The Schools. The Background.​

​

The Travis Hill Schools provide students detained at the Orleans Justice Center (OJC) and the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center (JJIC) with a high quality education, rooted in restorative, trauma-informed care, a curricular and instructional design that emphasizes relevance, meaning and engagement, and an approach to learning centered around relationships, trust and mutual accountability. The Travis Hill Schools also provide significant transition support for students when they return home by offering support with school placement and retention, workforce development, and ongoing, day-to-day case management.

 

We are currently looking for a small number of teachers to join our staff, working one or both campuses.  We have openings for teachers in English, Social Studies, Science and Special Education.

 

The Travis Hill Schools are run by the Center for Educational Excellence in Alternative Settings (CEEAS). CEEAS is a nonprofit organization devoted to improving schools in juvenile and criminal justice facilities across the nation. The first Travis School opened in August 2016 at the Youth Study Center (YSC), which was later named the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center (JJIC).  In late August 2017, we opened the Travis Hill School at the Orleans Justice Center (OJC). Additional information about CEEAS and the Travis Hill Schools is available at our website, www.ceeas.org and https://www.travishillnola.org/. 

 

The School. The Opportunity​.

​

Approximately 40 students are detained at the JJIC on a daily basis.  They range in age from 11 to 17 years old.  All students attend our school located inside of the JJIC.  Nearly 1,500 individuals are held at the OJC.  We operate a full-time school for approximately 70 students between 17 and 21 years old. 

 

Nearly all the students have faced school failure--many did not attend school regularly when they were younger, most have been suspended or expelled at some point, nearly all of them are far behind their peers academically, and 30-40% of them have special education needs. Despite this, they all have hopes and dreams, skills and talents, and family and friends who care for them.

 

Our mission at Travis Hill is to create a transformative learning environment where students held at the JJIC or OJC develop the academic and socio-emotional skills they need to become positive, contributing members of their community when they are released.

​

​

Position Description​

​

The Director of Special Education (Director) is responsible for overseeing the special education programs and services for students with exceptionalities. This role requires a strong leader who can develop and implement effective programs, ensure compliance with state and federal regulations, and provide excellent customer service to students, parents, and staff.  We are looking for a Director who takes the initiative, who has good judgment and is grounded in doing what is right and just. We are looking for someone who is self-reflective and isn’t afraid to ask for help, who is inspirational and creative and who works well with a wide range of people—including students, parents, secure care staff, advocates, and community leaders.

 

The Director will work with the principals, providing directions and training to the School staff, ensuring that we provide robust support for all students, including those with special needs, in line with our School’s values and in compliance with IDEA. This will include screening, reviewing and interpreting assessments, designing educational programs and providing individual and group counseling. The Director will also work closely with facility leadership and line staff to ensure that the institutional climate and behavior management practices at both Centers are appropriate for our students. The Director will take a leadership role in developing and nurturing strong ties with parents, support organizations, special education advocates, and the local school community--particularly to facilitate effective transition planning and placement. This position reports to the Chief Academic Officer

 

​

Primary Responsibilities:

​

Responsibilities will include but not be limited to:

​

• ​Working with the Principals and school staff to create and support school-wide practices designed to support high achievement, mutual accountability, and positive school culture--including a range of classroom and school-wide positive, incentive-based behavior management practices

• Assessing, advising and recommending appropriate interventions for students and supporting all staff in developing improved tools and strategies that meet the needs of all JJIC and OJC School students

• Managing all aspects of our special education programming, including:

  • Directing processes to locate student files and IEPs

  • Reviewing IEPs, assisting IEP teams in determining special education students’ educational and psychological needs, developing appropriate school schedules and programming

  • Monitoring the progress of students with special educational needs and advising staff on strategies to remove barriers to their learning; working with staff to ensure special education support in the classroom is consistent and high-quality

  • Establishing and monitoring the necessary caseloads, procedures, and resources to manage educational and supplemental services to students, in line with student IEPs 

  • Performing psychological evaluations of referred scholars, making observations and writing reports that state the evaluation findings, and providing recommendations for education programs--or working with contracted professionals and OPSB to ensure evaluations and related work is completed 

  • Assisting in compiling manifestation determination reports and functional behavior assessments as needed

