Autism Learning Center Director

POSITION SUMMARY 

Provides day to day management of and Leadership to the ALC interdisciplinary team to develop and provide a quality preschool & grade school educational experience to meet the needs of each student diagnosed with Autism or on the Autism Spectrum. Programming incorporates individualized, specific educational, behavioral and therapeutic strategies guided by the student’s IEP requirements, ODE Academic Content Standards, the program’s credentialing with the ODE ASP, and aligned with the mission and vision of Abilities First.  Establishes and maintains strong, professional working relationships with a wide range of school districts and district special education personnel. Works with the Executive Director to develop and implement strategies to strengthen and expand AFF educational, developmental, therapeutic and behavioral services to children with autism as a targeted area of growth for the agency.  Ensures ongoing employee development, through education, experience, coaching, mentoring, supervision and training.  Develops programs and activities that serve the best interest of the agency, center, children, families and community stakeholders; includes promoting teamwork at all levels, internal & external, and the program’s image and reputation. Participates in and leads strategic initiatives and visioning of the AFF Leadership Team to strengthen and build the contribution of AFF to children and families in the community, including cross functional teamwork with internal and external stakeholders.  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Provides day to day and strategic leadership of all employees in the ALC, collaborating with agency leadership and other programs to ensure a high quality, individualized program for students and support of families and caregivers. Includes but is not limited to all required ODE, AFF and funder/ donor reports, budgets and grants.  
• Develops, facilitates and maintains effective working relationships with all internal and external stakeholders including parents/ caregivers, school district personnel, other team members/ agency employees in order to promote open communication, trust and family engagement throughout the center and agency. 
• Ensures safety and security of children and staff at all times by following Abilities First policies/procedures, Federal and State Education and Department of Health regulations. 
• Collaborates with agency program and work area leadership to increase enrollments in all programs, community awareness and inclusion, increase and promote the impact of AFF work within the community and with children, families and other community partners.  
• Develops the school year and summer-school calendars ensuring school-year compliance with Ohio Revised Code 3313.48 and applicable ODE and ASP Operating Standards. 
• Leads ALC staff in developing and implementing specialized educational, social, behavioral, communication and language, play, gross motor, fine motor, sensory and self-care goals for each child that support IEP/IFSP goals and are based on knowledge of best practice in the field. 
• Leads ALC staff in developing the format and schedule for the program; ensures that appropriate lesson plans & activities are documented, including regular inclusion opportunities with AF ECLC and periodic community activities.   
• Ensures that the environment is orderly, clean, attractive and appropriate to promote students’ optimal learning and that the program has all needed materials, supplies and equipment.  
• Oversees the staff in tracking and monitoring students’ specific behaviors to obtain input for the BCBA. Monitors the effectiveness of the ABA strategies developed by the BCBA in consultation with the team, the consistent implementation of the strategies  and provides feedback to the BCBA on outcomes for ongoing student management and specific staff training needs. 
• Supervises staff and volunteers, providing coaching and training as necessary; consults with BCBA, therapists, Executive Director, and other professionals as needed to promote appropriate practical learning and ensure that the team operates effectively and efficiently. 
• Ensures the provision of regular home or community visitation by staff and other personnel as appropriate to Preschool students to provide family support and promote engagement and carryover of strategies into the home and community and to facilitate successful transition into local school districts. 
• Coordinates routinely with each member of the interdisciplinary team to ensure that communications provided to the parents and other appropriate personnel about programming goals, classroom activities, progress, strategies used, and specific concerns  
• are accurate and consistent with the team’s subjective and objective findings.  
• Oversees and facilitates routine or as needed meetings; including with individual parents, parent-teacher conferences, parent engagement events, pre-IEP/IFSP update meetings with team, and IEP, ETR, pre-transition and transition meetings with local school district personnel. May designate the Family Advocate or one of the teaching staff to attend in her/his absence.  
• Coordinates with the Family Advocate to ensure provision of information about local school district enrollment for special education preschool services, the ALC, ASP, Abilities First services and observation opportunities to referrers, local special education personnel and potential customers.  
• Completes all paperwork as required by Pediatric Therapies, local school districts, and ODE ASP including maintaining accurate written records of attendance, observations and behavioral tracking data, subjective & objective assessments, developmental information and progress towards goals for each child in class, and the compilation and submission of quarterly IEP progress note updates as required by law.  
• Leads the ALC team in the development of program policies, processes and in its ongoing operation; keeps Executive Director informed about all aspects of ALC, providing written updates and reports as needed. 
• Attends in-services and seminars for professional growth and presents the information as appropriate. Stays abreast of developments in Special Education, Early Childhood Education, education and management of children with Autism, and promoting best practice in all programmatic initiatives. 
• Leads and/or participates in meetings, committees and agency events to promote continuous improvement and Abilities First community image including Pediatric Therapy team and ALC program team meetings and committees. 
• Performs other duties deemed necessary by the Executive Director. 

JOB SPECIFICATIONS:  Competencies 

• Attentive to detail, excellent problem solving and decision making skills, service oriented, sound working knowledge of licensing ODE/ ASP guidelines, empathetic, trustworthy, ability to establish and maintain cooperative relationships with other professionals, ability to encourage and inspire employees, highly diplomatic & respectful, flexible with work schedule and comfortable working collaboratively as well as independently.    
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, use of email and Internet. Familiar with a data-base. Understands and speaks English fluently.  Flexibility with hours worked and ability to move freely at all levels within classroom and playground settings; lift and position children weighing up to sixty (60) pounds. 
• Ability to provide support and direction to employees and colleagues in stressful situations, modeling behaviors that de-escalate confrontation or stress, self-motivated, lifelong learner, highly ethical.  
• Desires to be a participating member of an organization which values employee involvement and diversity. 

FORMAL EDUCATION/TRAINING 

•  A Bachelor’s degree in Special Education, Early Childhood Education, or relevant degree 
• Experience working with preschool through 2^nd grade children, and children with Autism essential 
• Minimum of one to five years of experience in a leadership role 
• Maintains appropriate ODE licensure requirements 

CERTIFICATION, REGISTRATION, LICENSURE, VACCINATIONS  

Valid driver’s license, proof of insurance and ability to transport clients in agency vans (per regulatory and agency policy stipulations) required.  *Covid-19 vaccination preferred 

JOB REQUIREMENTS 

Maintains appropriate ODE licensure requirements.  

Must be able to move freely and quickly around the physical environment, including on and off the floor; be physically able to assist children with toilet training and use appropriate positioning with children up to sixty (60) pounds with assistance if necessary, to avoid injury to child, self or others.  Desires to be a participating member of an organization which values employee involvement and diversity.