Nexus Family Healing: Assistant Principal 
Job Location: Onarga, Illinois, Grand Prairie School at Nexus-Onarga 
Compensation: $80,000–$90,000 annually based on credentials and years of teaching experience. 
Job Type & Schedule: Full-time. GPS follows a year-round academic calendar, including scheduled break weeks and holidays off. 

Motus Recruiting and Staffing is proud to partner with Nexus Family Healing in its search for its next Assistant Principal. 

ABOUT NEXUS FAMILY HEALING 

Nexus Family Healing is a national nonprofit network of mental health agencies with over 45 years of restoring hope for thousands of children and families through outpatient/community mental health services, foster care and adoption, and residential treatment. Grand Prairie School (GPS) is our very own private school that serves youth receiving treatment at Nexus-Onarga in Onarga, IL. GPS serves grades 5-12, and students participate in a curriculum tailored to their unique needs and current grade level. The school provides a special education curriculum accredited by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement and approved by the Illinois State Board of Education. Credits transfer to any school upon the client's discharge. 

At Nexus Family Healing, we embrace diversity, promote equity, and foster inclusion. As a national mental health organization, we serve a diverse group of youth and families, and we strive for our workforce to support and represent that diversity. 

OVERVIEW OF THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL ROLE 

Nexus Family Healing is hiring an Assistant Principal for the Grand Prairie School at our Onarga, IL location! Assist the Principal in managing the education program and staff in order to achieve and maintain a high-quality, therapeutic learning and treatment environment. Our teachers enjoy small class sizes, full-time Teaching Assistants in every classroom, and support from Behavior Staff throughout the school day. Join a team that values collaboration, care, and student success. Apply today! 

Position Summary: Assist the Principal in managing the education program and staff in order to achieve and maintain a high-quality, therapeutic learning and treatment environment. 

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES 

Develop & Maintain the Academic Program 

• In collaboration with School Principal, ensures the development and implementation of school curriculum that is current, outcomes- based, content and quality oriented, with a process for continual improvement. 

• Ensures all local and state accreditation requirements are maintained within established guidelines. 

• Assists with monitoring the Individual Educational Plans (IEPs) process and serves as the administrative representative at IEP meetings in the Principal’s absence. 

• Communicates with resident’s home school districts regarding the client’s placement and related issues. 

Teaching Assistant & Behavioral Specialist Leadership & Oversight 

• Participates in the interview and selection process for faculty and education staff and conduct thorough reference checks to satisfy Nexus’ requirements of staff positions that will be direct reports (teaching assistants, behavior specialist, etc.). 

• Provides leadership and direction to all teaching assistants and behavior specialists; leads, coaches and develops employees, while setting clearly defined performance expectations and meaningful performance feedback. 

• Builds strong teams through the use of effective leadership and team-building components including communicating a clear mission to the team, outlining common goals and promoting shared accountability. 

• Actively monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of staff performance, as well as behavior management of students in the classroom setting. 

• Provides performance management for assigned staff on an ongoing basis and conduct formal performance evaluations that are timely, constructive, and effective; with the Human Resources Department regardingperformance evaluations and disciplinary needs. 

• Conducts and facilitates faculty meetings in the absence of the Principal. 

Academic Programming Support 

• Maintains the tracking system for school documentation requirements and deadlines for school reports (i.e., point sheets, incident reports, progress reports); ensures data and information is accurate and up to date. 

• Schedules IEP meetings with all appropriate external and internal parties and participates as required; engages in additional school meetings as required, including quarterly staffing meetings. 

• Develops and maintains trust, rapport and credibility with students, parents, guardians, home school districts, social service agencies to support the development of youth. 

• Oversees the scheduling of outings, field trips and monthly incentives, and reviews the educational relevancy of the outing with the Principal prior to approvals. 

