Requisition No: 842800 

Agency: School for the Deaf & Blind

Working Title: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MENTAL HEALTH - 48008299 1 1 1

 Pay Plan: Contract FTE (BenEl)

Position Number: 48008299 

Salary:  $65,877.14 - $73,377.14 

Posting Closing Date: 01/06/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB)

Executive Director of Mental Health

BOT (Board of Trustees)

Position Number 48008299

Department: Mental Health

Who are we?

FSDB is a state public school available at no cost to eligible pre-K and K-12 students who are deaf or hard of hearing, blind/visually impaired or deafblind, including boarding and transportation services. FSDB is nationally recognized for its comprehensive educational services, designed for the unique communication and accessibility needs of students. FSDB also provides educational outreach programs for children ages 0-5 and their families. The FSDB experience provides students with the edge to do more, be more, and achieve more.

How you will make an impact

The incumbent of this position serves as the Executive Director of Mental Health and has the primary responsibility of coordination, developing, planning, and supervising of Mental Health services to improve the quality of life for sensory impaired boarding students at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB).

• Reviews and prepares budgets, requests resources for the department and is responsible for annual performance evaluations for the Mental Health staff (including formal and informal observations). Reviews and makes suggestions to Mental Health staff concerning student documents in the districts information data management system (Skyward). Reviews admission files for psychological and social history information on students that are applying to attend FSDB. Monitor compliance and legal guidelines, internal policies and quality standards for the Mental Health Department that meet the expectation of State and Federal mandates. Assists in crisis situations across campus for Deaf/Hard of Hearing and Blind/Visually Impaired CET students, which may include behavior management, self-harm threats, gestures, or attempts and emergency counseling. Provides consultation services to parents, staff, and other professionals. Provides case management services to students, as appropriate.
• Plan and oversee mental health, administrative operations, and programs in a boarding school for deaf or hard of hearing and Blind/Visually Impaired students. Recruit employees to ensure department is staffed with qualified personnel. Assign cases and create schedules for all Mental Health staff. Coordinate and supervise staff providing constructive feedback. Provide personnel with clinical training and opportunities for continuous development. Evaluate performance and discipline employees when necessary. Participate in regular team meetings and departmental meetings, as well as school and instructional meetings as required, including Positive Behavioral Support (PBS), and intake evaluations on deaf or hard of hearing and Blind/Visually Impaired CET meetings when needed to cover for absent department psychologist.
• Participates in professional development to enhance skills and knowledge. Maintains and organizes professional materials. Participates in school wide or department committees. Provides in-services. On-call during evening and overnight hours while students are on campus. Attend training and implement skills acquired during professional development activities as required by Federal, State and FSDB mandates.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of administrative principles and practices;
• Knowledge of general procedures and practices of the field of specialty;
• Knowledge of acceptable/current administrative and personnel management techniques;
• Knowledge of performance evaluation systems for professional employees in an educational setting;
• Knowledge of the role of mental health in a boarding school for the deaf/hard of hearing and the blind/visually impaired;
• Knowledge of the implications of student mental health problems to the educational process;
• Knowledge of the federal and state laws affecting the educational process of exceptional students;
• Knowledge of Professional Standards and Ethics in their field of specialty;
• Knowledge of regulations regarding confidential information;
• Knowledge of various crisis techniques and the ability to deal with a student in crisis;
• Skill in conflict resolution;
• Skill in group planning, development of objective and prioritization of goals;
• Skills in using word processing, data base, and other programs;
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with others;
• Ability to maintain records, write reports, and correspond with parents and agencies;
• Skill in manual and verbal communication necessary for interacting with students, staff, and parents;
• Ability to evaluate students of a cognitive, social/emotional and developmental level and make appropriate recommendations addressing student needs;
• Ability to provide group and individual counseling to students and consultation to other support staff;
• Ability to provide consultation and in-service to staff regarding psychological needs and interventions for sensory impaired students; Interpersonal skills appropriate for interacting with students, staff and parents;
• Ability to prioritize tasks and manage time;
• Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies, and procedures;
• Ability to prepare correspondence and administrative reports;
• Ability to utilize problem solving techniques;
• Ability to communicate effectively with deaf/hard of hearing staff members on an individual and group basis;
• Ability to plan, organize and deliver in-service training activities for a divergent group of professional staff members;

