Boston Public Schools seeks a Program Director - Behavioral Health Services (BASAS 9A)

Reports to: Executive Director, SEL Instruction and Support Services

BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW:

The Office of Social Emotional Learning and Wellness (SELWell) is comprised of the following departments: Athletics (ATH), Behavioral Health Services (BHS), Guidance Counseling, Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Instruction and Safe and Welcoming Schools (SAWS), Student Health Services (SHS), Opportunity Youth (OY), Succeed Boston, and Health & Wellness Department (HWD). The mission of SELWell is to build the capacity of schools, while eliminating inequities, to improve the social, emotional, and physical skills and knowledge of all students to support their healthy development, readiness to learn and preparedness for life. To meet this mission, SELWell works across departments to provide an array of multi-tiered supports and services grounded in prevention, intervention, intensive intervention, and crisis/ trauma response to Boston Public Schools (BPS) including: professional development, tiered instructional coaching, assessment & data management, program evaluation support, resource development and selection, and crisis responses. Additional activities the SELWell department is responsible for include technical assistance/ implementation, marketing & communications, family engagement, and community partnership brokering & development.

POSITION SUMMARY AND GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
Under the direction of the Executive Director - SEL Instruction and Support Services, with support from the Senior Director - Behavioral Health Services, the Behavioral Health Services Program Director will work collaboratively with various stakeholders, including schools, district staff, community partners, parents and youth to support the planning, development, and implementation of school psychological services that support instructional personnel in their efforts to identify, understand, and recommend strategies for students with learning and/or adjustment needs related to the specific responsibilities of school psychologists.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:


Program Management

• Coordinate and supervise the development and implementation of school psychological services in compliance with district, state, and federal policies and regulations.
• Facilitate the use of best practices in the delivery of school psychological services.
• Assess student psychological services locally and coordinate with private ?schools and community agencies to ensure appropriate services are being provided.
• Assist in planning activities, and program evaluations of the department.
• Manage assigned duties within budget; Assist in taking timely, appropriate action to ensure expenditures do not exceed revenues.
• Develop work and project plans and chart progress against them.
• Appropriately update supervisor regarding progress towards project goals, and supports needed.
• Develop meeting agendas, facilitate meetings and maintain accurate notes of meetings.

Professional Development Design, Delivery and Continuous Improvement

• Assess professional development needs to inform professional development design and delivery.
• Organize and provide in-person and virtual professional development opportunities (trainings, convenings, and presentations) for school staff, families and community partners.
• Utilize the district structures to evaluate the effectiveness of professional development offerings and use data obtained to support continuous improvement.
• Assess and revise pre-existing trainings and other supports and materials to ensure fidelity and a unified approach.
• Stay current with best practices and research; share information and knowledge with schools through various means.
• Contribute to the development of tools and repositories for school staff access and use.

School Site Technical Assistance

• Build and maintain relationships with school staff, students, families and community partners focused on the creation of a safe, healthy, and sustaining school climate and culture dedicated to eliminating structural opportunity gaps that negatively impact students.
• Provide consultation to school-based Student Support Teams on approaches or concepts such as Multi-tiered Systems of academic and behavioral support for students.

Partner Cultivation and Continuous Engagement

• Communicate and collaborate with supervisors, other departments, team members, and project personnel in planning, implementing, and evaluating all aspects of School Psychological Services.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key personnel and agencies in K-12 schools, post secondary education institutions, community organizations, and
  relevant social service systems, collaborative groups and work groups in order to leverage partnerships, build capacity, and/or connect to resources that meet the needs https://bostonpublicschools.tedk12.com/hire/admin/selectAdminTask.aspxof schools and students.
• Work collaboratively with other relevant district departments (i.e. ASSET, SELWell, Office of Data and Accountability), committees and personnel as needed.
• Support grant writing efforts

Staff Supervision and Support

• Evaluate and supervise a subset of school psychologists. Obtain information from school leaders on progress of the psychologist in meeting goals and objectives.
• Utilize best practice coaching models to work with school psychologists and school staff in team and one-on-one settings; observe and model practice; and provide debrief and feedback sessions focused on continuous improvement of practice.

Records and Data Collection, Analysis and Management

• Coordinate and assess record keeping, including centralized student psychological records and related data.
• Analyze data and identify areas of need (i.e. gaps in services to marginalized sub-groups) to inform training, evaluations, and successful implementation of promising practices.
• Develop and maintain case management systems; Determine mechanisms to ensure services are effectively deployed and monitored using data.
• Provide information for reporting purposes as needed.

Other Duties as Assigned

• Complete other duties as assigned by supervisor.

QUALIFICATION-REQUIRED:

• Master's degree or higher with emphasis in school psychology
• Valid Massachusetts DESE licensure to practice as a school psychologist.
• Five (5) or more years of successful experience as a psychologist in a public school setting.
• Three (3) or more years of experience supervising school psychological services.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully work with diverse groups of people
• Knowledge of legal protections for students with disabilities
• Thorough understanding of child and adolescent development (emotional, social, physical and intellectual)
• Outstanding presentation and facilitation skills with demonstrated ability to deliver professional development
• Proven experience developing curriculum for innovative programming incorporating the best practices in the field
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with a variety
  of diverse stakeholders

• Ability to design, develop and implement programs and tasks autonomously
• Effective organizational, oral and written communication, and planning skills
• Superior interpersonal skills including but not limited to the ability to express disagreement tactfully, sensitively and with cultural insight
• Compassionate and inclusive leader who exhibits effective self care skills as well as the ability to empathize with others in stressful situations
• Knowledge of adult learning theory and social & emotional learning competencies
• Possession of a growth mindset orientation
• Skilled in the use of technology to support effective communications, presentation design and delivery, and data management
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office programs including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, as well as Google Mail, Calendar, Contacts, Drive

QUALIFICATIONS-PREFERRED:

• Bilingual
• 3 plus years teaching experience
• Experience working in an urban school district. Experience working in Boston Public Schools highly preferred
• Valid Massachusetts DESE Administrator licensure (e.g., Supervisor/Director - Pupil Personnel Service)
• 2-3 years of managerial experience, including performance evaluations and coaching of staff
• Experience using spreadsheets, data and creating graphs
• Able to professionally represent department/ office to partners both within and outside of the BPS
• Experience with managing the production of printed material, including brochures, leaflets, flyers, presentations

Location: Boston Latin Academy Complex, 205 Townsend Street Dorchester, MA 02121

Terms: BASAS 9A, 209 days

Please refer to www.bostonpublicschools.org/ohc (under "Employee Benefits and Policies") for more information on salary and compensation. Salaries are listed by Unions and Grade/Step.

The Boston Public Schools, in accordance with its nondiscrimination policies, does not discriminate in its programs, facilities, or employment or educational opportunities on the basis of race, color, age, criminal record (inquiries only), disability, homelessness, sex/gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, genetics or military status, and does not tolerate any form of retaliation, or bias-based intimidation, threat or harassment that demeans individuals' dignity or interferes with their ability to learn or work.