SUMMARY: The Director of Alternative and Online Education plans, directs, and supervises all activities within the district's alternative school and its virtual programs, aligning efforts with district initiatives and the strategic plan. This role entails responsibility for the comprehensive performance of duties essential to the operation and success of both the physical alternative education setting and online educational offerings.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Other duties may be assigned.

Instructional Leadership

• Maintain high standards and expectations for academic performance and behavior among all students and staff, in both in-person and online settings.
• Lead the implementation of instructional programs in coordination with the Office of Teaching, Learning, and Technology, tailored for both alternative and virtual environments.
• Act as the lead learner in professional development, engaging in and facilitating learning experiences relevant to both traditional and online education.
• Oversee school, district, and state assessments, ensuring their effective administration in physical and virtual classrooms.
• Demonstrate a commitment to closing the opportunity gap by fostering equitable learning opportunities.
• Evaluate the performance of in-person and virtual teachers to support their professional growth and teaching effectiveness.
• Support the integration of educational technology to enhance learning across all settings.
• Ensure consistency in instruction and practices among teachers, regardless of the learning environment.
• Maintain a positive climate and culture where learning is safe and supported for students and staff alike.
• Promote student participation in academic programs at various levels, facilitating access for alternative and online learners.

Continuous Improvement

• Implement and monitor Multi-Tiered Systems of Support through school-based teams, addressing the needs of in-person and online students.
• Organize and analyze data to drive decisions, aiming for continuous improvement in learning environments.
• Evaluate and report on the effectiveness of programs, ensuring they meet student outcome goals through the improvement process.

Communication & Outreach

• Design stakeholder relations programs to engage the community and solicit feedback on school operations, adapted for alternative and online contexts.
• Collaborate with outside agencies to foster supportive relationships that meet school and community needs.
• Connect positively with students and families, encouraging engagement in both physical and virtual settings.
• Plan and engage in parent/teacher conferences and family education opportunities, adapting communication strategies for online interaction.
• Demonstrate enthusiasm in working with students, staff, parents, and the community, promoting education across all platforms.

Management & Finance

• Assist in the recruitment, hiring, and placement of staff suitable for both alternative and online educational environments.
• Manage facilities and technology for efficient operation and maintenance of physical and virtual learning spaces.
• Develop and enforce school rules in line with district safety policies, adapting for online and alternative learning scenarios.
• Develop school schedules to effectively utilize staff and meet student needs across all programs.
• Lead policy and procedure updates, ensuring relevance to both alternative and online settings.
• Prepare a zero-based budget, ensuring instructional needs are met with appropriate resources across learning environments.
• Coordinate with finance and central office on budget management, procurement, and documentation for transparency and compliance.
• Support and supervise activities, overseeing both curricular and extracurricular events in alternative and virtual spaces.
• Provide for effective supervision, evaluation, and training of all staff and volunteers, maintaining high accountability standards.
• Make decisions based on student interests, adhering to professional ethics across decision-making processes.
• Serve as administrative representative in IEP and 504 meetings, ensuring accommodations are followed in all learning environments.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Manages employees and students. Is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of the programs.

Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:
Master’s Degree, including training in school administration, supervision, curriculum, and guidance; minimum of five (5) years of teaching preferred and/or administrative experience of excellent quality in education.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
Valid Michigan Administrator Certificate.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedural manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of staff, parents, students, and general public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:
Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. .

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory in specific field. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff, parents and the community. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both in oral and written form. Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements, applicable laws, and Board of Education policies. Demonstrated ability to provide educational leadership and leadership in educational planning. Demonstrated ability to function effectively in a management team. Must possess strength in computer technology and computer program use including master scheduling. Knowledge of the growth and maturation patterns of the middle/high school student. Ability to work with “at risk” students effectively. Ability to work with staff and students to resolve conflicts and improve school climate.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and depth perception. Some driving is necessary; therefore transportation is required.

Occasionally, yet essential to this position, the individual must meet deadlines with severe time constraints, interacting with the public and other workers. Occasionally the position requires the employee to work irregular or extended hours, direct responsibility for the safety, well-being or work output of other people and meet multiple demands from several people.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is quiet to loud depending upon the activity in the particular part of the day and location.

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.