Special Populations Manager

Our Commitment: Amber Charter Schools understands specific groups are subject to marginalization. We believe these powerful groups should be centered in our community and are highly encouraged to apply. We are an Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation/affectional preference, gender (including gender nonconformity, status as a transgender or transsexual individual, and gender identity or expression), sexual and reproductive health decisions, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, citizenship, age, familial status, partnership status, caregiver status, pregnancy status, uniformed service, military and veteran status, employment status, disability, political affiliation, height, weight or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law, rule or regulation. Position Summary The Special Populations Manager plays a vital role at Kingsbridge Elementary School. Reporting to the Principal, this leader serves as the primary point of contact for special populations compliance, including Students with Disabilities, English Language Learners, students with 504 plans, at-risk students, and Title I reading services. The Special Populations Manager supervises the school's student support staff, ensures every student receives the services and supports they are entitled to, partners with families, and maintains the systems that keep the school in compliance and drive successful outcomes for all learners. Essential Responsibilities Special Populations Compliance: - Serves as the primary point of contact and NYC DOE CSE/external agency liaison for all compliance matters related to Students with Disabilities (SWD/IEP), English Language Learners (ELL/ENL), 504s, at-risk students, and Title I reading services, including attending IEP meetings and managing the school's 504 process. - Ensures all students receive the mandated services in their IEPs, 504 plans, and ENL plans, and monitors providers' adherence to service schedules, timelines, and documentation requirements. - Oversees ELL identification (HLQ, NYSITELL), annual NYSESLAT administration, and CR Part 154 service requirements for ELLs and former ELLs; maintains ELL tracking systems and submits all required ENL reporting on time. - Maintains complete compliance records (evaluations, services, family communications, progress monitoring) and reports special population progress to school and network leadership. Supervision & Intervention - Coaches the ENL teacher(s), special education teachers/SETSS providers, reading/Title I interventionists, paraprofessionals, and supervises academic tutors: builds schedules, caseloads, and push-in/pull-out assignments; conducts check-ins and observations; and contributes to performance evaluations with the Principal. - Onboards and trains support staff on compliance and documentation, reviews service logs to close gaps, and leads professional development on tiered intervention. - Leads and monitors special populations programming, including ICT (Integrated Co-Teaching). - Tracks student progress across RTI tiers, provides data to relevant teams, maintains special population rosters and trackers, and coordinates testing accommodations for all assessments (NYSTP, NYSESLAT, iReady, ARA, etc.). Families & Behavioral Supports - Serves as the primary liaison for families navigating special education, ELL services, and intervention, explaining referrals, evaluations, annual IEP/504 meetings, re-evaluations, and parental rights under IDEA. - Facilitates parent workshops and required ELL family meetings, and coordinates translation and interpretation. - Reviews disciplinary actions involving students with disabilities, coordinates and participates in manifestation determination reviews (MDRs), and oversees FBAs and BIPs. School Operations & General Responsibilities - Serves on the campus instructional leadership team; supports arrival, dismissal, lunch, and recess supervision; contributes to extended learning (e.g., tutoring, summer programming); and supports network reporting and Shared Support Team (SST) initiatives as needed. - Perform other duties as assigned. Minimum Experience and Qualifications: - Bachelor's degree - New York State certification in Students with Disabilities - 3 years of experience in special education, compliance coordination, or student services in a K–12 school setting - Working knowledge of IEP, Section 504, ENL/ELL (CR Part 154), and RTI requirements, including maintaining compliance documentation and reporting to external agencies - Strong proficiency with student information systems (e.g., PowerSchool), assessment platforms (e.g., iReady and Google Suite / Microsoft Office. - Ability to communicate clearly with diverse constituencies, including administrators, teachers, families, and external agencies - Completion and clearance of pre-employment Fingerprinting and Reference check process. - Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States and must not require employer sponsorship for employment visa status, either now or in the future. Amber Charter Schools does not provide employment visa sponsorship. - Perform other duties as assigned. Preferred Experience and Qualifications: - Master's degree in special education or a related field. - Experience supervising, coaching, or leading adults. - Experience with ELL identification and assessment (HLQ, NYSITELL, NYSESLAT). - Spanish-speaking strongly preferred Amber’s Expectations: - Regular attendance and punctuality. - Maintain a professional appearance. - Organizational fit for Amber culture, that is, exhibit the Amber Traits of Achievement, Community, Responsibility, Honesty, and Respect. - Experience collaborating across multiple school campuses to foster continuity in best practices. - Familiarity with NYC DOE compliance requirements and charter school regulatory environment. - Experience facilitating student support team meetings. - Experience manipulating large datasets and producing clear, actionable data reports. - Knowledge of NYS learning standards and high-quality K–8 curriculum programs. Equipment: - Laptop, Promethean board, classroom, and office equipment, provided by Amber Charter Schools Work Schedule - 12-month work schedule - 8 am - 4 pm - There may be occasional opportunities to complete work off-site if this is conducive to the task and needs of the school-building at the discretion of the Principal. Work Environment/Physical Effort: Regularly required to sit, stand for long periods of time, walk, climb stairs, speak loudly and clearly, visually observe, hear, operate a computer, and other classroom, school, and office equipment, reach with hands and arms, bend down, and must occasionally lift, move, and/or support up to 20 pounds. Work is being performed in a traditional multi-floor school environment with limited to no elevator access. Compensation: Amber Charter Schools strictly follow a salary schedule for each role to ensure our continued commitment towards pay equity. The expected salary range for this role is $87,000- $92,298, depending on verified relevant work experience, highest level of completed education, and required certifications and/or licenses for the role. This is an exempt position. Signing Bonus: This position has been designated by Amber Charter Schools as a critical compliance role. As such, the selected candidate is eligible for a one-time signing bonus of $5,000, less applicable tax withholdings, and payable in accordance with our signing bonus process. Designation of a position as eligible for a signing bonus, and the amount of any such bonus, is determined on a case-by-case basis by network leadership based on the compliance-critical nature of the role and is not a standard benefit applicable to all positions. Who We Are: In addition to Amber’s competitive salaries, Amber offers opportunities for supplemental compensation, an excellent benefits package starting on day 1, including medical plans averaging a $55 employee contribution monthly for single coverage (with dependent options available and averaging $92-$124 per month), dental & vision coverage, a 403(b) retirement savings plan with an organization-paid contribution after 1-year, various supplemental benefit options such as life insurance, short-term and long-term disability coverage, pre-tax commuter & transit benefits and flexible spending/health reimbursement accounts, longevity and referral bonuses, generous paid time off, access to a federal student loan debt reduction program, professional development and a friendly work environment.