The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is the state agency that advances public education and libraries in Wisconsin. Our mission is to advance equitable, transformative, and sustainable educational experiences that develop learners, schools, libraries, and communities in Wisconsin. Working at DPI offers you the opportunity to build on our long-standing commitment to public education so that students are learning the skills and knowledge necessary to become contributing members of our communities.

At DPI, we are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels safe, supported, and valued. Equity and inclusion are at the core of our organizational values, which include belonging, integrity, love, humility, and honor. These values guide how we build our teams, develop our leaders, and create a culture that empowers everyone to be their authentic selves. When employees are respected and valued for who they are and staff are held accountable for demonstrating that respect to others, we believe it drives greater engagement and collaboration, ignites creativity and innovation, and fosters connection between teams and those we serve. 

Our employees enjoy an exceptional employee assistance program that offers a variety of programs and tools to help promote wellness. We have a team-oriented atmosphere and a focus on work-life balance.

The WI Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (WESP-DHH) with the Division of Learning Support is seeking applicants for the Education Administrative Director - Center Director position. This position administers, supervises, and provides leadership for the operation of WI Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing including direct responsibility for the school program (WI School for the Deaf) as well as the statewide Outreach Program.

The WI School for the Deaf (WSD) serves as the only residential school for the deaf in Wisconsin.  WSD is dedicated to providing a supportive and enriching environment for students who are deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind in a bilingual/bicultural environment. Complementing this, the Outreach Program plays a crucial role in extending educational support to students throughout the state, ensuring that those in local communities also have access to the resources they need. Within the Outreach Program is the WI Deafblind Technical Assistance Program (WDBTAP), which provides specialized support to meet the unique needs of deafblind students. Together, these initiatives ensure that all students achieve their educational goals, fostering inclusivity and empowering them to succeed in their academic journeys while also supporting families, paraprofessionals, and educators in their efforts to provide effective education.

The Center Director oversees the comprehensive management of the WI Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (WESP-DHH), which serves a statewide educational resource dedicated to supporting Wisconsin children who are deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind. This leadership role involves collaboration with the DPI Special Education Team and other divisions to align efforts and provide mutual support in shared initiatives. Actively engaged in the vibrant culture of the residential school and statewide Outreach program, the director builds meaningful connections with the local and national Deaf communities. By fostering strong partnerships with educators and various teams, the director ensures the delivery of exceptional resources and support, ultimately enhancing the educational and social experiences of deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind students throughout Wisconsin. 

For more information, please view the complete position description.

This position is in classification Education Administration Director. Depending on qualifications, the salary will be between $50.00 - $56.00 per hour (approximately $104,000 - $116,480 per year). For current and eligible former State employees, compensation will be set in accordance with the State Compensation Plan effective at time of hire. This position is in pay schedule 81, range 01. A two-year career executive probationary period will be required.

This position is eligible for an additional $1.00 per hour add-on for fluency in American Sign Language (ASL) following acceptable results of fluency testing. Moving expense reimbursement may be offered to eligible candidates.

This position offers excellent benefits. The State of Wisconsin is a qualifying employer for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

A TB screen will be required prior to start.

This position is located on the beautiful WI School for the Deaf campus located at 309 West Walworth Avenue in Delavan, WI. This position includes some travel, both in-state and out-of-state, up to about six times per year.

Candidates must be fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) upon hire. An American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) rating level of at least 3+ by the end of probation is required.

A criminal background check will be conducted prior to an offer of hire.

Applicants must be legally entitled to work in the United States (i.e., a citizen or national of the U.S., without DPI sponsorship). The Department of Public Instruction does not sponsor visas, either at time of hire or at any later time.

