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Transition Coordinator

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As a Transition Coordinator with The Menta Education Group, you will prepare students aged 14-22 to embrace life after school in a behavioral, emotional and social capacity. You will bridge the critical gap between school and adult life by implementing an "outside-the-school-walls" mindset that centers on fostering student independence, building robust community networks and navigating the real world.

Bourbonnais, IL.

General Staff Hours 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday-Friday. Occasional Responsibilities beyond work hours.

Responsibilities

Student Support, Coaching & Self-Advocacy

  • Supervision & Behavioral Management: Supervise students in groups and individually, monitoring behavior to ensure alignment with programmatic expectations.

  • Student Counseling: Counsel students on personal, social, behavioral, or academic issues affecting their educational progress.

  • Person-Centered Planning: Ensure every student actively leads or participates in their own Individualized Education Program (IEP) transition meetings. Utilize assistive technology, visual choice boards or person-centered tools to provide a voice for students with limited or non-verbal communication.

  • Goal Realism & Guidance: Manage complex dynamics where a student's post-secondary dream conflicts with parental wishes or current skill realities. Apply strategies like "failing safely" (e.g., career-testing, job shadowing and temporary classes) alongside stepping-stone goals to gently navigate reality without crushing student ambition.

    • Compliance, Data, & Transition Assessments

  • Student Evaluations: Evaluate individual student abilities, interests and personality characteristics using tests, records, interviews and professional sources.

  • Multi-Faceted Assessment: Administer age-appropriate formal and informal transition assessments evaluating independent living, travel/transit skills, and actual work behaviors to formulate compliant, measurable post-secondary goals.

  • IDEA Compliance: Apply strong knowledge of Individualized Education Act (IDEA) transition mandates to draft audited, highly scrutinized goals and dynamically pivot plans based on assessment data.

  • Rigorous Progress Tracking: Utilize robust organizational systems such as digital tracking tools, rubric-based feedback from job coaches, and student self-monitoring checklists to track and document progress when students are off-campus at work-based learning sites.

    • Collaboration, Networking & Program Development

  • Community Site Development: Develop and maintain strong relationships with community sites, public transit systems, and external agencies.

  • Work-Based Opportunities: Develop work-study programs, internships, and volunteer opportunities for students to gain competitive experience while completing their high school curriculum.

  • Agency Connections: Manage the "Service Cliff" by facilitating warm handovers introducing families directly to agency contacts and connecting students with Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS), and developmental disability boards.

  • Business Empathy & Partnerships: Proactively engage local business owners, pitching inclusive hiring benefits and demonstrating how a transitioning student adds tangible value to their workforce.

    • Workplace Intervention & Crisis Management

  • Workplace Learning Labs: Safely intervene when work-based placements experience friction, behavioral incidents, or employer misunderstandings.

  • Student Independence Coaching: Use workplace mistakes as a live curriculum, coaching students on how to navigate portals, look up records, request legal accommodations,and repair professional relationships independently rather than filling out paperwork for them.

    • Qualifications

  • Education: Bachelor’s Degree strongly preferred.

  • Background in education or social work preferred.

  • Regulatory Knowledge: Demonstrate deep, compliance-centered knowledge of transitioning students as per the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandates.

  • Transition & Coaching Experience: Documented knowledge and/or experience placing and coaching students in jobs, as well as assisting them in transitioning to college, career, and independent life.

  • Systemic Mindset: Demonstrated ability to constantly focus on the "real world," utilizing community agency networks, public transit routes, and outer-community resources.

  • Behavioral & Performance Knowledge: Knowledge of human behavior, performance, and specific student needs (e.g., Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD).

  • Professional Soft Skills: High level of professionalism, strong decision-making skills, and the ability to communicate calmly, transparently, and effectively in writing across varied audiences, including resistant families, school teams, and litigious stakeholders.

    • This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive, and the employee shall perform other reasonably related school duties as assigned by administrators. This organization reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

    Compensation & Benefits

  • In accordance with the Pay Transparency amendment to the Illinois Equal Pay Act of 2003, information about pay ranges and employee benefits can be found at the following links:
  • Compensation Information:
  • Salary Range $40,000 to $75,000 annually
  • Our benefits package includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance; paid time off (PTO); and a 403(b) retirement plan with an employer match. For more information visit:
    • About Menta Academy Bourbonnais

    At Menta Academy Bourbonnais, our team is all about helping kids be their best in three key areas:
    • Developing a love of learning.
    • Gaining the tools necessary to shine academically.
    • Becoming good people beyond the classroom.

    We've set up our classes to be lively and engaging so every student can have a shot at both learning and behaving well each day. We're here to support each student's unique learning journey and make sure they're set up for success in school and beyond.

    We are dedicated to supporting each child tirelessly, ensuring they receive the assistance and resources necessary to overcome obstacles, attain academic success, leave a lasting imprint on their communities, and unleash their complete potential.

    Accreditation
    Menta Academy Bourbonnais is approved by the Illinois State Board of Education as a nonpublic educational facility () for special education students in kindergarten through age 22. It offers elementary, middle and high school programming to children with diverse learning needs.
    Menta Academy Bourbonnais is NCA accreditation through Advanced Education.
    Approved Free and Reduced Lunch Provider under Illinois State Board of Education.


