School Administrator

At Helping Hand, our mission is to transform the lives of all connected to Helping Hand through genuine care and education - and this role sits at the heart of that impact.

We are seeking a School Administrator who will help ensure high-quality educational programming, regulatory compliance, and effective coordination among students, families, school districts, and Helping Hand team members. You will oversee IEP processes, state reporting, student records, testing, and external partnerships while providing guidance and support to teachers and school personnel.

SCHEDULE AND COMPENSATION:

• Regular work schedule of Monday-Friday, along with being available and dependable during varying hours, including evenings and weekends, in accordance with the position's needs.
• 40 hours per week, in-office position.
• Salary range $85,000-$92,000 per year (salaried/exempt). 
• Salary based on skills and experience.
• Up to 8% annual bonus potential
• 403(b) retirement plan with up to a 4% company match.

HELPING HAND PERKS:

• Purpose-driven work that changes lives.
• Tuition reimbursement and clear career growth opportunities.
• Traditional medical (BCBS of IL), dental, and vision insurance.
• Employer-paid Group Life/AD&D, Short-Term, and Long-Term Disability.
• Team member appreciation events and year-round recognition.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and wellness support.
• Generous PTO including paid holidays, vacation, accrued sick time, and personal days.
• PSLF-qualifying employer under the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

Student Services and IEP Administration

• Review draft and finalized IEPs for accuracy, clarity, consistency, and compliance with IDEA, state requirements, and organizational standards.
• Serve as Helping Hand School's Local Education Agency (LEA) representative for IEP meetings and other student-related meetings.
• Prepare and distribute draft IEPs, meeting notices, amendments, completed paperwork, and other required documentation within established timelines.
• Coordinate annual IEP meetings, three-year reevaluations, progress reports, assessments, and related student planning activities.
• Support school teams in modifying student programming based on progress, assessment results, and other student data.
• Maintain accurate and confidential student records using designated systems and platforms.

Collaboration and Communication

• Communicate proactively with students' families, teachers, related service providers, administrators, district representatives, and community partners.
• Coordinate clear, timely, and well-documented communication regarding student progress, placement considerations, least restrictive environment discussions, services, and other student-specific matters.
• Maintain positive relationships with ISBE, school districts, external therapists, social workers, law enforcement, fire departments, and other government or community agencies.
• Keep school leadership informed of issues that may affect students, families, team members, organizational operations, satisfaction, or safety.
• Schedule and attend assigned meetings, prepare agendas, and maintain appropriate meeting notes.

Compliance and State Reporting

• Complete required reports, forms, contracts, and documentation accurately and on time.
• Partner with school leadership to manage state reporting systems, including IWAS and SEPF.
• Coordinate school and state procedures across classrooms to promote consistency, accuracy, and complete documentation.
• Support compliance with applicable licensing, facility safety, school district, ISBE, and contractual requirements.
• Monitor educational trends, research, and curriculum needs and recommend improvements to school leadership.

Enrollment, Student Placement, and Testing

• Support established census and student enrollment goals for each academic year.
• Oversee new-student placement requests and onboarding based on Intake Committee recommendations.
• Serve as the school's State Testing Coordinator and manage all testing-site requirements.
• Coordinate student identification, testing procedures, documentation, and teacher preparation for state testing.

Leadership and Team Development

• Provide leadership, supervision, training, and ongoing guidance to teachers and school personnel regarding IEP requirements and procedures.
• Support new and current team members with IEP documentation, legal compliance, and organizational standards.
• Recommend staffing resources needed to carry out IEP strategies and meet student needs.
• Complete all required agency and school training, including crisis-management training.

Special Projects and Agency Participation

• Plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate special projects assigned by the VP.
• Participate in fundraising activities, as appropriate.
• Attend all required team and agency meetings and/or trainings.
• Perform other responsibilities as assigned within the scope of the position.

WHAT YOU BRING:

Education:

• Master's degree in education or a related field.
• Type 75, LSB1 K-12 endorsement through ISBE.

Experience:

• 3 years of experience teaching children with Autism or other intellectual/developmental disabilities.
• One year of management, supervision, and leadership of diverse teams.
• Classroom management experience.
• Knowledge of ISBE regulations and other academic accreditations.
• Comprehensive experience and understanding of the IEP, Transition Planning process, and requirements.

Skill Sets:

• Ability to fulfill all necessary training requirements of the agency, including but not limited to crisis management (including de-escalation strategies and physical management techniques) within 90 days of hire if applicable.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to multitask.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
• Ability to promote and adhere to company values.
• A commitment to a diverse, inclusive, and equitable work environment. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• The person in this position needs to occasionally move about to assist clients, access file cabinets, office machinery, etc. 
• The person in this position may encounter clients exhibiting physical aggression; they must be comfortable working in periods of crisis and feel comfortable de-escalating individually or as a team.
• The ability to observe details at a close range (within a few feet of the observer). 
• Consistently position self to maintain files in file cabinets or assist clients/students. 
• The ability to communicate information and ideas so that others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations. 

Helping Hand is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We believe that embracing our differences strengthens our community and enhances the quality of care we provide.