• Assists in the development of the school schedule and maintains a master schedule of all class times, along with meeting times and other events to ensure time conflicts are kept to a minimum (i.e., IEP meetings, case conferences, retreats, school assemblies, field trips) 

• Serves as ‘back-up’ to Principal in their absence; provides assistance to the principal in assessment and development of school curriculum on an ongoing basis. 

• Ensures appropriate staffing of all classrooms and provide backup support where required to ensure adequate coverage to meet school standards. 

• Therapeutic Treatment & Learning Environment 

• Participates in quarterly meetings with Quality Improvement staff to assess data/outcomes. 

• Ensures compliance with established safety and health codes and procedures for both faculty and students; identifies safety and risk management issues that impact the therapeutic school environment, recommends solutions, and implements changes where approved/appropriate. 

• Ensures appropriate boundaries are maintained in all staff/student interactions and that physical interventions are conducted appropriately and within training parameters. 

• Demonstrates an acceptance and respectfulness toward diversity concerning commonalities and differences such as: gender, race, age, culture, ethnicity, class, religion, sexual preference, disability, and gender identity. 

Educational Policy, Procedure & Compliance 

• Serves as an educational liaison as assigned with internal academy departments and external agencies and contacts. 

• Provides crisis intervention and applies de-escalation techniques when appropriate while maintaining appropriate boundaries and relationships with students. 

• Remains current on the latest accepted teaching techniques and be able to tailor teacher feedback to meet the needs of the emotionally and behaviorally challenged students within an educational and/or residential setting. 

• Attends and participates in staff meetings and training sessions as required by Nexus; attends relevant conferences for continued education. Understands and supports the Nexus philosophy and treatment modalities. 

• Ensures confidentiality regarding students in compliance with all licensing agencies, company policy, COA and HIPAA guidelines. 

• Remains current on all company policies, assigned trainings and/or certification requirements; exhibits a high degree of ethical conduct, discretion and confidentiality while exemplifying professional behavior. 

• Exhibit clear, professional, respectful and effective communication when interfacing with residents, staff, families and external contacts and share knowledge, information and resources appropriately. 

• Assist with off-campus activities when needed and other duties as assigned. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

• Required Education and Licensure: 

• Bachelor’s degree in education along with Type 75 licensure required, along with a minimum of 5 years teaching experience; master’s degree strongly preferred. 

• 1+ year supervisory experience preferred. 

• First Aid/CPR/Infection Control/Blood Bourne Pathogen/TCI certification required. 

• Valid driver’s license required. Must meet state regulating agency and Home Office driving requirements 

• Must successfully pass an IL DCFS criminal background check. 

ICARE Values & Behavioral Competencies: 

• Innovation: Leading the way and implementing creative, cutting-edge ideas and approaches. 

• Compassion: Listening, honoring differences, and showing respect, kindness, empathy care, and concern. 

• Agility: Exhibiting flexibility and adapting quickly. 

• Responsiveness: Being quick, positive, and accurate. 

• Excellence: Demonstrating quality results that surpass ordinary standards. 

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion: 

At Nexus Family Healing, our voices and actions are focused on recognizing, affirming and respecting people of every race, ethnic background, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender expression and faith. 

BENEFITS 

• Paid Time Off (PTO) provided throughout the school year 

• Multiple options for health insurance coverage 

• No-cost life insurance 

• Short/long-term disability insurance 

• 401k match 

• NEW – Talk space Therapy Benefit for the whole family 

• NEW – Hinge Health Benefit for the whole family 

• NEW – Carrot Fertility Benefit 

• Tuition assistance and training opportunities 

• Advancement pathways and internal promotion 

• And much more! 

ABOUT MOTUS RECRUITING AND STAFFING, INC. 

Founded in 2006, Motus Recruiting and Staffing is an award-winning recruiting and staffing firm specializing in executive search, professional services, and technology solutions. Motus is committed to increasing representation in leadership and helping organizations advance equity through intentional, inclusive, and human-centered recruitment practices. 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, disability, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law