Director of PAWS; Perseverance, Achievement, Wellness, and Success Academy

Director of PAWS Academy

The Director of PAWS Academy serves as the instructional, operational, and clinical leader of the district's therapeutic public day school program. PAWS Academy (Perseverance, Achievement, Wellness, and Success) is a specialized educational setting designed to support students whose behavioral, social-emotional, and mental health needs significantly impact their ability to access learning in traditional school environments.

The Director is responsible for developing and maintaining a safe, structured, therapeutic, and academically rigorous learning environment where students receive individualized supports designed to build self-regulation, resilience, social competence, academic achievement, and successful school engagement. Working collaboratively with families, district leaders, clinical providers, and school teams, the Director ensures that students receive comprehensive educational and therapeutic services that promote growth and facilitate successful transitions to less restrictive educational settings whenever appropriate.

• Provide leadership for the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of PAWS Academy.
• Establish and communicate a clear vision focused on perseverance, achievement, wellness, and success.
• Develop systems, structures, and routines that support a highly therapeutic, trauma-informed, and educationally rigorous environment.
• Ensure alignment of programming with district goals, special education regulations, and evidence-based practices.
• Lead strategic planning and program evaluation efforts to continuously improve student outcomes.
• Foster a school culture characterized by safety, belonging, accountability, respect, and growth.

• Partner with Educational Team Leaders to oversee all aspects of student programming and service delivery.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director of Special Education, Executive Director of Clinical Services, and Educational Team Leaders to determine student eligibility and placement within the PAWS Academy program.
• Monitor implementation of established entry and exit criteria and oversee student transition planning.
• Ensure students receive individualized academic, behavioral, social-emotional, and therapeutic supports aligned with their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
• Oversee excluded student services and ensure continuity of academic and clinical support during periods of disciplinary exclusion.
• Coordinate with district and community providers to ensure comprehensive services for students and families.

• Collaborate with Educational Team Leaders and the Office of Teaching and Learning to design and implement rigorous instructional programming.
• Ensure students have access to grade-level curriculum and individualized interventions.
• Monitor instructional practices and student progress to ensure meaningful academic growth.
• Support implementation of evidence-based instructional and behavioral interventions.
• Promote high expectations for student learning and achievement.
• Utilize student performance data to guide instructional decision-making and program improvement.

• Develop and implement a comprehensive positive behavioral intervention and support framework.
• Ensure consistent implementation of trauma-informed, restorative, and therapeutic practices throughout the program.
• Oversee behavioral intervention systems designed to improve student self-regulation, social skills, and emotional well-being.
• Support staff in implementing individualized behavior support plans and crisis intervention procedures.
• Monitor behavioral data and student outcomes to inform program improvements.
• Collaborate with clinical staff to integrate educational and therapeutic supports.

• Foster strong, collaborative relationships with families.
• Maintain open and proactive communication regarding student progress, interventions, and program initiatives.
• Support meaningful family participation in educational planning and decision-making.
• Collaborate with community agencies, mental health providers, and external partners to coordinate services and supports.
• Promote family engagement as a critical component of student success.

• Recruit, hire, supervise,…