School Principal - Special Education

Under the direction of the Program Director, oversee the operation and management of educational services at The Baird Center, located in Plymouth, MA.  The Baird Center School is an approved private special education school (Chapter 766) for academically and emotionally challenged boys aged 10 to 16. Classes consist of five to seven boys, and are specially tailored to their students. The Center's services include individual, family, and group therapy, psycho-pharmacological evaluation, psycho-diagnostic evaluation, educational evaluation, sexual abuse victim/abuser evaluation and treatment and firesetters evaluation and treatment. The Center also offers extensive group recreational activities and several pre-vocational programs for its older clients.

 Essential Functions:

· Responsible for the hiring, evaluation, disciplinary actions, terminations, and performance management of the educational staff. Coordinate and supervise placement of student teachers, interns, and volunteers.

· Oversee the development and implementation of the educational portion of the program including all school operations. Ensure developmentally appropriate integration of guidelines and a curriculum sensitive to students’ educational and cultural needs. Monitor and comply with guidelines set by Department of Education, Office for Children, other relevant agencies, and HLW.

· Coordinate and chair IEP meetings, review and approve IEP’s and ensure the delivery of educational services outlined in IEP’s. With the Educational Services Director, attend due process hearing when an IEP is rejected.

· Design and implement a behavior management system which reflects the agency’s treatment philosophy and is integrative in approach to the total treatment of each client. Coordinate the collection of data to monitor effectiveness of behavior management strategies.

· With the Program Director, establish, implement, and review program-wide policies and procedures, revise as needed.

· In conjunction with the Program Director, develop and monitor school budget, authorize school expenses.

· Interface with the Program Director, Clinical Coordinator, funders, collateral agencies, parents, guardians, and advocates to coordinate educational plans, including the intake, transfer, termination and mainstreaming process. Facilitate communication and service integration with residential and clinical services.

· Coordinate inservice training for educational staff, provide relevant training.

· Serve on the Program’s Administration Team; serve on agency committees as needed. Act as an advocate for school, advocate for educational needs within agency priorities.

· Assist with program marketing.

· Serve on the multi-disciplinary teams to ensure integration of services.

· Promote family involvement in the educational program.

· Perform other related duties as assigned.

 Qualifications: 

Master’s Degree in Special Education or related field; 5 years experience with special needs children in an educational setting, including 1 year administrative/supervisory experience. Valid Massachusetts Special Education licensure required.

 

About Us:

 The Home for Little Wanderers runs three state-approved, year-round special education schools for both residential and day students. Structured environments and behavior management systems with clear expectations and positive reinforcements help students learn to control their behavior, focus on their school work, and improve their overall performance. Small class sizes and a low staff-to-student ratios permit individualized attention, support, consistency, and regular feedback. At time of admission, students are assessed to determine levels of functioning, academic strengths, and needs, and learning styles. Comprehensive curricula are designed to correspond to each child's Individual Education Plan (IEP) and the state-mandated Curriculum Frameworks. Counseling for both the students and their families and case management services are an integral part of the school program. Occupational and speech therapy services are available, as well as psycho-educational groups and daily skills classes.