/community groups for parents and families, and other organizations serving D/HH/B/VI/DB populations is essential to this position.
• Ability to communicate fluently and effectively in American Sign Language and English, including the ability to express information and concepts clearly with large groups (i.e., parents, staff members, students).
Preferred Qualifications
• Current Principal or Special Education Director Licensure in the state of Minnesota. (Candidates must be able to obtain licensure within the first 3 months of employment.)
• Two years of successful experience working as a principal or executive director in a school setting.
• Extensive knowledge and skills in working with children who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, deafblind, blind, or visually impaired.
• In-depth knowledge and skills in curriculum development, assessment and instruction, and educational programming specific to deaf and/or blind students.
• Thorough knowledge of MSAD and MSAB academic and residential programs, including extracurricular activities and training/professional development opportunities.
• Advanced ASL Skills.
