[Jobs] Superintendent, Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School / Administrator of the Statewide System for Vision Services

[David B Andrews]

Announcement of OpeningMarch 2008 Superintendent, Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School /Administrator of the Statewide System for Vision Services The Board of Regents, State of Iowa is seeking candidates for the position of Superintendent, Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School /Administrator of the Statewide System for Vision Services  Appointment:The Superintendent, Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School/Administrator of the Statewide System for Vision Services will serve at the pleasure of the Board of Regents, State of Iowa. The members of the Board of Regents are appointed by the Governor of Iowa and confirmed by the Iowa Senate. The Board governs the three state universities and the two special schools; the Iowa School for the Deaf and the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School. The Superintendent/Administrator of the Statewide System reports directly to the Board of Regents.  The Superintendent will devote forty percent (40%) of his/her time to serving as the Administrator of the Iowa Statewide System for Vision Services.   The appointment is a full-time position with competitive salary and benefits.   The anticipated start date is July 1, 2008. Required Qualifications:Advanced degree, masters with doctorate preferred, in visual impairments, special education or a related field.  Eligible for, or commitment to obtain, certification in Iowa as a special education director or school superintendent. Five years experience in supervising programs or services for students with visual impairments. Preferred Experience and Attributes:   Demonstrated involvement and success in the management of complex educational environments; in this instance, to provide leadership across administrative entities to create a seamless education system for students who are blind or visually impaired, and to provide leadership for implementing the National Agenda for students who are blind or visually impaired.  An understanding and appreciation for the role of a residential school as both an educational entity and a resource to all Iowa’s students who are blind or visually impaired, their families, special and general educators and other service providers.  An understanding and appreciation for the role of area education agencies (intermediate units) in providing appropriate programs and services to students who are blind or visually impaired in local school districts or through regional centers.  An understanding and appreciation for the role of the Iowa Department of Education in providing general oversight, data collection, and direction for all special education programs and services. An understanding and appreciation for the role of the Iowa Department for the Blind in providing transition services to teen-aged and young adult students as they grow toward vocations, higher education and adult independence.  An understanding and appreciation for the importance of early intervention programs and services, increased family involvement and cooperative agreements with others who serve infants and young children.  Demonstrated involvement and success in key administrative areas of strategic planning, fiscal management, administrative management and external relations.  Skilled in recruiting, professional development, performance management, support and retention of qualified staff.  Skilled in promoting effective programs and curriculum and in supporting all staff in their use of data bases, test scores and their interpretation, graduation rates, transition outcomes, etc.  Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, demonstrated poise under pressure, integrity, openness to new ideas, energy and sensitivity to student and staff needs.  Application Process: The Board of Regents has established a search and screen committee.  Persons wishing to be considered an applicant for the position should submit materials including: A letter of interest setting forth in detail personal qualifications, experience andreasons for interest in the positionA current resumeNames and contact information for four individuals who will serve as references Submit official college and university placement papers and credentials.  Materials will be accepted through April 30, 2008, and should be sent to:  Iowa Braille and Sight Saving Superintendent Search CommitteeBoard of Regents, State of Iowa11260 Aurora AvenueUrbandale, IA  50322  Organizational Information: The Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School, located in Vinton, Iowa, was established in 1852 and has a long and venerable history in serving students who are blind and visually impaired. The Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School, under the governance of the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, is a fully accredited school for children who are blind, visually impaired or who have additional disabilities, and who are residents of the State of Iowa.  The school serves children and youth from birth through age 21.  The school in Vinton offers residential services during the school week and transportation to and from school to home on weekends.  The school also offers a range of services in collaboration with the Department of Education, the Area Education Agencies, and the Department for the Blind that are accessible to students across the state.  These include such things as:  Vision Itinerant teaching, Orientation and Mobility instructors, Low Vision Clinics, Library and Instructional Materials, an Assistive Device Center, Parent and Professional Development opportunities, math and literacy consultations, early childhood consultations, and technology consultations.  The school also offers a range of expanded learning opportunities for students through week-end and summer program options. Through an intergovernmental agreement with the Department of Education, the Superintendent serves as the administrator of the Statewide System for Vision Services.  A management committee for Iowa’s Statewide System for Vision Services which is representative of all the administrative agencies who serve blind and visually impaired students provides direction for this component of the position responsibility.  These agencies include: ·         Iowa Department of Education:  The Department of Education works with the State Board of Education to provide oversight, supervision, and support for the state education system that includes public schools, accredited non-public schools, area education agencies, community colleges and teacher preparation programs. ·         Area Education Agencies:  Iowa has 10 Area Education Agencies (AEAs)  The AEAs function as intermediate units providing educational services and support to local schools.  Established in 1974 by the Iowa Legislature, AEAs are responsible for providing all support service personnel required to deliver appropriate special education programs in Iowa school districts.  This includes teachers of the visually impaired and orientation and mobility specialists. ·         Iowa Department for the Blind:  The Department for the Blind offers integrated services that blind and severely visually impaired Iowans need to live independently and work competitively.  Among the services available to eligible students are:   assisting in planning the transition from school to adult life, transcribing print materials to Braille or recorded formats, and circulating books and magazines on cassette tape, Braille or large print. The goals of the statewide system for vision services are to provide equitable access to a continuum of high quality services, assure an adequate supply of highly trained teachers and orientation and mobility specialists, assure adequate supervision and professional development opportunities and eliminate duplication and competition in service delivery by creating a seamless, coordinated system of services to blind and visually impaired across the multiple funding sources and agencies responsible for this population.  For more information about the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, visit the Board’s web site at www2.state.ia.us/regents/ For more information about the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School, visit the school’s web site at www.iowa-braille.k12.ia.us For more information about the Department of Education, visit the department’s site atwww.iowa.gov/educate/  The Board of Regents, State of Iowa welcomes and encourages applications from women, minorities, veterans, mature workers and persons with disabilities. Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity and treatment is practiced by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status and disability. David Andrews
Chief Technology Officer
Minnesota State Services for the Blind
2200 University Ave. W., #240
St. Paul, MN  55114-1840
(651) 642-0513  Office
(612) 730-7931  Cell
(651) 649-5927  Fax
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Announcement of Opening
March 2008
 
