Principal - Walker Beacon School

About Walker

Since 1961, Walker Therapeutic & Educational Programs has been a trusted partner for children, youth, and families, navigating some of life’s most difficult challenges. Based in Needham, our mission is to nurture hope, build strengths, and develop lifelong skills in partnership with the children, youth, families, and communities we serve. We provide comprehensive, trauma-informed residential, educational, and clinical services to children and youth with complex social-emotional, behavioral, and learning needs, while supporting their families every step of the way. Through three specialized divisions—Residential & Educational Programs, Behavioral Health & Community-Based Services, and Walker Solutions—we deliver relationship-based care and capacity-building that makes a lasting difference. Today, we serve children, youth, and families from more than 150 communities across Massachusetts.

Make a Difference Every Day

Walker Beacon School is a private non-profit 198-day special education school serving students of diverse racial and cultural backgrounds, sexual orientations, and gender identities and expressions. We serve 65 students in grades 7 through 12 with average to above average cognitive and academic ability who struggle predominantly with anxiety, depression, and trauma, which frequently manifests as internalizing behaviors. Many students in our school community have also experienced difficulties feeling accepted in a public-school setting while working to explore and accept their identities.    

The Principal is responsible for daily operations of school program for students with significant mental health challenges. Supervise administrators and others, as needed. Support staff to provide a balance between the clinical and educational needs of students. Demonstrate commitment to the agency’s mission. Work directly with students, parents, staff, and collaterals to provide leadership regarding marketing, admissions, crisis intervention/behavior support, program development, educational excellence. Represent Walker Beacon’s needs to the senior management and Walker’s Board of Directors. 

Essential Functions

• Oversee the day to day operation of Walker Beacon School 
• Provide leadership regarding positive behavioral supports, risk management, student discipline and crisis intervention 
• Hire, and onboard staff for all positions, ensuring all required licenses, certifications, and waivers are current, valid, and fully compliant with regulatory and organizational requirements.
• Manage personnel issues in collaboration with supervisor and HR department 
• Provide supervision as assigned. 
• Oversee budget and fiscal management in collaboration with supervisor 
• Oversee site management in collaboration with facilities director 
• Oversee student referrals and admissions process in collaboration with administrative team and others, as needed 
• Oversee Information Technology and Program Improvement initiatives in collaboration with administrative team, IT and PI departments 
• Ensure compliance with all DESE regulations, state and federal laws and regulations, and agency standards and goals; assure your own and all staff licensure or waivers are current.
• Ensure appropriate and timely communication with all public school Special Education Departments as needed to comply with proper implementation of student IEP process, and communication of any reporting of critical incidents to DESE.  
• Ensure appropriate parent communication and parent involvement. Participate in Caregiver Connections: Walker Beacon’s Parent Advisory Council. 
• Oversee internal communication management including student and staff manuals and annual dissemination of mandatory DESE policies and procedures; maintain DESE manual of required policies and procedures at the front desk.  
• Work with Advancement department and supervisor as needed for fundraising and marketing. This includes assuring quality and accuracy of all written materials that are disseminated about Walker Beacon School. 
• Maintain positive working relationship with City of Watertown personnel, including police, fire, school department and Board of Health. 
• Conduct regular staff meetings 
• Collaborate with Sr. Director of Workforce Development to ensure comprehensive orientation and training for all staff. 
• Collaborate with supervisor and other leaders as appropriate to discuss development of new business.  
• Participate regularly in Massachusetts Association of Approved Special Education Schools (MAAPS) Admissions groups and other relevant MAAPS events.
• Complete all supervisory tasks.
• All other duties as assigned. 

Skills and Abilities

• Must be able to successfully pass and apply Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) training
• Must be able to successfully complete First Aid/CPR training
• Proven ability to work independently, manage multiple projects, prioritize among competing priorities, and meet deadlines.
• Work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing environments and organizational needs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills include timely and respectful correspondence, reports, and reflective supervision. 
• Ability to access program locations.
• Must be able to respond to emergencies quickly and safely.
• Ability to sit at workstation for prolonged periods of time, consistent with OSHA suggestions and requirements. 
• Ability to lift packages up to 10 pounds.

Schedule:

• Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:00pm with flexibility as needed for program and operational needs
• 12-month position

Qualifications

Education and Certifications

Required:

• Master’s degree
• MA Licensure as Special Education Administrator (All Levels), or Moderate Disabilities (5-12)
   

Experience

Required:

• 1-3 years of previous experience in similar setting
• Supervisory experience

Preferred:

• 5 years or more of previous experience in similar setting

Other Requirements:

• Successfully complete background check suitability requirements
• Must have reliable transportation
• Valid MA driver’s license preferred

Supervision:

• Supervisor: Senior Vice President of Programs
• Supervisees: Clinical Director; Assistant Principal; Education Coordinator; Teachers as needed; other staff members as assigned

Equal Opportunity Statement

Walker is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon an individual's race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, veteran status, pregnancy, national guard or reserve unit obligations, participation in discrimination complaint-related activities, or membership in any category protected by federal or state law.