Director, Academic Programs

Director, Academic Programs

The Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center at Gallaudet University is a federally funded center with exemplary elementary and secondary education programs for deaf and hard of hearing students and is tasked with developing and disseminating innovative curricula, instructional techniques, and products nationwide while providing information, training, and technical assistance for parents and professionals to meet the needs of deaf and hard of hearing students from birth to age 21.

Reporting to the Superintendent of Demonstration Elementary and Secondary Schools, the Director of Academic Programs provides leadership for the instructional program working within a shared leadership model at the elementary school that serves Deaf and Hard of Hearing students from birth through 8th grade.

Job Description

• Provides leadership for the instructional program within a shared leadership model to develop and maintain an innovative instructional environment that supports the daily operation of the school with a national mission; serves as a member of the Clerc Center Leadership Team; serves as an active, contributing member of the Clerc Center community; actively promotes Clerc Center-wide goals established by the Clerc Center Leadership Team; provides leadership, in collaborating with a range of personnel, to determine and identify long- and short-range plans for KDES, aligning with the current accreditation goals and plans, Clerc Center strategic plan, and all applicable planning documents, as outlined by Gallaudet University; and provides leadership for KDES in realizing these long and short-range plans.
• Ensures that the school complies with the Education of the Deaf Act (EDA), Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and all applicable federal and state laws, rules, regulations, and Gallaudet University Board of Trustees (BOT)-approved policies and curriculum. Responsible for ensuring IEP compliance, overseeing the development, implementation, and monitoring of high-quality IEPs in accordance with federal and state regulations.
• Leads the KDES Instructional Leadership Team (KILT) to oversee the organization of KDES and coordinates the division of responsibilities among staff; implements effective systems for effective daily operations; oversees the formulation and ensures enforcement of KDES policies and regulations; oversees the documentation of all incident reports and other disciplinary actions; oversees the managing of accurate student disciplinary records and professional staff actions that are in accordance with rules governing the privacy and confidentiality of all records; oversees the implementation of standards-based curriculum and formative and summative assessment systems; identifies appropriate metrics and use qualitative and quantitative data to assess performance and drive goals and decision-making; and oversees the evaluation of student outcomes.
• Maintains and oversees behavior support systems, including Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and ensures the effective implementation of schoolwide initiatives that foster a positive school climate; oversees the Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) and Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) process, ensuring that student behavior supports are evidence-based, data-driven, and aligned with best practices; and focuses on high student achievement by building a positive school climate that supports the whole student, leveraging research and data to drive initiatives and instruction, and building a high-performing staff and leadership team to achieve the school's vision and goals.
• Facilitates innovative strategies and focuses efforts to achieve high educational standards for students who are from traditionally underserved populations those who are low achievers, who come from families who use a language other than English in the home, who have secondary disabilities, who are from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds, or who have unique educational needs.
• Creates a positive work environment and climate by overseeing personnel actions; effectively leads employees by building trust, communicating openly, and encouraging creative thinking; assumes responsibility for resolving employee conflicts and seeks assistance as needed; and ensures all team members complete their annual compliance requirements in a timely manner.
• Promotes a school culture of high expectations that yields corresponding results; regularly reviews student achievement data with teachers / staff; ensures that effective data-driven Professional Learning Communities operate throughout the year; ensures data-driven decision-making for the school; oversees and approves program evaluation projects; assures periodic assessment surveys of the KDES environment and student needs / satisfaction; and participates in research activities and program evaluation projects.
• Provides leadership by effectively engaging employees in the discussion of Clerc Center's values, vision, direction, and Strategic Plan goals; respects and uses employee skills, expertise, experience, and insights; provides direction and resources; helps develop skills; articulates expectations and clarifies roles and relationships; communicates in ways that help employees successfully apply information; encourages employees to question assumptions, ask strategic questions, and make high-quality decisions; anticipates conflicts and facilitates resolution; engages employees in both process and tasks; encourages them to use their power appropriately and to accept responsibility for their actions; coaches the staff to success; and leads by example.
• Develops the talent among direct reports; co-constructs their performance goals, objectives, and development plans; and provides ongoing constructive performance feedback.
• Ensures regular school-wide communication with teachers, school staff, and student life staff; holds regular school meetings to update teachers and school staff on ongoing work; works with KDES teachers and staff as well as student life staff to ensure ongoing and effective communication with families; and attends KDES family events throughout the year.
• Plays a key role in increasing enrollment at KDES by developing and implementing strategies to attract and retain students, strengthening partnerships with local and national stakeholders, and ensuring that KDES remains a competitive and appealing educational choice for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students and their families.
• Works with teachers to provide a curriculum that is aligned with state standards and assessment; observes classes and regularly provides instructional feedback to KDES teachers; establishes a system to review teacher lesson planning regularly; and provides leadership and support for instructional leadership.
• Conducts evaluations for assigned teachers / staff; coordinates the evaluation of all teachers, using the Teacher Evaluation System (TES); meets all applicable deadlines; administers KDES personnel matters, including recruitment, selection, and evaluation; and sets professional development goals for employees of the unit.
• Works closely with the Clerc Center's Communication / PR team to ensure a strong online presence that effectively highlights the achievements, programs, and unique offerings of KDES, leveraging digital platforms and social media to enhance visibility and outreach.
• Establishes and maintains a positive and supportive working relationship with co-workers and supervisors.
• Demonstrates a genuine commitment to belonging in the workplace and participates in activities and workshops to foster continuous learning.
• Serves as a mandatory reporter under Title IX; and commits to completing Title IX training and other compliance requirements on an annual basis.
• Prioritizes safety in the workplace as a collective responsibility for the well-being of employees and fosters a culture of safety that is integral to our success, including strict adherence to safety procedures and protocols, as well as promptly reporting any safety hazards or incidents.
• Performs related and other duties as needed.

Required Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

Other Important Information

Gallaudet University is an equal opportunity employer / educational institution and does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, national origin, religion, age, hearing status, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, source of income, place of business or residence, pregnancy, childbirth, or any other unlawful basis.