Superintendent,
Iowa
Braille and Sight Saving School /
Administrator of the Statewide System for Vision Services
 
The Board of Regents, State of
Iowa
is seeking candidates for the position of Superintendent, Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School /Administrator of the Statewide System for Vision Services
 
 
Appointment:
The Superintendent, Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School/Administrator of the Statewide System for Vision Services will serve at the pleasure of the Board of Regents, State of
Iowa
.
 
The members of the Board of Regents are appointed by the Governor of Iowa and confirmed by the Iowa Senate. The Board governs the three state universities and the two special schools; the
Iowa
School
for the Deaf and the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School.
 
The Superintendent/Administrator of the Statewide System reports directly to the Board of Regents.
 
The Superintendent will devote forty percent (40%) of his/her time to serving as the Administrator of the Iowa Statewide System for Vision Services.
 
 
The appointment is a full-time position with competitive salary and benefits.
 
 
The anticipated start date is July 1, 2008.
 
Required Qualifications:
Advanced degree, masters with doctorate preferred, in visual impairments, special education or a related field.
 
Eligible for, or commitment to obtain, certification in
Iowa
as a special education director or school superintendent.
 
Five years experience in supervising programs or services for students with visual impairments.
 
Preferred Experience and Attributes:
 
 
Demonstrated involvement and success in the management of complex educational environments; in this instance, to provide leadership across administrative entities to create a seamless education system for students who are blind or visually impaired, and to provide leadership for implementing the National Agenda for students who are blind or visually impaired.
 
An understanding and appreciation for the role of a residential school as both an educational entity and a resource to all Iowa's students who are blind or visually impaired, their families, special and general educators and other service providers.
 
An understanding and appreciation for the role of area education agencies (intermediate units) in providing appropriate programs and services to students who are blind or visually impaired in local school districts or through regional centers.
 
An understanding and appreciation for the role of the Iowa Department of Education in providing general oversight, data collection, and direction for all special education programs and services.
 
An understanding and appreciation for the role of the Iowa Department for the Blind in providing transition services to teen-aged and young adult students as they grow toward vocations, higher education and adult independence.
 
An understanding and appreciation for the importance of early intervention programs and services, increased family involvement and cooperative agreements with others who serve infants and young children.
 
Demonstrated involvement and success in key administrative areas of strategic planning, fiscal management, administrative management and external relations.
 
Skilled in recruiting, professional development, performance management, support and retention of qualified staff.
 
