[PIBE-Division] FW: SSD Job Description Post

Thu Sep 8 16:35:05 UTC 2022

Over the past year Pam Allen has asked me to serve on the Louisiana Govern’s board overseeing the Special School District which has supervision over the school for the blind, deaf, juvinal justice and other special needs children in Louisiana. 

We are now seeking a new Superintendent for this school which is based in Baton Rouge. I do not know if it is appropriate to put this on the NFB net, a subset of special lists and/or if you knew of individuals or organizations with which to share. 

Pasted below is the text of the job description and a PDF is attached. 

I know you have much on your plate so feel free to direct me to others if I should share it directly

2

Special School District Superintendent Job Description 

The Superintendent of the Special School District (SSD) will have a unique opportunity to improve education opportunities, choices, and quality of instruction

for thousands of K-12 children within one District in Louisiana. Success will require this leader to champion the vision for SSD and its unique student

population; identify metrics and communicate a higher set of expectations for the district; and drive related transformation efforts to build a broad base

of support through engagement with the community, civic leaders, and policy leaders at the state level, as well as grassroots leaders in homes and schools

throughout the state. To accomplish this bold and critical work, the SSD Board of Directors seeks a seasoned, tested, high-caliber leader to assume the

following responsibilities: 

Educational Leadership, Curriculum, and Instruction 

The Superintendent will continuously work toward/to: 

list of 4 items

 Increase the academic achievement level of all SSD students by working collaboratively with the Chief Academic Officer, the Assistant Superintendent

for Special School Programs, the Director of the Louisiana School for the Deaf, and the Principal for the Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired to

support the academic growth of students. 

 Facilitate a collaborative effort to review and refine the SSD’s vision, mission, and beliefs to focus on developing a statewide model of excellence

in serving students who are deaf or hard of hearing, blind or visually impaired, or identified as having other low-incidence disabilities. 

 Develop an annual academic strategy for SSD schools and programs anchored in high expectations and measurable growth in student performance and college

and/or career attainment for all students, while understanding and celebrating what’s unique about each school’s student population and tailoring school

strategies with these distinctions in mind. 

 Ensure an academic setting that provides students with opportunities and the support to build their independence and self-advocacy skills on the path

to adulthood. This element is essential not only at school, but in dormitories and off-campus venues where students learn to interact with the community

at-large and gain invaluable work experiences. 

list end

Roles and Expectations 

list of 3 items

 Maintain a visible presence in the schools, programs and in the community. 

 Communicate with the public through available opportunities such as the district website, newsletters, social media, media releases, and public speaking

engagements. 

 Provide the SSD Board of Directors — as well as student families, staff, and the general public — with clear, frequent, and easily accessible information

about the schools, their missions, curriculums, and academic performances. 

list end

list of 12 items

 Ensure administrators and teachers communicate student progress and academic resources. 

 Develop strong and sustainable partnerships with LEAs, other relevant state agencies, and with the wider field of national experts. 

 Develop and implement a hiring and retention plan that complies with applicable state and federal laws targeting the most qualified and competent teachers,

administrators, and shared specialty service personnel. 

 Foster an environment that encourages continuous learning and improvement on the part of all SSD faculty and staff. 

 Administer an educator evaluation program aligned to state requirements that supports teachers and school leaders in defining expectations for student

learning, and monitoring progress of those goals throughout the year. 

 Develop a strategic plan as required by the Office of Planning and Budget to achieve agreed-upon strategic goals. 

 Maintain or increase an appropriate budget to operate the SSD by working collaboratively with the Division of Administration and the legislature. 

 Ensure that instructional staff is fairly compensated and schools and programs are receiving fair and equitable services through shared specialty services.

 Develop systems of collaboration between SSD and other state agencies, as well as the wider field of experts both within and outside of Louisiana, in

service to the plan of becoming a highly functioning and valued statewide resource. 

 Administer the development, implementation, and annual assessment of educational programs consistent with state and federal requirements. 

 Ensure that policies, procedures, and school rules promote a safe, respectful, and healthy school. 

