Director of Student Supports
Newark, NJ
BRICK Gateway Academy (Newark, NJ) /
Full-time /
On-site
OUR MISSION
BRICK is on a mission to support families from pre-cradle-to-career through holistic support, excellent schools, and clear pathways to college and career. By creating a comprehensive network of services, we are righting the wrongs of racial and economic inequality and paving the way for families to forge futures abundant with opportunity, wellness, and joy
OUR VISION
BRICK envisions a world of racial and economic justice, where every child and family has the support they need to learn, achieve, and work towards a fulfilling life of personal and collective prosperity.
To learn more about BRICK, please visit http://www.brickeducation.org
BRICK currently has schools in two regions: Newark, New Jersey, and Buffalo, New York.
BRICK Gateway Academy Charter School is our Newark location. As a full K-12 continuum, we start our college-focused academic programming in kindergarten and yield better results for Newark students for generations to come. We are more than a school; we are a full ecosystem of supports from cradle to career. We provide our families with free wraparound services like prenatal care, career services, and housing support. Our high school alumni receive up to six years of post-graduate assistance. BRICK Gateway Academy attracts a diverse staff devoted to nurturing our students’ intellect and identities in order to prepare them to graduate from college and to chart their own course.
To learn more about our Newark location, BRICK Gateway Academy, please visit https://www.gatewayacademy.org
Overview
Role: The Director of Student Supports (School-Based) is a senior school leader responsible for managing and aligning comprehensive systems to ensure that students receive equitable access to supports on a continuum, from prevention and early intervention to intensive, individualized services.
The Director provides strategic oversight of Multi-tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), restorative practices, positive school culture, social-emotional wellness, and attendance systems. At our high school, the Director also manages the College and Career Advising team to ensure students are prepared for postsecondary success.
Reporting to the School Principal, the Director leads a cross-functional team that includes social workers, deans of culture, and other student support members, ensuring their work is coordinated, data-informed, and grounded in healing-centered, culturally responsive practices.
Essential Functions
- Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Strategic Leadership & Systems Design
- Lead the implementation of a robust continuum of supports across social-emotional, behavioral and mental health domains
- Oversee MTSS structures to drive data-informed decisions around interventions and progress monitoring of Tier 1, 2, and 3
- Guide the school’s restorative practices, fostering a culture of belonging, accountability, and relational repair
- Align school-wide systems to promote emotional wellbeing, identity development, and trauma-informed engagement
- Lead the development and implementation of a proactive attendance strategy that includes early identification and layered interventions
- Team Management & Capacity Building
- Supervise and coach the school-based student support team
- Organize student support team to collaboratively meet department objectives and the overall school-wide goals
- Build school-wide and department staff capacity through high quality professional development, data review cycles and performance management
- Program Development & Data-Informed Practice
- Convene intervention meetings, assign case managers, and monitor implementation of individualized plans with fidelity.
- Use behavior, attendance, SEL, and academic data to identify trends and make strategic adjustments across tiers.
- Ensure full compliance with state and federal mandates (I&RS, 504, McKinney-Vento, Ant-Bullying-NJ/Dignity for All Students-NY) and grant-related requirements
- Mental Health Programming & Response
- Manage mental health team members on the implementation of school-based mental health services that include universal supports, targeted interventions and crisis response protocols
- Establish systems to identify students in need of mental health supports and ensure timely interventionsLead crisis recovery protocols in mental health emergencies, including risk assessments, safety plans, and reintegration supports in collaboration with families and community partners
- College & Career Readiness (High School Only)
- Manage the College & Career Advisory team to support students with course selection and academic planning aligned with graduation requirements
- Oversee team to ensure that all students receive individualized support to explore, plan for, and pursue post-secondary pathways
- Supervise advisors in supporting all students to explore, plan for, and pursue post-secondary pathways
- Oversee the team’s delivery of college and financial aid advising, including school selection, application support, personal statement coaching, and scholarship access
- Ensure advisors plan and deliver student-facing workshops on study skills, test preparation, time management, and other readiness topics
- Monitor outcomes related to post-secondary planning and adjust team strategies using data and student feedback
- Integrate the work of the advising team within the broader student support continuum to ensure aligned, equitable, and responsive services
Qualifications
- Required
- Masters of Social Work, Counseling, or related field
- Deep knowledge of MTSS, TIC, SEL, and Restorative Practices
- Proven ability to design and manage a continuum of student-centered supports
- Strong data analysis, problem-solving, and strategic planning skillsEffective communication and team leadership abilities
- Preferred
- Licensed mental health professional (LPC, LSW, LCSW, PsyD, LMFT, etc.)
- Experience managing or delivering in-school mental and behavioral health services
- Experience
$73,000 - $140,000 a year
Full time·
Employment Period: 12 Months
Fringe Benefits: Retirement (NJ Pension), Health, Vision, Dental
BRICK Networks is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. BRICK Networks promotes affirmative action for minorities, women, disabled persons, and veterans.
