The mission of Citizens of the World Los Angeles (CWC LA) is to provide a socio-economically, culturally, and racially diverse community of students in Los Angeles with an intellectually challenging, experiential learning environment that develops each student's confidence, potential, and individual responsibility as citizens of the world. CWC schools:

• Service a socioeconomically, culturally, and racially diverse community;
• Develop students’ social and emotional skills to prepare them to become citizens of the world in an ever-changing future; and
• Promote academic rigor through a constructivist, project-based learning approach, to support and develop children’s natural intellectual curiosity

The CWC LA network is growing at a rapid rate and currently enrolls 1,900 students in three high-performing schools:

• CWC Hollywood (opened in September 2010, renewed charter approved in December 2014, currently TK-5th grade);
• CWC Silver Lake (opened in August 2012, renewed charter approved in November 2016, currently TK-8th grade; and
• CWC Mar Vista (opened in August 2013, currently TK-7th grade and growing to 8th grade next year).

CWC LA has a Regional Support Office that supports all CWC LA schools. We work with our network partners at Citizens of the World Charter Schools (CWC Schools), linking the schools in Los Angeles to CWC schools in New York City and Kansas City.

Our core values are embraced by the entire community:

• Excellence: we demand lasting quality
• Diversity: we are better and stronger because of our differences
• Authenticity: we are our true selves in this work, and we are candid
• Community: we care deeply about people. We share and build partnerships. We celebrate, laugh, and seek joy, even in the tough times
• Change: we welcome the unknown, embracing the unexpected and new. We adapt to meet the ever-changing times. We find new ways.

Position Description

The Director of Special Education will lead the special education team at CWC. CWC educators are experienced and innovative educators who are energized by CWC’s unique charter school environment. Educators are expected to implement a high-quality, rigorous and engaging academic program and must have a passion for pedagogical practices grounded in constructivism, project-based learning and the multiple intelligences theory.

The Director of Special Education’s job responsibilities include:

• Overseeing and implementing a comprehensive school-wide Special Education program and monitoring and documenting student progress;
• Monitoring and implementing School’s compliance with student Individual Education Plans (IEPs), maintaining active and up-to-date records;
• Execution of some RSP services, possibly BID services, and serving as the lead RSP teacher among the special education team;
• Supporting and leading the convening of IEP meetings and ensuring their successful execution;
• Serving as the school-based lead for legal and compliance-based projects and requests;
• Ensuring successful execution of all service minutes by both CWC employees and independent contractor service providers;
• Cultivating and maintaining a relationship with the Charter Operated Programs office at LAUSD
• Cultivating and maintaining a relationship with the CWC Regional Director of Special Education
• Supporting and leading the convening of the Student Support (Success) Teams, providing clear agendas, goals, and documentation of each meeting
• Conferencing with teachers, school leaders, other instructional personnel, and external educational agencies to aid in the development of robust, appropriate, educational programming and supports to students who are at risk of failure, not meeting school academic goals, and/or currently being supported by a formal IEP
• Ongoing formal (i.e. Woodcock Johnson IV Tests of Achievement (WCJ IV)) and informal (i.e. core phonics) assessment of student progress and achievement using a variety of means to collect and report on academic data
• Use of data to tailor instruction to meet individual student academic and social needs with a goal of every student performing on grade level or above in all subject areas
• Participation in professional development activities, both internal (led by the principal, lead teachers and visiting experts) and external (visiting other schools, attending conferences, and engaging in best practice sharing with others in the charter school community, etc.)
• Participation as an active member of the community to provide stewardship of the school and adherence to its mission and guiding principles
• Maintaining a high-level of professionalism including meeting deadlines, and commitments to self, students, and the community
• Other duties as necessary

The ideal candidate will have:

• A Bachelor’s degree and California Multiple Subject Credential/Education Specialist Credential
• CLAD or BCLAD
• Successful completion of CBEST exam
• Willingness to serve as the BID and obtain relevant certification (if applicable)
• Minimum of three-five years experience teaching in relevant elementary and/or middle school grades
• Experience working in a socio-economic, racial and culturally diverse classroom setting.
• Ability to effectively mange and instruct both small and large groups of students
• An exhibited ability to work with children in a caring and respectful manner in order to create a joyful, caring classroom environment where instructional time includes community building, conflict resolution, skill-building, and empowering students to be peacemakers and agents for positive social change
• Knowledge of and experience with Welligent and other Special Education related computer programs to document services, notes, write IEP's and run all necessary reports.
• Knowledge of all compliance oriented Special Education timelines, procedures, and processes (generally and within LAUSD)
• Proficiency in conducting formal special education assessments and writing associated reports
• Experience managing a group of professionals with successful results
• Fluency in a second language (ideally Spanish) is preferred.

Skills/Traits

The Director of Special Education will have:

• Alignment with the philosophy, mission and core values of the organization
• An exhibited ability to work with children and adults in order to create a joyful, caring environment
• Belief and willingness to ensure that all students can learn and achieve at high levels
• Ability to handle confidential information discretely and professionally
• Excellent time-management skills
• An entrepreneurial spirit and capacity to manage complex tasks with competing priorities
• Humility and self-reflection as a life-long learner
• Ability to manage the ambiguity and multiple priorities inherent in an entrepreneurial environment;
• Ability to communicate and interact effectively with multiple constituents

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary Range: $85,000-$100,000
• Generous time off (7 annual sick days, 3 annual personal days, 20 annual accrued vacation days, winter holidays org-wide shutdown, plus ~15 additional holidays)
• 403b retirement plan with 3% employer match
• Generous employer contributions toward healthcare premiums for employees and dependents
• A variety of medical HMO and PPO plan options (Anthem, HealthNet, Kaiser, United Healthcare)
• $50,000 employer-paid life insurance policy
• Voluntary life, accident, and critical illness insurances
• Voluntary health and dependent care flex spending accounts (FSA)

CWC LA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and, as an organization serving a diverse group of students, works to reflect this diversity in our staff as well.