Dream Research Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Originallyfounded in 1991as Harlem RBI, DREAM has grown to annually serve more than 2,500 youth across East Harlem and the South Bronx through a network of seven PreK-12, extended-day, extended-year DREAM Charter Schools and community sports-based youth development programs. Through our commitment to rigorous academics, social-emotional learning, deep family and community engagement, and health and wellness, we create lifelong learners who are equipped to fulfill their vision of success in and out of the classroom. We dream big, as well, with an aggressive five-year plan to expand to serve 3,500 students across seven schools-growing our organization's impact and leveling the playing field for all children. To learn more, visit wearedream.org
This 12-month position will serve as a school resource for staff and parents with regards to special education services and regulations. The Student Support Manager and Interventionist will work closely with the Student Support Team (SST) to assist in observing, documenting, and referring students with suspected special education impairments. The candidate should be able to monitor students' continuous progress through data collection and observation and provide information, support, and training to teachers and families around their child's needs. The Student Support Manager and Interventionist should have a good understanding of state and federal regulations and local policies regarding children with special needs. The Student Support Manager and Interventionist Intervention Teacher should be flexible, self-motivated, and a team player.
Like all DREAM employees, the Student Support Manager and Interventionist (posted as the High School Student Support Specialist) should demonstrate a strong commitment to the mission and values of DREAM and should have substantial expertise in all areas of responsibility. Candidates must also value DREAM's comprehensive approach to education and desire to make a lasting impact in underserved communities as part of a growing organization.
Responsibilities
Student Support Manager Responsibilities:

• Roughly 40% of working hours
• Schedule Special Education Meetings (i.e. IEP, Re-Evaluation, etc) in partnership with the DOE prior to compliance deadlines, calendaring with and communicating with all necessary team members (i.e. school leadership, teachers, families, related service providers), and ensuring families and DOE have all necessary documents at least 10 days prior to the meeting;
• Facilitate IEP meetings in partnership with the DOE by using a strengths-based and family-centered approach;
• Work alongside the Network Director of Student Support to support families with placement transitions (i.e. requesting placement letter from the DOE);
• Keep accurate IEP Testing Accommodation records and work with the Operations and Data teams when creating and monitoring accommodation groups for all formative, summative and state exams (ie. Regents, PSATs, SATs, etc)
• Ensure all special education meetings have translators present whenever needed;
• Maintain accurate student special education records (IEP documents, 504 Plans, FBAs, BIPs, transportation documents) using a school provided tracker and upload all reports to each individual student file;
• Collect all needed reports and ensure all student data is entered into the required tools (i.e. SESIS) at least 24 hours prior to the start of special education meetings;
• Work in collaboration with the College and Career Readiness department when preparing DCHS 12th grade students to graduate from DREAM (i.e. Exit Summaries)
• Work closely with the school operations team during enrollment (including over the summer) to ensure DREAM has the needed documents to best support the student (i.e. IEP);
• Meet with the Dean of Student Support and Network Director of Student Support on a regular cadence to ensure alignment regarding all components of the special education compliance process.

Interventionist Responsibilities:

• Roughly 60% of working hours
• Teach small group instructional lessons and plan and provide interventions with fidelity;
• Implement a variety of researched-based instructional intervention strategies in both reading and math with fidelity (including but not limited to REWARDS and Regents preparation);
• Ensure transferability of skills learned within the small group reading intervention setting into the larger classroom setting by providing visual tools for students to implement with support from the classroom teachers
• Model responses and provide visual anchors/agendas/materials and lead students through guided and independent practice while regularly checking for understanding;
• Actively progress monitor student data at least weekly tied to individual student group or individual instructional goals using the school provided data tracker;
• Serve as a resource for families, teachers, and staff to ensure the understanding of the individuals needs and diagnoses;
• Demonstrate understanding within the field of Special Education by integrating a student's Individual Education Plan (IEP) into the designated reading intervention program by planning and monitoring student IEP reading goals, sharing student data both verbally and in writing during IEP meetings;
• Actively participate in all meetings, collaborative planning, and professional development, including an annual summer institute;
• Create a positive, achievement-oriented and structured learning environment with a high joy factor so that students are excited about and invested in their academic excellence;
• Be an active member of the School Support team and Response-to-Intervention team and assist in developing strategies to support students in need;
• Set and reinforce clear expectations and routines that are aligned with the school's overall vision;
• Engage parents and families in their children's academic success through regular communication of success and challenges; communicate regularly with parents about student progress and IEPs;
• Additional duties related to the running of the school as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Masters Degree in Special Education or Reading, preferred;
• 3 or more years of teaching experience in a special education setting with a record of high student achievement, required;
• Appropriate New York State certification in Special Education, preferred;
• A desire to make a difference in the lives of our students, families and community;
• A commitment to working with diverse populations of families and students, including those at risk of educational failure;
• Bilingual (Spanish) preferred;
• Understanding of Rewards and/or CSR, preferred;
• A strong belief in the mission and values of DREAM, including the desire to make a difference in the lives of our students, families, and community.

