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Department: The Partnership for People with Disabilities (PPD)

Duties & Responsibilities:

At VCU, we provide UNcommon learning, research, creativity, service and discovery — the hallmarks of the VCU experience. A premier, urban, public research university nationally recognized as one of the best employers. VCU is a great place to work. It is a place of opportunity, where your success is supported and your career can thrive. VCU offers employees a generous leave package, career paths for advancement, competitive pay, and an opportunity to do mission-driven work.

The Partnership for People with Disabilities was founded in 1985 to build a world where all people can live, learn, work, and play together. We’re based at Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Education, serving as Virginia’s only University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities or UCEDD (www.vcu.edu/partnership).

We are seeking a dynamic candidate to serve as a Virginia Tiered Systems of Support (VTSS) Systems Coach who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. At VCU, we believe different perspectives and expertise enhance possibilities and solutions. This philosophy drives our recruitment process, so we welcome applicants who will contribute to a community of faculty, staff, and students.  This position will be open rank with an anticipated slotting of Sr. Education Specialist 2 Job Code: 14235.

In concert with states and territories implementing the multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), MTSS aligns academics, behavior, and social-emotional wellness into a single decision-making framework to establish the supports needed for schools to be effective learning environments for all students. VTSS staff partner with school divisions throughout the Commonwealth to support the successful implementation of the framework. MTSS is a data-driven decision-making framework for establishing the academic, behavioral and social-emotional supports needed for a school to be an effective learning environment for all students. This systemic approach allows divisions, schools, and communities to provide multiple levels of supports to students in a more effective and efficient, clearly defined process.

Position Responsibilities:
- Collaborate on workgroups and/or training teams as needed in the development, revision, and enhancement of the VTSS training scope and sequence for divisions and school-level training, including in-person and on- line formats.

- Participate in vetting the content of professional development developed by VTSS training teams.

-  Provide support to assigned VTSS divisions and schools in the implementation of evidence-based literacy, mathematics, Response to Intervention (RtI) and/or Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). Systems Coaches may be assigned divisions and schools across the Commonwealth (i.e., Regions, 1-8).

- Provide support to build the capacity of division leadership teams to implement and sustain division-wide implementation of MTSS, which includes building internal coaching capacity at the school level.

- Work with VTSS and VDOE staff to develop and plan statewide and regional training sessions for VTSS divisions and schools by: A) Using organizational processes and facilitative skills to help school divisions successfully navigate through the stages of implementation as described by the National Implementation Research Network (NIRN). B) Provide coaching and technical assistance (e.g., face-to-face, virtual, hybrid) to assigned VTSS divisions and schools to support the understanding and application of content acquired during training. C) Consult with VTSS divisions and schools in the use of evidence-based practices that support student academic achievement, behavior and/or systems change, effective use of data- based decision-making, and establishing necessary system supports. D) Meet with assigned school divisions a minimum of once a month, contact school divisions via telephone/e-mail a minimum of twice a month, and keep an accurate record of all training and technical assistance provided to school divisions and schools. E) Reinforce VTSS common vocabulary, background knowledge and experience, and the importance of building collaborative partnerships. F) Build collaborative partnerships with division’s administration and staff. G) Train school and school division staff on the MTSS process, including program evaluation protocols.

- Write documents for the dissemination of MTSS, as well as the on-going funding of the project through grants. Support divisions in the implementation of Virginia's MTSS Core Components and Features. Facilitate the use of fidelity measures and other evaluation tools at all levels to guide implementation efforts. Provide service to VTSS, Partnership, and/or SOE on committees and work groups as requested. Providing service to VDOE and other state partners as requested.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

- Advanced degree (Master’s) in Education, Psychology, Social Work, Counseling, Mental Health, or related field.

- Current or past qualifying experience with Postgraduate Teaching or Pupil Personnel, or have a professional license with endorsements in special education, educational leadership, school psychology, school counseling, or school social work.

- Experience in providing technical assistance to education professionals.

- Prior training in Multi-tiered Systems of Supports, Positive Behavioral Interventions Supports, and/or Response to Intervention.

- Other duties as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications:

- Prior experience in MTSS coaching of educational professionals.

- Prior training, participation, or coaching in VTSS.

- Excellent skills in using virtual platforms for distance communications (Zoom, Canvas, Google, etc.) and adult learning (PLCs, Professional Learning).

- Prior experience in providing professional learning in a variety of settings, to include face- to-face, virtual, communities of practice, and/or large-scale Statewide training.

Additional Application Instructions:  Please upload 1 page with the contact information for 3 professional references (1 must be either a former or current supervisor.) Please include the individual’s first and last name, email address, phone number, and confirmation of whether they are a current or former supervisor.

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Hours per Week: 40

Restricted Position: Yes

ORP Eligible: No

Flexible Work Arrangement: Remote

University Job Title: Virginia Tiered Systems of Supports (VTSS) Systems Coach

Salary Range: $69,100 - $84,600

Contact Information: 
Contact Name: Jodie Soracco
Contact Email: soraccoja@vcu.edu