 Make administrative decisions necessary for the effective and efficient operations of the SSD facilities and property. 

list end

Skills 

list of 7 items

 Proven ability to recruit, manage, and retain high-functioning talent and teams. 

 Deep and excellent capacity for relationship-building across teams, organizations, geographies, and interests. 

 Seasoned and innate instincts for authentic, effective professional communication with a wide range of stakeholders and personalities. 

 Tested experience in managing systemic systems-change processes, including articulating a new, clear, and thoughtful vision with evidence of driving

a team effectively through that change. 

 A track record for holding schools or organizations accountable for high academic or industry standards. 

 Experience navigating and leading effectively within a public advocacy context; and 

 Demonstrable experience in developing a team or organizational strategy and being accountable for its results. 

list end

Minimal Qualifications 

The SSD Superintendent must believe deeply in, and be motivated by, the SSD’s mission to provide compassionate, collaborative, and innovative educational

opportunities for students with low-incidence disabilities, meeting each student’s unique needs. Additionally, the SSD seeks a leader with the following

skills, experience, and attributes: 

list of 2 items

 Master’s Degree earned at a regionally accredited college or university. 

 Five years of successful experience in leadership, management, or school governance (state, parish, or city) as a superintendent, assistant superintendent,

supervisor of instruction, principal, or assistant principal in a State-approved system, or experience certified as equivalent to any of these by the Board.

list end

Compensation 

list of 2 items

 The salary range for the Superintendent is $135,000-$175,000. Salary will be based on qualifications and experience. 

 Participation in state retirement package, deferred comp, life insurance, dental insurance, health insurance, supplemental benefits, flexible spending

accounts, annual, sick, military, civil, and funeral leave, state holiday leave, workers compensation, START Saving Program (LA Student Tuition Assistance

and Revenue Trust Program), LA HIPP (If you or a member of your family received Medicaid and are determined eligible, LAHIPP will reimburse the premium

paid for the policyholder and Medicaid and Medicaid eligible dependents) 

list end

Location 

The SSD operates from a central campus in Baton Rouge, but services sites all over the state. The 

Superintendent must live in Louisiana and be able to travel to all SSD sites. The SSD Superintendent must physically report to work and be visible and

available to staff and the SSD Board of Directors. 

Governance 

The Superintendent is an employee of the SSD and is subject to an annual evaluation by the SSD Board of Directors. The 12-member SSD Board of Directors

comprises individuals across the state of Louisiana from diverse backgrounds who represent the agencies and organizations that serve the youth under the

umbrella of the SSD. 

The SSD Superintendent reports directly to the SSD Board of Directors. The SSD Superintendent has two direct reports: one oversees operations/facilities/grounds/risk

management/finance, and the other oversees academics for the Louisiana Special Schools and Programs. 

To Apply 

The Executive Search team at SSA Consultants is honored to be supporting the Louisiana Special School 

District Board of Directors in filling this crucial role. Inquiries or applications (including a resume and 

cover letter) should be directed to Sarah Bowden, Consultant, at 

sbowden at consultssa.com <mailto:sbowden at consultssa.com> 

or 225-769- 

2676.

Edward C. Bell, Ph.D., CRC, NOMC, Director, 

Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness

Louisiana Tech University

600 Mayfield Ave / 210 Woodard Hall

PO Box 3158

Ruston LA 71272

Office: 318.257.4554                      Fax: 318.257.2259 

ebell at latech.edu <mailto:ebell at latech.edu>    <https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fprotect-us.mimecast.com%2Fs%2FisAlCVO01wUxkpBLUGiFey%3Fdomain%3Dpdrib.com&data=05%7C01%7Cofficeofthepresident%40nfb.org%7C8c4afe2138f84156b5de08da91aa90d8%7C538f3d4b739545cf93fa8dfc2b4a7f62%7C1%7C0%7C637982459181306242%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=LcYyRE9lzoZNNX73OdfEPqsyv%2FNEcMlYKBNRgvhH%2BDI%3D&reserved=0> www.pdrib.com

*************

"I am somehow less interested in the weight and convolutions of  Einstein's brain than in the near certainty that people of equal  talent have lived and died in cotton fields and sweatshops."