• Ability to attain sign language proficiency level in accordance with FSDB O.P.P.1.24;
• Ability to complete training and administer skills acquired during CPR and CPI;

Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in Psychology, or Social Work, or Mental Health/Counseling or in a related field and Current state of Florida licensure in Clinical Psychology, Licensed Clinical Social Worker or Licensed Mental Health Counselor as required by the Department of Health or ability to obtain within a reasonable period of time upon hire. If licensure noted is not from Florida, upon appointment, shall obtain state of Florida licensure within a reasonable period of time.
• Twelve credit hours of college coursework in deaf or hard of hearing or twelve credit hours of college coursework in visually impaired or equivalent (or ability to obtain upon hire).
• Twelve credit hours of college coursework in educational leadership or administration and supervision or equivalent (or ability to obtain upon hire).
• Five years professional experience in related field.
• Additional requirements mandated by state/federal law and position responsibilities.

OR

• Master's degree or higher and Current state of Florida educator certification in educational leadership K-12, school principal K-12, or administration and supervision, or ability to obtain within a reasonable period of time upon hire.  If certification(s) noted are not from Florida, upon appointment, shall obtain state of Florida certification(s) within a reasonable period of time.
• Twelve credit hours of college coursework in deaf or hard of hearing or twelve credit hours of college coursework in visually impaired or equivalent (or ability to obtain upon hire).
• Twelve credit hours of college coursework in social services (or ability to obtain upon hire). 
• Five years professional experience in related field.
• Additional requirements mandated by state/federal law and position responsibilities.

Preferred   

Experience in a K-12 school setting.

Sign Language Requirements

Applicants who are selected for hire will be required to attain an Advanced proficiency in sign language within four years of hire.

Please note: The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind provides education to acquire sign language skills.

Hiring Salary Range 12 month position: $65,877.14 - $73,377.14 annually. (paid biweekly over 26-pays) This range is inclusive of verified experience and education.

Hours Varies; Schedule is at least 80 hours biweekly; On-call during evening and overnight hours while students are on campus.

Vision

FSDB will prepare each student for a lifetime of success.

Mission

The mission of FSDB is to utilize all available talent, energy, and resources to provide free appropriate public education for eligible sensory impaired students of Florida. As a school of academic excellence, the school shall strive to provide students an opportunity to access education services in caring, safe, unique learning environment to prepare them to be literate, employable, and independent lifelong learners. The school shall provide outreach services that include collaboration with district school boards and shall encourage input from students, staff, parents, and the community. As a diverse organization, the school shall foster respect and understanding for each individual. (Section 1002.36, Florida Statutes)

Values

Integrity & Respect – The FSDB community is a cohesive group that serves with honor, care, kindness and responsibility.

Safety & Security – The FSDB community is committed to the protection and well-being of stakeholders.

Innovation – The FSDB community welcomes change and embraces a continuous improvement mindset to encourage new methods to solve problems and foster creativity and growth.

Trust – The FSDB community is committed to high quality services and accountability through honest, reliable and consistent actions.

Our benefits include:

• Automatic enrollment into the Florida Retirement System.
• Medical insurance coverage is $90 per pay period for family coverage; $25 per pay period for employee only.
• Life insurance $25,000 is provided by the state at no cost to you for all FTE positions. Employees may purchase additional coverage.
• Low-cost supplemental benefit packages that include dental, vision, and much more.
• Professional development opportunities and ability to learn American Sign Language on campus at no cost.
• Tuition waiver program – earn up to 6 credit hours per semester at state universities.
• Biweekly accrual of (8.15) hours of annual leave and two (2) hours of sick leave.
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year.

How You Will Grow

FSDB provides staff members with opportunities to grow professionally, enhancing their ability to support students' growth. School- and state-required training and skills development is offered both online and in-person for academic and non-academic staff members.

Condition of employment

Applicants under consideration for employment at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind will be required to complete background investigation.  Fingerprints will be taken and sent to the Florida Department of Law enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a background check of your criminal history record(s) at the state and national level.

To apply

Applications accepted through People First only.

An attached resume is not a substitute for the information required on the application. It is the responsibility of all applicants to keep their application current.

All members of the Florida Retirement System are required to contribute 3% of their salary on a pre-tax basis.

To access additional information please log on to https://jobs.myflorida.com/joblist.html and in Keywords enter 48008299

Take this opportunity to make a difference in a student’s life and become part of a great School. Apply today!

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.