Title: Educational Life Skills (ELS) and Transition Coordinator

Assignment: School year, full-time and additional summer days at contractual per diem

Location: Winnetka Campus; District-wide responsibilities

Reports to: Executive Director of Special Education

Supervises: ELS/Transition Program Faculty, and ELS and Transition Program Faculty

Start Date: August 10, 2026

Salary Range: $102,087 - $165,124

Position Overview:

The ELS and Transition Coordinator provides leadership, oversight, and coordination for all aspects of the Educational Life Skills (ELS) and Transition programs. This role ensures that students receive high-quality functional academics, life skills instruction, vocational training, and community-based experiences aligned with their post–secondary goals. The Coordinator oversees the Educational Life Skills program, which serves 9-12 grade students at Winnetka Campus, and the New Trier Transition Center, a community-based program for young adults ages 18–22 that focuses on independent living, job readiness, and community integration through authentic, real-world learning opportunities. The Coordinator supervises staff, manages articulation, serves as the primary Local Education Agency representative (LEA) for students in these programs, and ensures all services comply with state and federal requirements. The position also oversees students who are outpaced with an ELS or Transition profile. Collaboration with families, adult service agencies, community partners, and district administrators is essential to support meaningful outcomes for students.

Leaders at New Trier possess the skills and dispositions described in the New Trier Candidate Profile.

Qualifications:

Illinois Professional Educator License with LBS1 or appropriate endorsement required.
Administrative or principal endorsement preferred or willingness to obtain.
Master’s degree in Special Education or a related field.
Experience working with students with significant cognitive, adaptive, or functional needs.
Knowledge of transition planning, functional curricula, vocational programming, and community-based instruction.
Strong understanding of IDEA, transition mandates, adult agency systems, and ISBE requirements.
Demonstrated leadership ability, strong communication skills, and experience supporting and supervising staff.
Qualified Evaluator certification preferred or willingness to obtain.

Responsibilities:

Program Leadership and Oversight

Oversees all ELS and Transition programming, ensuring instruction builds functional academic skills, independent living skills, and vocational readiness.
Monitors program structure, curriculum, staffing, and instructional practices to ensure consistency, quality, and alignment with district goals.
Provides leadership and supervision for the ELS program (grades 9-12) and the New Trier Transition Center (age 18-22), ensuring the programs deliver meaningful community-based instruction, vocational experiences, job-site opportunities, and independent living skill development.Ensures Transition Center programming includes hands-on real-world experiences such as retail operations, community integration activities, and job coaching to prepare students for successful adult outcomes.
Collaborates with Transition Center staff to support student progress, review programming needs, and ensure alignment with transition plans.
Oversees Oakton College opportunities, community partnerships, vocational placements, job coaching, and collaborations with adult agencies such as DRS and service providers.
Collects and analyzes program data to evaluate effectiveness and support program improvement.
Oversees Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training and monitors behavioral interventions to meet the diverse needs of students.
Collaborates with District Transportation Coordinator to arrange transportation for the school year and for extended school year services.
Oversees the training for the DLM testing and compliance.

Student Placement, Articulation, and Outplacement

Coordinates articulation from grade 8 to grade 9 and the transition between the Winnetka and Glencoe campuses, ensuring smooth continuity of services and accurate placement.
Collaborates with sender districts, case managers, and families to support timely evaluations, program planning, and implementation of IEP services.
Oversees the transfer and implementation of IEPs, functional assessments, transition plans, and vocational assessments.
Leads and manages outplacement processes for ELS and Transition students, including referrals, collaboration with families, and coordination with external programs.
Completes all state-required forms for initial and contributed reimbursement within required timelines. Completes necessary state paperwork for outplacements and collaborates with Executive Assistant to the Executive Director of Special Education to ensure correct information is noted in iStar for reimbursement purposes.

LEA Responsibilities

Serves as the Primary LEA for triennial evaluations ELS and Transition students, ensuring legal compliance and high-quality IEP development.
Facilitates evaluations, reevaluations, placement decisions, and service design in collaboration with related service providers and school teams.
Ensures adherence to procedural safeguards, timelines, documentation standards, and transition requirements.

Faculty Support, Development, and Supervision

Supervises and evaluates ELS and Transition staff, SLPs, and School Psychologists. This position also collaborates with the IA Manager on operational and administrative coordination of these programs.
Provides coaching, professional development, and ongoing support related to functional instruction, transition planning, and community-based learning.
Promotes a collaborative, student-centered culture among ELS and Transition program staff.

Collaboration and Communication

Works closely with the Executive Director of Special Education and district leadership to ensure program alignment across campuses.
Communicates regularly with families regarding programming, services, vocational opportunities, and transition pathways.
Serves as a liaison to adult service agencies, community partners, vocational sites, and organizations supporting post–secondary outcomes.

Other Responsibilities

Maintains current knowledge of best practices in transition services, functional curriculum, and community-based programming.
Oversees logistical aspects of the ELS and Transition program, including facilities, transportation, and budget.
Shared oversight of Extended School Year (ESY).
Performs other duties as assigned by the Executive Director of Special Education.

FLSA: Exempt

Link to Faculty Salary Schedule

Link to Faculty Benefits

Link to Leadership Stipends -(Department Coordinator 1-15)