Outreach Director

ABOUT THE SCHOOL:

Located in the heart of Oakland, Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children 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 visually impaired students, with or without additional challenges, throughout western Pennsylvania. Founded in 1887, our School is best equipped to care for and educate students with visual impairments. As a private institution chartered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the School educates approximately 200 enrolled students from 80-85 school districts within western Pennsylvania.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Outreach Director provides strategic leadership and oversight for all Outreach programs serving students with visual impairments across multiple school-based and community settings. This role is responsible for vision-setting, program development, staff leadership, fiscal and contract oversight, and ensuring high-quality, compliant services aligned with state and federal regulations. The Director partners with districts, families, and community agencies to expand access, innovation, and impact while ensuring students can access the general curriculum and meet IEP goals.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Leadership & Strategy

• Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for all Outreach programs and initiatives.
• Develop and implement short- and long-term goals aligned with organizational priorities.
• Identify opportunities to expand Outreach services and programs to meet regional needs.
• Represent Outreach at leadership meetings, committees, and external forums.

Supervision & Staff Development

• Supervise the Outreach Supervisor and provide guidance, coaching, and performance oversight.
• Ensure systems are in place for effective caseload management, scheduling, and service delivery.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, mentoring, and retention of Outreach staff.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth.

Program Oversight & Compliance

• Ensure Outreach services comply with all applicable state and federal special education regulations.
• Oversee program quality, data collection, and outcome monitoring.
• Support fidelity of IEP implementation and access to the general curriculum.
• Establish and maintain consistent procedures across Outreach programs.

Partnerships & Contracts

• Serve as the primary liaison with school districts, intermediate units, and community partners.
• Oversee and manage Outreach service contracts, renewals, and expansions.
• Collaborate with families and district teams to resolve complex service issues.

Fiscal & Resource Management

• Develop and manage Outreach budgets in collaboration with senior leadership.
• Oversee resources including assistive technology, instructional materials, and lending libraries.
• Ensure efficient and equitable allocation of staff and program resources.

Program Growth & Visibility

• Provide oversight and direction for Outreach initiatives such as Expanded Core Together, Little Visionaries, Braille Challenge, and Abacus Bee.
• Collaborate with the communications team to promote Outreach programs and student successes.
• Support grant exploration and innovative programming opportunities.

Collaboration & Safety

• Serve as a representative on the WPSBC Safety Committee.
• Promote cross-department collaboration to support student needs.

Additional Duties

• Maintain communication with the Outreach Program Braille transcriptionist.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the mission and growth of Outreach services.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• PDE Special Education Supervision certification required.
• Valid PDE certification as a Teacher of the Visually Impaired required.
• Master's Degree in Special Education required (Doctorate preferred).
• Orientation and Mobility Specialist certification (ACVREP) preferred.
• Significant experience teaching students with visual impairments and leading teams required.
• Demonstrated experience in program development, supervision, and systems-level leadership.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and collaborative leadership skills.
• Experience managing contracts, budgets, and inter-agency partnerships preferred.
• Must hold and maintain proper clearances for Acts 34, 114, and 151.