-- Stephen Jay Gould

From: Leslie Hill <Leslie.Hill at la.gov <mailto:Leslie.Hill at la.gov> > 
Sent: Thursday, September 8, 2022 9:21 AM
To: Annis, Maria <mariabobannis12 at aol.com <mailto:mariabobannis12 at aol.com> >; Bell, Edward <ebell at latech.edu <mailto:ebell at latech.edu> >; Burton, David <davidwburton at bellsouth.net <mailto:davidwburton at bellsouth.net> >; Crosby, Sherry <sherrymt10 at gmail.com <mailto:sherrymt10 at gmail.com> >; John K. Davis (LDR) <John.Davis2 at LA.GOV <mailto:John.Davis2 at LA.GOV> >; Edward Bell <ebell at pdrib.com <mailto:ebell at pdrib.com> >; Kristy Flynn <Kristy.Flynn at LA.GOV <mailto:Kristy.Flynn at LA.GOV> >; Michele Jones <MJones6 at lwc.la.gov <mailto:MJones6 at lwc.la.gov> >; Ronnie Morris (BESE) <Ronnie.Morris at la.gov <mailto:Ronnie.Morris at la.gov> >; Muslow-Hicks, Audra <amuslow at lablind.com <mailto:amuslow at lablind.com> >; Poret, Danielle <danielleporet at gmail.com <mailto:danielleporet at gmail.com> >; Smith, Mary <mlsmith42 at yahoo.com <mailto:mlsmith42 at yahoo.com> >; Vickie Smith <Vickie.Smith at LA.GOV <mailto:Vickie.Smith at LA.GOV> >; Alishia Vallien <Alishia.Vallien at la.gov <mailto:Alishia.Vallien at la.gov> >
Subject: SSD Job Description Post

Members:

The SSD Superintendent job description has been posted on the SSD website on the home page at https://www.ssdofla.org/ <https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fprotect-us.mimecast.com%2Fs%2Fa3UhCXDk3yIXDLAyhDhx_o%3Fdomain%3Dssdofla.org%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cofficeofthepresident%40nfb.org%7C8c4afe2138f84156b5de08da91aa90d8%7C538f3d4b739545cf93fa8dfc2b4a7f62%7C1%7C0%7C637982459181306242%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=sLXCCqBFo6706fzfEJm9e8BCpV2NCMS65LtveyW94m8%3D&reserved=0>    

Please feel free to circulate to whomever you feel may be a quality candidate or to organizations, associations, and universities to circulate to interested applicants as well. 

I’ve also attached a pdf for you all to circulate as well.

Thanks,

-Leslie

Leslie J. Hill
Director of Government and Community Affairs 

Louisiana Special School District

 <tel:225-757-3467> 225-757-3467

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 <https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fprotect-us.mimecast.com%2Fs%2FOkrMCYEl4ztLpyYJIVVs0v%3Fdomain%3Dssdofla.com%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cofficeofthepresident%40nfb.org%7C8c4afe2138f84156b5de08da91aa90d8%7C538f3d4b739545cf93fa8dfc2b4a7f62%7C1%7C0%7C637982459181306242%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=PTCYiyrnP9hW7JuAyk4Qt3ZVl7D%2Bg%2B%2B1lAeAu9pBLn4%3D&reserved=0> www.SSDofLA.com

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 <mailto:Leslie.Hill at la.gov> Leslie.Hill at la.gov

 <https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fprotect-us.mimecast.com%2Fs%2F5MUYC1wB50sMBQgDh1oZqE%3Fdomain%3Dmaps.google.com&data=05%7C01%7Cofficeofthepresident%40nfb.org%7C8c4afe2138f84156b5de08da91aa90d8%7C538f3d4b739545cf93fa8dfc2b4a7f62%7C1%7C0%7C637982459181462471%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=AZENL2LJCP9jXNt8OY91qv3ozjA6BVSHxxZq12xWmwc%3D&reserved=0> 2888 Brightside Dr. Baton Rouge, LA 70820

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