FirstLine Schools: DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
Reports to: Executive Director of Teaching & Learning

FLSA Status: Exempt  Position Type: Full Time

Position Summary:

The Director of Student Support Services (DSSS) is responsible for supporting the development and implementation of high-quality student support services across all FirstLine Schools campuses. These services include academic and behavioral Response to Intervention (RTI), support for English Language Learners and their families, oversight of Section 504 services, nursing and health compliance, mental health coordination, and network-wide test administration.

Working in partnership with school-based RTI Coordinators, school leaders, network leaders, and student support personnel, the DSSS ensures quality provision across a range of service streams. Most services are delivered by team members supervised by others; the DSSS works with these colleagues to maintain high-quality outcomes across the network while directly managing a small number of key team members.

Position Responsibilities:

Overall Vision & Leadership

• Develops and implements systems to identify students at risk for poor learning outcomes; ensures appropriate academic and behavioral interventions are in place across schools through collaboration with school-based RTI Coordinators and network leaders
• Partners with network and school content leads, school-based RTI Coordinators, and tutoring providers to train staff, identify students, evaluate programming, and track outcomes for students receiving academic and behavioral interventions
• Ensures collaborative planning and professional development between RTI Coordinators, their school-based teams, and related service providers
• Serves as a liaison between external student support partners and FirstLine’s mental health services team, including social workers and counselors
• Works with school nurses to ensure quality health service provision at each campus, including direct nursing services, support for students with special needs, and compliance with regulations governing nursing services in schools (screenings, immunizations, medication administration, and CPR/First Aid/AED training)
• Coordinates with external Medicaid reimbursement partners to ensure service providers, school-based teams, and the Finance team maximize all available Medicaid reimbursement

Leadership & Programming Support Across Student Support Services

• Assists school leaders with performance evaluations of specialist personnel, including nurses, social workers and counselors, speech therapists, and RTI Coordinators
• Designs and implements professional development for RTI Coordinators, ELL teachers, nurses, and social workers; facilitates ongoing embedding of FirstLine’s network values (Service, Results, Learning, and Collaboration) across all student support service areas

Network-Wide Test Coordination

• Serves as Assistant District Test Coordinator for all state-mandated assessments, ensuring full compliance with LDOE policies and Bulletin 118
• Maintains centralized oversight of testing policies, timelines, communications, and documentation to ensure consistent execution at every school site
• Coordinates with school and network leaders to align on testing administration logistics, priorities, and expectations to maximize student participation and data integrity
• Equips School Test Coordinators with the tools, training, and support needed to ensure strong testing implementation at the school level

Direct Management Responsibilities

• Directly manages the Network Content Lead for Intervention, who implements strategy and systems for intervention programs across the network
• Directly manages the Network Content Lead for ELL, who implements strategy and systems for English Language Learner students
• Manages contracted student support service providers; recruits and selects staff as needed, provides regular performance evaluation feedback, and offers ongoing leadership and support

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required; M.B.A., M.S., M.A., M.Ed., or equivalent preferred (required for Director IV classification)
• Minimum five (5) years of experience in education and/or nonprofit leadership required; demonstrated leadership experience preferred (required for Director IV classification)
• Experience as a school or district test coordinator
• Demonstrated success working with students in an urban, open-admissions school setting
• Strong proficiency using data in decision-making; experience with systems design and continuous improvement
• Proficiency with technology and student information systems
• Passion for improving educational opportunities for urban students and for building a strong, mission-driven organization
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple workstreams in a fast-paced, innovative environment

Desired Qualities & Characteristics:

• Believes in every student’s ability to achieve in a rigorous college or career prep curriculum
• Achieves results based on agreed-upon expectations; takes personal responsibility and follows through on commitments
• Highly detail-oriented; collaborates effectively with a range of stakeholders across school and network
• Shares a commitment to creating great schools in New Orleans
• Models the FirstLine values of Service, Learning, Collaboration, and Results

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to sit, walk, stand, talk, and hear. Light lifting of materials may be required (up to 20 lbs.). Reasonable accommodations may be granted depending on the essential functions of the job.

About FirstLine Schools-

In 1998, FirstLine Schools started the first charter school in New Orleans. FirstLine now operates several (Pre)K–8th grade schools. Our mission is to create and inspire great, open-admissions public schools in New Orleans. Our staff is a diverse and talented group dedicated to our students’ success and to their own growth.

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. FirstLine Schools offers a comprehensive benefits package with a generous 403b plan.

FirstLine Schools provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

How to Apply: Please apply online via: http://www.firstlineschools.org/careers