Founded in 1887 and located in the heart of Oakland, the higher education and healthcare center of Pittsburgh, Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children (“the School”) is a one-of-a-kind educational experience committed to empowering our students to realize their full potential. The School also provides vital early intervention and outreach services to blind and visually impaired students, with or without additional challenges, throughout western Pennsylvania. As a private institution chartered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the School educates approximately 200 enrolled students from 80-85 school districts across western Pennsylvania, including 14 of whom are enrolled in the school’s residential program.
The Mission
The Mission of Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children is to nurture the unique abilities of individuals with blindness and visual impairment through educational excellence and a lifetime of learning.
The Position
The School seeks a highly collaborative and visionary leader to serve as Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). As the School continues to expand its overall impact and reach, it needs an exceptional leader to provide key strategic educational, operational, and fiscal oversight for the organization. In addition, it needs a leader who can effectively steward its resources, engage with a broad set of stakeholders, and foster a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and welcoming culture. Reporting to the Board of Directors and serving as the School’s chief executive and administrative officer, the CEO will provide strategic leadership and expert guidance for all business and operational matters for the organization. As such, this individual will be responsible for implementing a multifaceted strategic plan that advances the school’s mission.
With the support of a dedicated, talented and experienced team, the CEO will be responsible for fostering a fully integrated service delivery model, supportive learning environment, and specialized educational experience to support students’ unique abilities. In addition, the CEO will be responsible for championing the School’s core values and beliefs along with promoting a welcoming and inclusive culture. Serving as the key point of contact for a broad set of internal and external constituents, the CEO will effectively engage with students, families, staff, the Boards of Trustees of both the School and the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children Foundation (“the Foundation”), government officials, donors, community members and others.
The ideal candidate must be a compassionate and dynamic leader with a strong educational background coupled with a proven track record of successfully leading a comprehensive portfolio of students, teachers, and staff along with crafting and implementing highly effective programs and managing critical services. The CEO must have the ability to engage staff in support of a unified vision that celebrates the School’s unique identity, upholds educational excellence, provides lifetime program support, and ensures a safe and supportive school environment. The CEO also must be a forward-thinking leader who stays current with industry trends and remains attuned to the unique needs of the School and the population it serves. Exceptional communication skills, proactive leadership, and an unwavering commitment to the School’s mission are essential.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic oversight for all business, programmatic, and financial matters to the school, making recommendations to the Board related to overall organizational improvements and overarching goals.
- Lead a dynamic educational program which stimulates the growth and development of students with significant needs who flourish best under conditions that respect individual abilities and potential.
- Direct services and programs to maximize early learning, school, and post graduate experiences and achievements of children and adults.
- Oversee school health services to maximize the welfare of children and adults receiving educational and rehabilitative services.
- Nurture an equitable and inclusive educational environment focused on academic excellence and achievement where progress for all students is closely monitored.
- Ensure a safe and secure environment through coordinated mental health education and service provision, effective crisis management planning, comprehensive student behavior data analysis, and overall organizational risk assessment, mitigation, and management.
- Foster a positive and welcoming culture focused on encouragement, empowerment, and professional development.
- Establish and maintain positive relationships with local and regional educational entities to maximize outreach services to children and adults in the region.
- Serve as an ambassador representing the School to facilitate and foster its relationships with the parents, community members, and other critical stakeholders.
- Collaborate with the CFO, the School Board and the Executive Director and Board of Trustees of the Foundation to ensure effective financial stewardship and resource allocation.
- Oversee the development and operation of new and innovative programmatic offerings including the planned expansion of critical services for transitioning adults.
- Direct the planning and development of all applicable state and federally funded services.
- Participate in fundraising and philanthropic support efforts in support of the School in order to garner support for key strategic initiatives.
- Serve as the liaison to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, regional Intermediate Units, and school districts related to educational and outreach matters.
- Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as ensure a welcoming environment with a strong sense of belonging.
- Monitor and stay abreast of educational, funding, and service trends and changes that may impact the School and its students and families.
- Oversee the use of technological advances to enhance students’ learning experience and safety.
- Build and maintain key strategic internal and external stakeholder relationships and partnerships to advance organizational goals.
- Play a key role in developing long-range goals and objectives for the School.
Experience and Professional Qualifications
- An advanced degree in special education, education or related field required. Doctorate degree preferred.
- Extensive experience in educational administration including blind/visually impaired instruction, elementary, middle or secondary education school instruction, special education services, and central office administration.
- A lifelong learner with a strong commitment to continuous improvement within an organization, school or profession.
- Experience utilizing assistive technology to facilitate success and independence for student as they work towards academic, social, and occupational goals.
- Knowledge of K-12 curriculum, instruction, and assessment along with school organization and management, school district policies, and PA school law preferred.
- Demonstrated success in the application of strategic planning, program development, and grant writing.
- Experience as a respected leader with the ability to lead staff, manage resources, and maximize operational efficiency and effectiveness in a highly collaborative environment.
- A strong collaborator with excellent professional communications and interpersonal skills along with the ability to work effectively and diplomatically with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
- Excellent organizational, planning, problem-solving, personnel and project management skills.
Application Process
- Candidate nominations and interested and qualified candidates are welcome to submit a resume and cover letter to: WPSBC@KornFerry.com
Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion & Equity
It is the School's policy not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin or non-job-related disability or disability as those terms are defined under applicable law. All employees of the School are to be guided by this policy. This applies to all employees and applicants for employment in connection with hiring, compensation, training, placement, transfer, promotion, demotion, discipline, termination and recruitment. It is School policy to fill all positions with the best candidates available, based upon educational and job-related qualifications.
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