Educational Life Skills; ELS and Transition Coordinator

Position: Educational Life Skills (ELS) and Transition Coordinator

Educational Life Skills (ELS) and Transition Coordinator

Job summary:

The ELS and Transition Coordinator provides leadership, oversight, and coordination for all aspects of the Educational Life Skills (ELS) and Transition programs. This role ensures that students receive high-quality functional academics, life skills instruction, vocational training, and community-based experiences aligned with their post-secondary goals. The Coordinator supervises staff, manages articulation, serves as the primary Local Education Agency (LEA) representative for students in these programs, and ensures all services comply with state and federal requirements.

Collaboration with families, adult service agencies, community partners, and district administrators is essential to support meaningful outcomes for students.

Qualifications

• Illinois Professional Educator License with LBS1 or appropriate endorsement required.
• Administrative or principal endorsement preferred or willingness to obtain.
• Master’s degree in Special Education or a related field.
• Experience working with students with significant cognitive, adaptive, or functional needs.
• Knowledge of transition planning, functional curricula, vocational programming, and community-based instruction.
• Strong understanding of IDEA, transition mandates, adult agency systems, and ISBE requirements.
• Demonstrated leadership ability, strong communication skills, and experience supporting and supervising staff.
• Qualified Evaluator certification preferred or willingness to obtain.

Responsibilities

• Program Leadership and Oversight:
  Oversee all ELS and Transition programming, ensuring instruction builds functional academic skills, independent living skills, and vocational readiness.
• Monitor program structure, curriculum, staffing, and instructional practices to ensure consistency, quality, and alignment with district goals.
• Provide leadership and supervision for the ELS program (grades 9-12) and the New Trier Transition Center (ages 18-22), ensuring programs deliver meaningful community-based instruction, vocational experiences, job-site opportunities, and independent living skill development.
• Collaborate with Transition Center staff to support student progress, review programming needs, and ensure alignment with transition plans.
• Oversee partnerships with Oakton College, community organizations, vocational placements, job coaching, and collaborations with adult agencies such as DRS and service providers.
• Collect and analyze program data to evaluate effectiveness and support program improvement.
• Oversee Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training and monitor behavioral interventions to meet diverse student needs.
• Collaborate with the District Transportation Coordinator to arrange transportation for the school year and extended school year services.
• Oversee training for DLM testing and compliance.

Student Placement, Articulation, and Outplacement

• Coordinate articulation from grade 8 to 9 and transitions between Winnetka and Glencoe campuses to ensure continuity of services.
• Collaborate with sender districts, case managers, and families to support timely evaluations, program planning, and implementation of IEP services.
• Oversee the transfer and implementation of IEPs, functional assessments, transition plans, and vocational assessments.
• Lead and manage outplacement processes for ELS and Transition students, including referrals and coordination with external programs.
• Complete state-required forms for initial and contributed reimbursement within required timelines and ensure accurate information in iStar for reimbursement purposes.

LEA Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary LEA for triennial evaluations for ELS and Transition students, ensuring legal compliance and high-quality IEP development.
• Facilitate evaluations, reevaluations, placement decisions, and service design in collaboration with related service providers and school teams.
• Ensure adherence to procedural safeguards, timelines, documentation standards, and transition requirements.

Faculty Support, Development, and Supervision

• Supervise and evaluate ELS and Transition staff, SLPs, and School Psychologists, and collaborate with the IA Manager on operational coordination.
• Provide coaching, professional development, and ongoing support related to functional instruction, transition planning, and community-based learning.
• Promote a collaborative, student-centered culture among ELS and Transition program staff.

Collaboration and Communication

• Work closely with the Executive Director of Special Education and district leadership to ensure program alignment across campuses.
• Communicate regularly with families regarding programming, services, vocational opportunities, and transition pathways.
• Serve as liaison to adult service agencies, community partners, vocational sites, and organizations supporting post-secondary outcomes.

Other Responsibilities

• Maintain current knowledge of best practices in transition services, functional curriculum, and community-based programming.
• Oversee…