Working Expectations
This is a 12-month role that flexes across the school year based on student needs, intervention priorities, and special education compliance timelines.
School Year:

• Time is allocated across both direct student intervention and special education case management responsibilities, with the balance shifting throughout the year.
• During certain periods, the role may include a heavier focus on small group instruction and academic intervention; during other periods, responsibilities may shift more toward IEP-related preparation, meetings, documentation, and compliance-related tasks.

Summer:

• Summer work focuses on preparing for the upcoming school year and ensuring continuity of services for students with IEPs.
• Responsibilities may include supporting enrollment and intake, maintaining special education documentation, preparing for upcoming IEP meetings and compliance timelines, providing student interventions (e.g., during summer school), conducting family outreach, supporting or facilitating meetings, and planning for student services and programming for the upcoming school year.

Across the year, this role requires flexibility, strong judgment, prioritization, and the ability to shift between instructional and operational responsibilities in order to best support students and ensure compliance.
Benefits and Paid Time Off

• We offer comprehensive benefits including:
• Flexible Medical Health Plans, subsidizing the majority of costs for the employee, their spouse/domestic partner and children;
• The ability to select between a variety of medical plans according to what best suits the employee's needs;
• Dental and vision plans;
• Disability benefits;
• Life insurance;
• Up to 12 weeks fully paid of Parental Leave;
• Flexible spending account options;
• Pre-tax commuter benefits (parking and transit);
• Fitness and entertainment discounts;
• A variety of support through our employee assistance program (EAP);
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer match starting at 4% after one year, with increases tied to DREAM tenure;
• Referral, performance, and tenure milestone bonuses;
• Discounted school meals through our in-house Scratch Food Program;
• Tuition reimbursement support;
• Access to a professional development fund;
• School-based 12-month employees have approximately 48 days off throughout the school year including holidays, school breaks, personal days, and wellness days.
• Benefits are subject to change.

Compensation
DREAM offers a competitive salary commensurate with relevant experience. The incoming annual salary range for this position is $80,000 to $95,000. New hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary closer to the start of the range depending on qualifications, internal equity, and the budgeted amount for the role. All regular employees receive annual compensation increases and have the opportunity to earn both performance- and tenure-based bonuses. Because we value tenure in each role, our salary ranges are not capped.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
At DREAM, diversity, equity, and inclusion are a matter of mission.
From our schools to our playing fields, DREAM is committed to building a team where each individual can bring their full identity and experience to work because representation matters-it enriches our team culture, enhances our ability to innovate, and strengthens our impact in and out of the classroom. DREAM engages staff that represent and appreciate the diversity of our majority Black and Hispanic student body, while working to ensure that our practices are equitable, welcoming, and productive. We are dedicated to creating a world where youth, especially youth of color, have permission to dream-along with the tools and opportunities to make their dreams reality.
Come dream with us
DREAM Maxims
All Kids Can. This Kid Can.
DREAM is Family.
Fun is a Serious Value.
Teamwork Makes the DREAM Work.
Fail. Persist. Exceed.
DREAM Big.
Applying to DREAM
We know applying for a new job can be a daunting process. In addition, studies have shown that historically underrepresented individuals often only apply to roles if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We encourage all applications! You may be just the person we need. If you have any questions about your application or interview process, do not hesitate to ask your recruiter; we are here to help!
DREAM provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local laws. If accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact your recruiter.
If you are a current DREAM employee, please click here to review our Internal Selection Process before applying.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.