Director of Nonpublic Schools, Education, and Clinical Services

Description

EMBRACING ABILITIES. EXPANDING POSSIBILITIES.Easterseals Academy is a non-public, therapeutic day school for students with autism spectrum disorder, emotional disability, developmental delay, or intellectual disability. School districts refer students to Easterseals Academy, where our schools provide a therapeutic school environment that works to empower each student to improve academic performance, increase social and vocational skills, develop communication skills, and foster the acquisition of functional life skills to achieve their greatest level of independence. Easterseals Academy has three campuses, located in Chicago, Machesney Park, and Tinley Park. 

For more information about our organization, please visit us online at www.eastersealschicago.org.

The Director of Nonpublic Schools, Education, and Clinical Services is responsible for the quality, compliance, and overall success of the three Easterseals Academy campuses. The Director supervises and supports the Easterseals Academy principals in their roles as instructional leaders who coach and support teachers to create dynamic learning environments that promote increased independence for all students. Additionally, the Director oversees and supports a cross-Academy leadership team that provides expertise in instruction and behavioral support designed to advance educator practices across the Academy campuses to foster student progress and independence. 

This position is headquartered at Easterseals Chicago Location at 1939 W 13th Street, Chicago, IL 60608, but is also expected to be onsite at the Tinley Park Academy and Machesney Park Academy a minimum of once a week. 

MAJOR FUNCTIONS/ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Academy Leadership: 

• Directly supervise school principals and the cross-Academy leadership team.
• Collaborate with school principals and the cross-Academy leadership team, through individual and team meetings, to refine the Academy’s vision, goals, and strategies in support of staff effectiveness and student independence.
• Promote an Academy-wide culture of data-informed decision-making by modeling effective data use and supporting leaders and educators in applying performance information to improve student and organizational outcomes.
• Ensure all campuses comply with ISBE and local school district requirements, including safety, documentation, notification, and other regulatory standards; oversee consistent implementation of new requirements through clear processes and training for staff.
• Ensure Academy staff understand and adhere to agency policies and procedures, including newly adopted requirements.
• Ensure day-to-day Academy stability by guiding, advising, and supporting school and cross-Academy leadership teams.
• Represent Easterseals in external Academy-related meetings with school districts, ISBE, and other partners to advance program visibility and growth.
• Partner with the Vice President of Education and Innovation and the Board Program Committee to provide program updates and respond to inquiries.
• Align processes and policies across schools to support a shared Academy vision, goals, and identity.
• Proactively monitor and respond to key quality indicators, including vacancies, incident reporting, academic performance, training compliance, IEP compliance, and contract compliance; provide monthly reporting to agency leadership.
• Promote a culture of collaboration within and across teams; data-informed, student-centered decision-making; and timely problem-solving. 
• Provide clear leadership on critical staff and student issues.
• Partner with school leadership teams to develop and implement corrective action plans when practices fall below quality standards.
• Engage internal and external partners to set annual quality and growth goals, monitor progress, and report results.

Strategic Academy Growth: 

• Continuously review enrollment and staffing levels to ensure the Academy is meeting student needs, fulfilling its mission, and operating within its budget.
• Monitor referral and enrollment trends, ensure timely and appropriate referral responses, and report enrollment data and trends to agency leadership monthly.
• Identify, pilot, and evaluate evidence-based practices that strengthen instruction and student outcomes.
• Participate in annual budget process by setting realistic enrollment targets and associated staffing levels, and ensuring budget allocations are aligned with strategic priorities.
• Ensure the financial and operational health of the Academy by engaging in monthly reviews of Academy financial results.
• Build awareness of Easterseals Academy as an option that helps support identified community needs.

Compliance and Operations:  

• Leverage technology to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of school operations.
• Oversee principals’ completion of all ISBE renewal, reporting, and compliance processes, and ensure Academy-wide adherence to state regulations, notification requirements, and RTO mandates.
• Conduct program audits, at a minimum quarterly, to monitor compliance with state rules and regulations and identify necessary improvements; report findings to principals and senior leadership.
• Partner with Finance and Operations to ensure campus compliance with vendor and contractor requirements.
• Ensure Academy data and documentation, including monthly billing support, are accurate, timely, and accessible to internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure personnel and training requirements are met; support recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and personnel-related data management to minimize vacancy impact and address school-level needs.
• Provide ongoing supervision and annual evaluations for Academy principals and cross-Academy leadership team members; provide consistent feedback, leadership development support, and structured performance improvement plans as needed.
• Partner with principals and cross-Academy leadership team to develop an annual staff training calendar that supports compliance, professional growth, and evidence based-practice implementation.

Requirements

Education/Certification: 

• Master’s degree in Education or related field.
• Principal endorsement strongly preferred.
• Director of Special Education endorsement strongly preferred.

Experience Required: 

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in a nonpublic school or traditional district setting that demonstrates increasing levels of responsibility.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience coaching and mentoring school-based team members, including principals.
• Demonstrated expertise supporting students with significant disability-related support needs.

Vehicle/Transportation Requirements:

• Valid driver’s license.
• Auto insurance. 
• Reliable vehicle.

Skills/Abilities/Mindsets: 

• Ability to develop leaders, build collaborative teams, and coach staff to support professional growth.
• Ability to articulate a clear vision, build stakeholder consensus, and promote high expectations for student success across schools.
• Ability to build and sustain trusting relationships with staff, students, families, and internal and external partners while fostering a school community grounded in trust, respect, and responsibility.
• Knowledge of research-based and evidence-based practices, with the ability to identify, implement, and share best practices and innovative solutions.
• Commitment to continuous learning, professional growth, and the ongoing development of those around you.
• A strong belief in every student’s capacity to achieve at high levels.
• Ability to make and clearly communicate difficult decisions, maintain professionalism under pressure, and exercise sound judgment in interactions with staff, students, families, and partners.
• Ability to analyze and use data to guide decision-making and promote positive school, staff, and student outcomes.
• Ability to interpret complex information and communicate strategically to advance Academy goals.
• Ability to balance competing priorities while maintaining commitment to and focus on Academy goals. 
• At least intermediate-level skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams. 
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.

ADA: Easterseals will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disability Act of 1990. Unless exempted by the Americans with Disabilities Act, all persons hired for this position are required to possess the ability to perform the physical tasks necessary to treat clients, i.e., bending, floor-sitting, etc., as well as to have the ability to lift up to 50 pounds frequently.