Director of Student Support
Why St. Michael’s Prep?
Located in the hills of southwest Austin, Texas, St. Michael’s Catholic Preparatory School is an outstanding co-educational Independent Catholic school serving students from Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade in Austin, Texas. The Lower School is comprised of PreK 3-4th grades, the Middle School houses grades 5-8, and the Upper School contains grades 9-12. We are distinguished by our Catholic tradition, a welcoming and diverse community, excellent academic programs, and a variety of extracurricular activities. Additionally, we are a technology-rich school. Thus, teachers and staff are expected to demonstrate meaningful skill with technology and an enthusiasm for technological growth in order to create authentic learning experiences for their students. Teachers and staff at St. Michael’s Prep further serve as role models that inspire students to think critically, reflect, explore, and apply their faith concretely to their lives. We are one community with three divisions, united in our commitment to put students first as we educate them in mind, body, and spirit.
Our values: Integrity, Courage, & Excellence
Our mission: St. Michael’s Prep cultivates a transformative, Independent school experience rooted in Catholic spirituality where we seek excellence in every pursuit and form virtuous leaders who positively impact the world.
We are anchored by the Catholic Social Teachings (CST) and promote inclusion by advocating for a society based on love and justice, where all people have inherent dignity. We are passionate about cultivating a diverse and inclusive working and learning environment, celebrating and supporting differences.
We employ and optimize practices that promote growth of critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity.
Ideal Candidates
Ideal candidates for positions at our school are experienced in and continue to develop expertise in social-emotional learning, project-based learning, cross-curricular integration, technology-rich and differentiated instruction. Ideal candidates thrive in a collaborative environment designing and delivering innovative and creative cross-curricular instructional units to students with diverse learning styles and needs.
Director of Student Services
St. Michael’s Catholic Preparatory School seeks a Director of Student Services who ensures that every student can thrive when known, supported, and challenged. This role ensures that academic services are aligned, proactive, and developmentally appropriate. The Director champions an inclusive philosophy that recognizes neurodiversity as a natural and valuable dimension of human identity. The role promotes differentiated instruction, accommodations, and wellness supports as essential components of high-quality teaching and learning, consistent with our mission to engage and inspire learners to become the best versions of themselves. The Director of Student Services cultivates strong partnerships among faculty, students, families, and external providers to ensure that each student is supported holistically and positioned for success.
Reporting to the Head of Lower School (HOLS) and working closely with the Head of Middle School (HOMS), the Academic Deans, as well as the PK-8th grade faculty, the Director collaborates to ensure coherence, effectiveness, and continuous improvement of services. She/he must possess and demonstrate a growth mindset and a student-centered approach. This is a full-time, 12 month position that begins in August 2026.
Responsibilities
Leadership and Program Implementation
- Lead a cohesive PK3–8 Student Services team, including learning specialists, a counselor, and external providers
- Establish clear expectations, professional learning opportunities, and accountability structures
- Ensure a comprehensive, research-based continuum of student support services aligned across divisions
- Implement and oversee a school-wide Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)
- Monitor emerging research and best practices in student support and learning differences to drive continuous improvement
Student Support Systems
- Ensure timely identification and support of students with emerging needs through clear referral, evaluation, and case-management processes
- Oversee Student Services Team processes across PK3–12, ensuring coordinated and holistic responses
- Supervise the analysis of evaluation data and development of accommodation plans
- Ensure accurate documentation, regular review, and appropriate updating of diagnoses and support plans
- Implement systems to track student progress and service effectiveness across grade levels
Teaching & Learning Partnership
- Promote strong collaboration between Student Services and faculty to support inclusive classrooms and differentiated instruction
- Ensure effective implementation of accommodations in classrooms
- Support faculty through coaching, consultation, and professional learning
- Collaborate with instructional leaders to advance inclusive, student-centered teaching
Family & Community Partnership
- Maintain clear, compassionate, and proactive communication with families regarding student needs, services, and supports
- Guide families through evaluation processes, interpretation of results, and implementation of recommendations
- Ensure smooth transitions between divisions
- Collaborate with Admissions to evaluate applicants and communicate program expectations and available supports
- Nurture partnership with external providers to ensure coordinated care
Systems & Operations
- Oversee contracted services delivered on campus, ensuring quality, coherence, and alignment with school values
- Develop efficient systems for documentation, communication, and service delivery
- Ensure compliance with relevant regulations, confidentiality standards, and best practices
- Promote consistency of services across divisions while respecting developmental differences
Qualifications and Education Requirements
The Director of Student Services will be able to demonstrate that they possess many of the following qualifications:
- Expertise in evidence-based learning support
- Demonstrated commitment to inclusive education
- Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills
- Strong organizational and systems-thinking abilities
- Collaborative leadership style that empowers teams and fosters professional growth
- Cultural competence and the ability to work effectively in a diverse, international community
- Ability to build trust with students, families, faculty, and external partners
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills and organizational skills
- Advanced degree in education, psychology, special education, or a related field
- Minimum of five years of experience in student support or learning services
- Leadership or supervisory experience strongly preferred