  • Providing individual therapeutic work with students and their families

• Creating and nurturing a collegial professional learning community where staff are inspired to continuously improve their skills and stretch the limits of what they have to offer--in service of the students we serve, in what at times may be challenging circumstances

• Coordinating with site-based leadership and direct care staff to ensure that the policies and procedures of the secure-facility staff complement the work of the school, developing integrated behavior management practices and real-time, ongoing communication tools to support school-secure care staff relationships

• Effectively communicating about the work of the School--and responding to information and data requests, particularly regarding our special education practices--to OPSB, LSDE, City Officials, and community partners and stakeholders

• Building positive, lasting relationships with key community partners and stakeholders, including local middle and high school leaders, nonprofit organizations, and colleges and universities

• Building positive, lasting relationships with students and families, as well as, key support networks, including, local attorneys, case management and aftercare staff

​

Essential Competencies:

​

At Travis Hill we are looking for teachers who are committed to developing a set of essential competencies.  These include: 

​

• Preparing and delivering multi-tiered and multi-course instruction. Students may be enrolled in two or more courses during a single class period and teachers are expected to use stations, full and small group instruction, and blended learning tools to facilitate this sort of classroom design.

​

• Developing curriculum that is modular (fits within ~20-day unit cycles) and thematic, incorporates project based learning, and is aligned with Louisiana Student Standards. Our  curriculum and related instructional materials need to be created, saved, and made accessible using a school-wide framework that emphasizes relevance and meaning.

​

• Working collaboratively with members of our student support services team  and special education staff.  Our teachers work with others to modify instructional material, accommodate students’ needs, and support students’ social-emotional development.

​

• Taking on responsibilities that lie outside of your content specialty. In light of student needs, our teachers must be flexible and willing, with professional development and support, to meet students where they are.

• Investing fully in the school’s ongoing efforts to use restorative justice practices. We believe in and use a solutions-focused approach to misbehavior.

​

• Understand that students with significant behavioral, mental health and trauma-related challenges will attend school.  Nearly 50% of the students at Travis Hill have diagnosed special needs; nearly all have experienced significant trauma.  Our aim is for all students to attend school every day.

​

• Meeting basic administrative expectations.  Timeliness, grading, turning in lesson plans, reading and responding to emails and staff communications are essential to the success of our school.

 

 Desired Qualifications and Experiences:

• EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION – Master’s degree. Type A Louisiana teaching certificate. Certification as Supervisor of Instruction or Supervisor of Special Education. Generic certification in Special Education and/or certification in two (2) areas of exceptionality.

• EXPERIENCE – Five years of successful professional school experience, three years of which must have been within the last five years.

• Experience working with displaced or at-risk youth

• Experience in supervising others and program development

• A comprehensive knowledge of the “Individuals with Disabilities Education Act” with multiple years of experience (or similar) leading the special education practice in a school setting

• The ability to multi-task and manage multiple projects

• Experience working with and reporting to multiple stakeholders, supervisory and regulatory entities

• Experience with and a commitment to, working families and other stakeholders, and developing strong partnerships with a wide range of schools, community groups, and government agencies

• Embrace and nurture a school culture that requires all staff to work beyond the traditional school hours and school year to create an environment filled with hope and high expectations, where students will radically improve their academic, employment and social skills

• Possess an unrelenting belief that ALL students can achieve and succeed

​

Salary and Benefits:

Travis Hill NOLA offers staff a competitive salary and benefits package. Our salaries are on par with local schools and youth-serving nonprofit organizations, considering experience and skills. Travis Hill NOLA offers a Simple IRA plan for all staff and provides a 4% employer contribution once staff has worked for one year. Travis Hill NOLA provides health care coverage for all staff and covers approximately 80% of the monthly premiums and 50% for dependents of employees. This is a 12-month, full-time position. Vacation time is primarily aligned with the school calendar and works through the summer with agreed-to time off. Hours may vary from approximately 8:00am - 4:15pm with some evenings and weekends. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

​

Travis Hill NOLA is an equal-opportunity employer.  We believe that a diverse staff is better staff.  Women and persons of color are encouraged to apply to work with us at the Travis Hill Schools.  ​For additional information about Travis Hill NOLA, please visit our website at https://www.travishillnola.org/.