Assistant Director – SHS

Summary: The Assistant Director at Soaring Heights School is responsible for overseeing all aspects of school operations related to the employee and student experience. This role works in close coordination and collaboration with the Regional Director of Operations to ensure high-quality educational services and operational excellence.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
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Oversee all operations of Soaring Heights School, ensuring compliance with operating policies, procedures, and safeguards required by Pyramid Healthcare and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
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Manage school operations with financial prudence, meeting yearly targets for revenue and expenses.
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Collaborate with the Regional Director of Operations to develop and maintain referral relationships for student enrollment.
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Lead and supervise facility staff, including Teacher Supervisor, Clinical Specialist, and Behavior Specialist, providing guidance and mentorship on job responsibilities.
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Ensure adherence to Special Education programming standards, including compliance with PDE guidelines and student IEPs.
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Ensure timely completion and submission of licensing and renewal documentation to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), in collaboration with the Regional Director of Operations.
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Monitor safety standards and policies to maintain a safe and supportive learning environment for students and staff.
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Review and provide feedback on IEPs, participate in IEP meetings, and ensure staff follow mandated reporting timelines and safety processes.
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Manage and guide staff meetings, supervision sessions, and other necessary team gatherings.
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Serve as the primary liaison for communication with families and conduct school tours for prospective students, families, and professionals.
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Audit new student referrals and initial intakes to ensure proper placement and services.
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Collaborate with Regional Ops to build and maintain external relationships with school districts, referral sources, and community partners.
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Foster a positive, open communication culture among staff and maintain appropriate professional boundaries with all personnel.
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Participate in strategic planning, financial reviews, and operational meetings to align school goals with broader organizational objectives.
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Participate in hiring processes, interviewing, and onboarding new staff as needed.
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Must exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality with regard to all company information.
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Completion of all required trainings as designated by the company and accreditation/licensing entities.
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Other duties as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibilities
This role is responsible for directly supervising the facility leadership team, teachers and support staff at the school.
Required Qualifications
Education, Licensure, & Experience
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Special Education Teacher Certification or Principal Certification required.
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Master’s degree preferred.
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A minimum of 3 years of experience in the field of education, with a focus on special education or school leadership.
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Previous leadership experience preferred.
Job Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
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Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with staff, families, external partners, and regulatory agencies.
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Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, including the ability to mentor and guide staff while fostering a positive and open communication culture.
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Sound clinical and operational judgment, with the ability to evaluate and respond appropriately to crisis situations, risk factors, and safety concerns.
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Expertise in analyzing data, including student referrals, IEPs, and performance metrics, to inform decision-making and improve school operations.
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In-depth knowledge of federal, state, and local special education regulations, as well as compliance standards set by accrediting and licensing bodies.
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Strong problem-solving abilities, with experience in developing and implementing solutions to improve operational efficiency, student outcomes, and staff performance.
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Proven ability to manage financial and operational targets, balancing resources to meet school goals and objectives.
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Familiarity with safety and reporting protocols, including mandated child protection reporting, and ensuring staff compliance with these procedures.
Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to talk or hear. The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, climb stairs, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit, stoop, twist, kneel, or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift up to 50 pounds and carry up to 25 pounds. The employee must seldom carry up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet & indoors. This position will require local travel. This position will be scheduled based on operational need & will be required to provide own transportation. Incumbent may be exposed to virus, disease, and/or infection from clients in the work environment. Incumbent may be exposed to traumatic situations (i.e. psychiatric).