    Professional Associations and/or Partnerships

    The Menta Education Group affiliates are members/partners with CEC, CASE, Autism Speaks, ASBA, AAPSEC, AASA, CCSSO, SEAA, ASCD, and many more associations that focus on the education of children with disabilities.
    Equal Opportunity Employer
    The Menta Education Group (“Menta”) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, gender identity and gender expression), color, national origin, religion, age, pregnancy or related conditions, veteran status, sexual orientation, disability or any other basis protected under federal, state or local law. Any individual needing assistance in making an application for any opening should contact Menta’s office.
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    What this application asks

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    Resume/CV, Full name, Email, Phone, Current location, Current company, LinkedIn URL

    • Pronouns choose one · optional
    • Legal Name and Other name(s) Include previous last names, surname aka, shortened names/name variations and nicknames. Include Legal Name if not previously provided in name field. written answer
    • Street Address
    • City
    • State/Province choose one · optional
    • Zip Code
    • High School - Name, City and State
    • What is your highest attained degree? choose one · optional
    • Undergraduate University choose one · optional
    • Undergraduate Degree and/or Coursework optional
    • Masters and/or PHD University choose one · optional
    • Masters and/or PHD Degree / Coursework optional
    • If you are currently working towards a degree, what is your anticipated completion date? optional
    • Are you a previous employee of The Menta Education Group? choose one
    • Are you a current employee of The Menta Education Group? choose one
    • Do you hold a state teaching license or certificate? choose one · optional
    • Do you hold a state Paraprofessional Certification? choose one · optional
    • What state has, or will be, issuing your license/certificate? optional
    • Do you have any other endorsements and/or verifications documented on your license(s)? written answer · optional
    • Provide any social work or clinical license type, State of License and Status (e.g. LCSW IL Active Status) written answer · optional
    • Please provide your IDFPR License Number, Certification Type (e.g. Occupational Therapist or Speech Language Pathologist), Status (e.g. Active) and Expiration Date written answer · optional
    • [1] Employer optional
    • [1] Employer Location optional
    • [1] Dates Employed optional
    • [1] Job Title and Duties written answer · optional
    • [2] Employer optional
    • [2] Employer Location optional
    • [2] Dates Employed optional
    • [2] Job Title and Duties written answer · optional
    • [3] Employer optional
    • [3] Employer Location optional
    • [3] Dates Employed optional
    • [3] Job Title and Duties written answer · optional
    • Name, Title, Place of Employment ,Phone, Email and where you worked with Reference written answer · optional
    • Name, Title, Place of Employment ,Phone, Email and where you worked with Reference written answer · optional
    • Name, Title, Place of Employment ,Phone, Email and where you worked with Reference written answer · optional
    • Name, Title, Place of Employment ,Phone, Email and where you worked with Reference written answer · optional
    • Do you have a valid Driver's License? choose one
    • Do you have a valid Passenger Endorsement on your Driver's License choose one · optional
    • Do you have a CDL-B License choose one
    • Do you know any language(s) other than English? If so, please indicate which language(s) below: written answer · optional
    • Were you referred by a current Menta Employee? If so, please name: written answer · optional
    • Are you over 21 years of age? choose one
    • Are you willing to undergo a drug test in order to work in our school? choose one
    • Are you eligible to work in the United States? choose one
    • Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offense, other than a minor traffic violation (You are not obligated to disclose sealed or expunged records of convictions or arrests)**see below choose one · optional
    • ** You do not need to respond to this question until after you have been selected for an interview or otherwise deemed to be qualified as a candidate for the position you are seeking. Additionally, a conviction record will not automatically result in disqualification for employment - the nature, date(s), rehabilitation, and relation to job sought will be considered. optional
    • If yes, please explain and provide dates: written answer · optional
    • Have you ever had any indicated finding of child abuse filed in your name? choose one
    • Does your name appear on any sex offender database in any state or country? choose one
    • CONSENT TO BACKGROUND CHECK: Section 10-21.9 of The School Code of the State of Illinois and A.R.S. 15-534(A) in Arizona (“Applicable School Code”) require that an applicant for employment with a school district is required, as a condition of employment, to authorize a fingerprint investigation to ascertain if the applicant has been convicted of certain criminal offenses. The Applicable School Code also stipulates that the School District perform a check on the Statewide Sex Offender Database. Should I be a candidate for employment with Special Education Services, I agree to authorize both investigations and will allow myself to be fingerprinted as a part of this investigation. Candidate may not be employed unless such investigation has been initiated. I certify that the information given by me in this application is true in all respects, and I agree that if the information given is found to be false or misleading in any way, it shall be considered sufficient cause for denial of employment or, if already hired, discharge. I authorize the use of any information in the application to verify my statement, and I authorize past employers, all references and any other person to answer all questions asked concerning my ability, character, reputation, previous employment and education record or anything else contained in this application. I expressly release all such third parties from any liability or damages on account of having furnished such information, as well as Special Education Services for seeking any verification of such information contained in this application. yes / no · optional