Education Programs Manager - School Mental Health

at State of Vermont in Montpelier, Vermont, United States

Job Description

The Agency of Education's newly formed Safe and Healthy Schools Division is seeking qualified candidates for School Mental Health Program Manager. In partnership with the Dept. of Mental Health, this position will act as content lead and subject matter expert for school mental health (MH), social-emotional learning (SEL), and school climate prevention strategies for the Agency's new School Climate team.

This position will act as a designated statewide expert in school mental health regulations, strategies, and integrated multi-Agency supports. While this position does not act as a MH clinician, they are expected to maintain expertise in how schools and school systems integrate MH as part of their overall strategy for safe and healthy schools. This position will work closely with other state experts to ensure that state-wide MH or SEL requirements can be effectively implemented and supported by VT schools and districts.

Other duties will include:

• Review and alignment of Agency Education policies impacting school mental health systems, resources, and needs;
• Collaboration and partnership with adjacent programs managed by DMH, VDH, and other SOV agencies;
• Ensures effective use of Interagency agreement(s) between AOE and AHS which addresses roles, responsibilities, and integration between Agencies for projects, content, or legislation related to delivery of mental health supports in schools;
• Develops and facilitates the provision of technical assistance to the field via webinars, large-scale communications, and other trainings;
• Provides testimony or expertise for the delivery of relevant mental health supports in schools and advises AOE and State leadership on major policy changes and potential impact on school or district operations, equitable access, or effective delivery of supports;
• Development of recommendations for the education field for how to collect, use, and analyze data and key indicators to ensure effective delivery of mental health and prevention services in schools;
• Management of programmatic responsibilities Vermont's Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program and McKinney-Vento grant, which ensures that students experiencing homelessness have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education provided to other Vermont children. While the AOE Grants division will manage the financial administrative functions of grants management, this position will be responsible for providing technical expertise to LEAs on state and LEA responsibilities under M-V regulation, making recommendations to AOE leadership about effective use of funds, and ensuring equitable access to quality education for students experiencing homelessness and/or temporary displacement.

This position is largely autonomous, and engages with other AOE division leaders, federal program officers, and other State contacts, as needed. Successful candidates must have demonstrated the ability to complete their work through independent problem-solving, data-based decision-making, and mastery of relevant communication and time and project management skills.

Normal office working conditions generally prevail. Incumbent must be able to interact, work, and deal with Department staff, educators, state, federal, and local officials, and the general public. Evening and weekend work may be required. Considerable travel is necessary for which private means of transportation must be available