Please address the following in your resume and/or letter of qualifications.
A minimally qualified applicant must have experience with all the below:

• Developing and implementing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for deaf, hard of hearing, and/or deafblind students in an educational setting.
• Managing budget and operations of a school, day care, outreach, or similar program (e.g., overseeing facilities, working with leadership team on structures/processes, prioritizing or assessing programs, etc., such as functioning in roles like superintendent, administrator, or similar).
• Providing leadership (e.g., building team rapport, enhancing staff morale, leading initiatives, developing relationships with external partners, establishing strategic plans, etc.). 
• Licensure or eligibility for licensure by the Department of Public Instruction as a K-12 Principal (5051), Director of Special Education and Pupil Services (5080), or District Administrator (5003). In order to be eligible for one of these licenses, a candidate must meet all of the requirements laid out in PI 34.065, which includes having a Master’s Degree.

Well-qualified applicants will also have:

• Experience ensuring compliance with state or federal special education legislation.
• Experience administering special education programs for children who are deaf, hard of hearing and/or deafblind.
• Experience utilizing data to measure and analyze outcomes of educational programs.
• Experience fostering equity and inclusion, creating a culture that respects, values and empowers everyone and emphasizes engagement and collaboration.
  

Applying is easy! Click “Apply for Job” to start your application process.  Sign into your account or click “Register Now” to create an account before applying for the job. Follow the steps outlined in the application process and submit your application.

Helpful Tips:

• Current state employees must apply through the STAR “Careers” tile. Do not create an external applicant account. 
• There will be no opportunity to change your application materials once you have clicked “Submit”.
• The system will automatically log you off after 30 minutes of inactivity, so click “Save as a Draft” often. 
• Please visit the Frequently Asked Questions section for general Wisc.Jobs user information and technical assistance. 
• Candidates may need to check their spam or junk email folders for correspondence about this position.

Each time you apply for a state job; you should update and tailor your resume and letter of qualifications. You should clearly describe your education, training, and experience related to the items listed in the “Qualifications” section of the job announcement. These qualifications should be addressed in your resume and expanded upon in your letter of qualifications. This will allow a fuller assessment regarding your qualifications and those required for the job applying for. Please review these resume and letter of qualifications tips for more information on your application materials.

Your resume should include the following:

• Your educational background including any course work that relates to the position in which you are applying. 
• Your employment history, including experiences and/or duties and a summary of accomplishments and skills learned or used. 
• Any training or experience, including volunteer work or internships, you have related specifically to the “Qualifications” section of the assessment. 
• Spell out any acronyms and/or abbreviations the first time used. 

Your letter of qualifications should include:

• Additional information regarding your past work experience, including volunteer work and internships, or coursework you have taken. 
• Highlights of your most relevant skills and experiences as they related to the specific job you are applying for. 
• Specific examples that clearly demonstrates your level of expertise. 

What not to include in your resume or letter of qualifications:

Your application materials should not include any information that is not job-related, such as race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, creed, disability, or genetic information. Further, do not include any self-identifying information such as photos, social security numbers, political affiliation, citizen status or conviction records. This document is not a letter of recommendation that someone else wrote about you.

Applicants in the Wisconsin classified state service who have Career Executive status in the same or counterpart pay range who are eligible as a transfer should apply by emailing a resume addressing the qualifications outlined above to the HR recruiter listed below.

Application materials will be evaluated, and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the process. References will be requested from top candidates once interviews have taken place. 

After initial interviews, top candidates will be required to participate in an in-person event held on the campus of the Wisconsin School for the Deaf. There may be travel reimbursements provided following a formal process for the submission of expenses. More information will be provided to the selected candidates invited to that stage in the selection process. 

If you are a veteran with a 30% or greater service-related disability and are not currently employed in a permanent position with Wisconsin State Government, please send a letter of qualifications, resume, DD-214 and documentation of your service-connected disability rating (dated within 12 months) to the contact listed below.

The State of Wisconsin is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to applicants of any race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.

We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.

Questions? Please contact the recruiter at:
Jamie Smith
DPI Human Resources Specialist
Phone: (608) 267-9119
Email: Jamie.Smith@dpi.wi.gov

The deadline for this announcement is 11:59 p.m. on Monday, December 30, 2024.