Skilled in promoting effective programs and curriculum and in supporting all staff in their use of data bases, test scores and their interpretation, graduation rates, transition outcomes, etc.
 
Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, demonstrated poise under pressure, integrity, openness to new ideas, energy and sensitivity to student and staff needs.
 
Application Process:
 
The Board of Regents has established a search and screen committee.
 
Persons wishing to be considered an applicant for the position should submit materials including:
 
A letter of interest setting forth in detail personal qualifications, experience and
reasons for interest in the position
A current resume
Names and contact information for four individuals who will serve as references
Submit official college and university placement papers and credentials.
 
Materials will be accepted through April 30, 2008, and should be sent to:
 
 
Iowa Braille and Sight Saving Superintendent Search Committee
Board of Regents, State of
Iowa
11260 Aurora Avenue
Urbandale
,
IA
 
50322
 
 
Organizational Information:
 
The Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School, located in
Vinton
,
Iowa
, was established in 1852 and has a long and venerable history in serving students who are blind and visually impaired.
 
The Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School, under the governance of the Board of Regents, State of
Iowa
, is a fully accredited school for children who are blind, visually impaired or who have additional disabilities, and who are residents of the State of
Iowa
.
 
The school serves children and youth from birth through age 21.
 
The school in Vinton offers residential services during the school week and transportation to and from school to home on weekends.
 
The school also offers a range of services in collaboration with the Department of Education, the Area Education Agencies, and the Department for the Blind that are accessible to students across the state.
 
These include such things as:
 
Vision Itinerant teaching, Orientation and Mobility instructors, Low Vision Clinics, Library and Instructional Materials, an Assistive Device Center, Parent and Professional Development opportunities, math and literacy consultations, early childhood consultations, and technology consultations.
 
The school also offers a range of expanded learning opportunities for students through week-end and summer program options.
 
Through an intergovernmental agreement with the Department of Education, the Superintendent serves as the administrator of the Statewide System for Vision Services.
 
A management committee for
Iowa
's Statewide System for Vision Services which is representative of all the administrative agencies who serve blind and visually impaired students provides direction for this component of the position responsibility.
 
These agencies include:
 
·
        
Iowa Department of Education:
 
The Department of Education works with the State Board of Education to provide oversight, supervision, and support for the state education system that includes public schools, accredited non-public schools, area education agencies, community colleges and teacher preparation programs.
 
·
        
Area Education Agencies:
 
Iowa
has 10 Area Education Agencies (AEAs)
 
The AEAs function as intermediate units providing educational services and support to local schools.
 
Established in 1974 by the Iowa Legislature, AEAs are responsible for providing all support service personnel required to deliver appropriate special education programs in
Iowa
school districts.
 
This includes teachers of the visually impaired and orientation and mobility specialists.
 
·
        
Iowa Department for the Blind:
 
The Department for the Blind offers integrated services that blind and severely visually impaired Iowans need to live independently and work competitively.
 
Among the services available to eligible students are:
  
assisting in planning the transition from school to adult life, transcribing print materials to Braille or recorded formats, and circulating books and magazines on cassette tape, Braille or large print.
 
The goals of the statewide system for vision services are to provide equitable access to a continuum of high quality services, assure an adequate supply of highly trained teachers and orientation and mobility specialists, assure adequate supervision and professional development opportunities and eliminate duplication and competition in service delivery by creating a seamless, coordinated system of services to blind and visually impaired across the multiple funding sources and agencies responsible for this population.
 
For more information about the Board of Regents, State of
Iowa
, visit the Board's web site at
www2.state.ia.us/regents/
 
For more information about the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School, visit the school's web site at http://www.iowa-braille.k12.ia.us/
www.iowa-braille.k12.ia.us
 
For more information about the Department of Education, visit the department's site at
http://www.iowa.gov/educate/
www.iowa.gov/educate/
 
 
The Board of Regents, State of
Iowa
welcomes and encourages applications from women, minorities, veterans, mature workers and persons with disabilities.
 
Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity and treatment is practiced by the Board of Regents, State of Iowa, regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status and disability.
 
David Andrews
Chief Technology Officer
Minnesota State Services for the Blind
2200 University Ave. W., #240
St. Paul, MN  55114-1840
(651) 642-0513  Office
(612) 730-7931  Cell
(651) 649-5927  Fax