Director of Student Support
Fantis School is an independent school serving students from PreK3 through Grade 8, founded by the Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Brooklyn Heights over 60 years ago. A 2024 National Blue Ribbon School with an NAEYC-accredited early childhood program, Fantis is known for academic excellence, Hellenic values, strong student outcomes, and a close-knit community where every child is known. With one class per grade, generations of alumni, and a growing reputation in the NYC independent school market, Fantis offers the chance to make a meaningful impact in a school that is both rooted in tradition and actively building for the future.
About the role
Fantis seeks a Director of Student Support (DSS) to lead the school's student support systems across MTSS/RTI, Section 504, and IESP/related services, while partnering with the Instructional Leadership Team to drive teaching and learning outcomes through benchmark assessment and data analysis. This is a director-level position for an educator who is part compliance leader, part instructional coach, part data lead, and part case manager. The right candidate is organized, evidence-driven, comfortable in difficult conversations with families and providers, and energized by building systems that hold up under scrutiny.
Reports to: Principal
Core partners: Assistant Principal, Instructional Leadership Team, School Counselor, Division Leads, classroom teachers, related-service providers
Responsibilities
- Compliance & Case Management: Own the 504 and IESP workflow end-to-end: caseload tracker, deadlines, documentation, annual reviews, and accommodations logs. Caseload context: approximately 15% of the student body.
- Meeting Leadership: Schedule, prepare, and facilitate IEP/504 meetings with parent pre-calls, teacher pre-meetings, and 48-hour follow-up. Maintain the IESP at-a-glance for staff.
- Provider Coordination: Manage the master related-services schedule, monitor service delivery, and facilitate communication between providers, teachers, and families. (Families/district secure providers; the school coordinates, not contracts.)
- MTSS/RTI Leadership: Support K–8 staff through 8-week intervention cycles with biweekly progress checks. Conduct biweekly teacher consults on intervention design and Tier movement.
- Tier 2 Instruction: Support teachers and deliver daily small-group ELA/Math intervention in the Learning Lab during three annual cycles.
- Benchmark Assessment & Data Leadership: Oversee the school's benchmark program — calendar, fidelity, dashboards, and data meeting facilitation. Translate results into instructional action with ILT and grade teams.
- Testing Accommodations: Build and execute the accommodations schedule for state exams, midterms, finals, and Regents. Coach teachers on day-to-day implementation.
- Enrollment Continuation Review (ERC): Serve as Process Owner: case packets, decision memos, and cadence calendar.
Requirements
- NYS Certification in Students with Disabilities (1–6 or 7–12; dual certification preferred)
- Minimum 5 years of teaching or student support experience, including direct experience with 504 and IESP/IEP processes
- Experience leading MTSS/RTI systems and conducting data-based instructional consultation
- Strong working knowledge of NYS special education regulations and Section 504
- Experience administering and interpreting benchmark assessments (e.g., Fountas & Pinnell, DIBELS, i-Ready, NWEA MAP, or comparable)
- Direct intervention instruction experience in elementary ELA and/or Math
- Excellent written and verbal communication; able to draft clear documentation and lead difficult conversations with families
Preferred Qualifications
- Reading/Literacy specialist credential
- Experience in an independent, parochial, or small-school setting
- Familiarity with NYC CSE/IESP processes specifically
Schedule
This is a full-time position with the following work calendar:
- Start Date: August 17, 2026
- All days required of the faculty during the academic year
- 5 additional workdays following the last teacher day in June
- 3 additional workdays in August before faculty orientation
Summer availability: Because this role owns compliance workflows with year-round deadlines, the DSS is expected to remain reachable by email during the summer recess for time-sensitive matters — typically IESP correspondence, 504 medical plan updates, provider scheduling, and new-enrollment record review. Anticipated summer-time commitment outside the contracted workdays is limited and is included in the annual compensation. The Principal coordinates summer coverage and protects extended time off.
Pay
Salary: $70,000–$80,000 per year
Optional tutoring after-school: approximately $2,000–$6,000 per year
Benefits
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- 401(k) with retirement plan
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off and parental leave
- Commuter benefits
- Professional development support
- Employee discount