Director of Ellipsis and Johnston Therapeutic Program

Johnston Community School District•Johnston, IA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Ellipsis and Johnston Therapeutic Program (JTP) provides leadership, supervision, and on-site administration of two specialized district educational programs serving students with intensive social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs. Ellipsis operates as a Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP) in partnership with the district. The Director serves as the district lead for the educational component of the Ellipsis partnership, with authority over instruction, staffing, educational compliance, and student transitions, while maintaining a clear distinction from clinical and residential operations. The Johnston Therapeutic Program provides K–8 therapeutic learning classrooms focused on social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health (SEBMH) skill development integrated with academic instruction. Across both programs, the Director ensures high-quality instruction; compliance with state and federal regulations; effective staffing and fiscal oversight; and coordinated transitions that support educational continuity and reintegration. The role requires strong collaboration with families, home schools, district departments, and community partners to ensure students remain engaged in learning and on track for long-term success. TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 220 days

Requirements

Master’s degree in School Administration required
Valid Professional Administrator License with appropriate endorsement required (PK-8 Principal and 5-12 Principal; or PK-12 Principal/PK-12 Special Education Supervisor)
Valid Evaluator Approval certification
Minimum of four years of successful teaching experience required
Minimum of two years of related successful administrative experience required
Knowledge of Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health (SEBMH) frameworks, trauma-informed practices, and the intersection of comprehensive education with residential treatment and transition
Knowledge of IEP development, implementation, documentation, and compliance requirements
Satisfactory adherence to the Iowa Standards for School Leaders
Ability to build trust and maintain positive relationships with families, staff, and community partners
Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment
Ability to adapt programs and practices to meet diverse and evolving student needs
Effective supervision, coaching, and evaluation skills
Clear, professional written and verbal communication skills
Excellent conflict resolution, problem-solving and organizational skills

Nice To Haves

Experience with residential education, alternative settings, or therapeutic programs preferred
Experience with interagency or multi-system collaboration preferred

Responsibilities

Maintain high standards of student conduct, attendance, and engagement; enforce discipline in accordance with district policy and state law.
Facilitate regular communication and collaboration with families, home schools, district leadership, and external agencies regarding student progress, placement, and transitions.
Oversight of student referral, placement, transition, and reintegration processes, including observation, planning, and monitoring.
Demonstrate awareness of and responsiveness to diverse student populations and at-risk student needs.
Collaborate with the Director of SEBMH and the Director of Special Education to review student needs, program capacity, continuum of services, and staffing.
Ensure fidelity of program implementation through data collection, observations, and established review processes; provide professional learning and modeling to home school staff as appropriate.
Evaluate school-based programs, including student placement, staffing, and alignment with special education and accommodation programming.
Participate in IEP meetings, including documentation for prior written notices, maintaining IEP checklists, and managing caseload determination records.
Oversee student accounting systems, including registration, scheduling, attendance, grading, and records.
Coordinate with Student Transportation of America regarding student transportation services and concerns.
Collaborate with the Director of Student Services to support students experiencing homelessness, foster care placement, or other external circumstances.
Lead and support effective curriculum, instruction, and learning across both programs.
Collaborate with the Teaching and Learning Department and Special Education Department to ensure access to district curriculum, assessments, and state requirements.
Monitor and evaluate instructional practices, curricular offerings, and assessment data to guide continuous improvement.
Facilitate and support professional learning, including PLCs and Action Cards, aligned to district and building improvement goals.
Lead program staff and home school teams in maintaining academic expectations for students enrolled in therapeutic programming.
Monitor student progress through a social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health lens.
Align program implementation with district vision, goals, and strategic priorities.
Ensure educational continuity, credit alignment, and academic progress for students across placements and during transitions back to comprehensive buildings.
Serve as lead for staff recruitment, hiring, and retention.
Evaluate staff in compliance with state law, district policy, and negotiated agreements.
Provide ongoing coaching and actionable feedback to support continuous staff improvement.
Collect and analyze student enrollment data used to determine staffing allocations.
Manage daily staff absences and assist with coordination of substitute coverage.
Workforce development related to trauma-informed practice.
Review, approve, and authorize budget expenditures, student records, inventories, building use, and program-related activities.
Develop and manage program budgets, including instructional supplies, equipment repair, and capital outlay.
Monitor daily staffing needs and respond to teacher and associate absences or emergencies.
Prepare and submit required building-level, district-level, and state reports.
Participate in district safety team meetings and ensure implementation of safety protocols within programs.
Collaborate with the Director of Buildings and Grounds regarding facility maintenance, upgrades, and projects.
Establish and maintain positive relationships with students, families, staff, and community partners.
Foster and maintain interagency collaboration and provide consultation to building administrators, districts of residence, AEAs, and community partners.
Communicate progress on school improvement goals to stakeholders, including summary reports to the Board of Education.
Maintain high visibility and accessibility within the school and community.
Resolve concerns and conflicts involving students, staff, or families in a timely and professional manner.
Promote shared responsibility among families and community members for student success.
Serve on district-level committees and attend meetings as required.
Facilitate program improvement through data-driven planning, implementation, and evaluation.
Collaborate with the district leadership team to support district-wide and program-specific professional learning.
Complete all required training.
Perform other job-related duties, as assigned.