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Open Position: Academy Director

Job Title: Academy Director

Location

Remote

About Us

Blind Institute of Technology (BIT) is a forward-thinking, mission-driven organization dedicated to empowering professionals with disabilities through accessible, high-quality education and training. Our Academy programs, currently offering Salesforce Admin and Digital Accessibility Analyst certification courses, provide participants with the skills, knowledge, and practical experience needed to succeed in the workforce and advance their career opportunities. As we grow and expand our offerings, we are committed to fostering a supportive, inclusive, and dynamic learning environment that embraces diversity and drives success for all.

Due to two recently awarded grants, , we will be significantly growing our course offerings. This includes offering new subject matter, along with expanding the number of our current courses offered both within the US and abroad. All of our courses are offered virtually, are accessible for all disabilities and our complimentary to all of our Career Seekers.

Job Summary

We are seeking a passionate and proactive Academy Director to lead and shape the future of BIT’s Academy programs. As the driving force behind our Academy’s administration and development, you’ll play a pivotal role in enhancing the student and instructor experience, steering the success and growth of our Academy programs.

Your responsibilities as the Academy Director will include developing policies, managing schedules, guiding instructors, and evaluating program effectiveness to ensure a high-quality learning experience for all participants. You’ll ensure that our programs operate smoothly, effectively, and in full alignment with BIT’s mission. As BIT expands its program offerings, the Academy Director will play a critical role in shaping the direction and success of the Academy. Your strategic vision will be key to ensuring the continuous improvement, effective operation, and future expansion of our programs, contributing to BIT Academy’s overall success.
If you’re eager to contribute to BIT’s mission of providing accessible, impactful education and thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced environment, we encourage you to apply and make a meaningful impact in our growing Academy community.

Join us in making a difference by guiding a talented team of educators and helping us grow our mission of accessible education.

Responsibilities

  • Policy Development & Implementation:
    •  Create and enforce policies and procedures to support the effective operation and continuous improvement of BIT Academy programs.
    • Ensure all policies are up to date, in line with industry best practices, and comply with organizational standards.
    •  Regularly review and improve procedures to enhance program efficiency and quality.
  • Program Scheduling & Coordination:
    • Develop and manage program schedules, ensuring timely course offerings, instructor availability, and efficient use of resources.
  • Instructor Support Leadership & Development:
    • Provide guidance, mentorship, and support to the team of Academy instructors.
    • Facilitate regular check-ins and meetings to support instructional needs and foster a collaborative teaching environment.
    • Identify opportunities for instructor development and provide resources for continuous skill-building and training.
  • Program Effectiveness & Continuous Improvement:
    •  Evaluate program effectiveness through participant feedback, completion rates, and performance data.
    • Develop and implement assessment tools to gather insights into program quality and learning outcomes.
    • Analyze data to identify areas for improvement and execute necessary program enhancements.
  • Administrative Oversight & Compliance:
    • Ensure that all administrative processes, including enrollment, attendance tracking, and program documentation, are managed efficiently and adhere to organizational and regulatory standards.
  • Resource Allocation & Budget Management:
    •  Prepare and manage the Academy program budgets to ensure efficient use of funds.
    • Allocate resources effectively to support current program operations and future growth.
    • Monitor expenditures and adjust as necessary to align with organizational priorities and program needs.
  • Stakeholder Communication & Support:
    • Serve as the primary contact for Academy-related inquiries from leadership and progress reports.
    • Build and maintain strong relationships with instructors, participants, community partners, and other stakeholders.
    • Prepare regular reports and updates for Salesforce, detailing program progress, participant outcomes, and areas for growth.
    • Promote BIT’s Academy programs to external partners and community contacts.
  • Strategic Planning & Program Expansion:
    •  Collaborate with leadership to plan for the growth and expansion of BIT’s Academy offerings.
    • Identify operational adjustments needed to improve program scalability while maintaining quality and integrity.

Qualifications

  • Education & Experience:
    • Bachelor’s degree in Education, Program Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field preferred.
    • Proven experience in program administration, educational leadership, or similar roles.
  • Knowledge & Skills:
    • Strong project management skills with the ability to develop and implement program policies, schedules, and administrative processes.
    • Understanding of disability-related learning needs and inclusive teaching practices, with a commitment to creating accessible educational environments.
    • Excellent leadership abilities to mentor and support a diverse team of instructors.
    • Strong analytical skills to assess program effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement and scaling.
    • Ability to prioritize, multitask, and problem-solve in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
    • Demonstrates effective communication and interpersonal skills.
    • Proficiency in Google Suite and MS Office.
    • Knowledge of accessible technology and learning tools is preferred.

We are a team of professionals, most possessing a variety of disabilities. Professionals within the disabilities community are strongly encouraged to apply. This position is a fully remote, FTE position with a starting salary range of $65K-$75K annually with a healthy benefits package. We would like to fill this position quickly, so please don’t delay in sending your resume and cover letter to Candidates@BlindIT.org, referencing this position in the subject line.

BITs of Glamour: A Masquerade Ball

"BITS of Glamour: A Masquerade Ball" presented by the Blind Institute of Technology, featuring a gold and red eye mask with feathers. The event is on Saturday, February 1, 2025. Early bird ticket prices are $100 each or $1,000 per table. Purchase by January 17, 2025, to get the discount.

BITs of Glamour: A Masquerade Ball

Images Description: “BITS of Glamour: A Masquerade Ball” presented by the Blind Institute of Technology, featuring a gold and red eye mask with feathers. The event is on Saturday, February 1, 2025. Early bird ticket prices are $100 each or $1,000 per table. Purchase by January 17, 2025, to get the discount.

Remembering Doris Marie Barton: A Life of Love and Advocacy

Doris Marie Barton – a beloved grandmother, educator, and advocate who left a lasting legacy.

Remembering Doris Marie Barton: A Life of Love and Advocacy

At the Blind Institute of Technology (BIT), we are constantly inspired by the stories of people who bring purpose and heart to their lives. One such story is that of Doris Marie Barton – a beloved grandmother, educator, and advocate who left a lasting legacy.

A Life Well Lived

Born in 1942 in Marshall, Texas, Doris spent her early years in a close-knit community before finding her calling as an English teacher later in life. Known affectionately as “Grammé,” she was a woman of deep faith and unwavering curiosity, always seeking answers and solutions.

In preparation for Y2K, Doris and her husband Gerald moved to a farm in Athens, Texas, transforming it into a sanctuary for her family and a haven for animals. Taylor, her granddaughter and BIT’s Apprenticeship Program Manager, fondly recalls cooking with her and feeding sugar cubes to horses, picking blackberries, and watching ducks waddle through the property. Doris’s love for animals ran so deep that she even dedicated a “cat room” in her garage to care for stray kittens.

Just over an hour outside of Dallas, Taylor remembers visits to Athens as feeling like a mini-vacation – an escape from the busy city to acres of peaceful countryside. Doris loved pet-sitting, finding joy in caring for animals, and creating a welcoming environment for Taylor and her family.

Grace Through Challenges

In her later years, Doris faced vision loss due to macular degeneration, which gradually worsened over the last five years of her life. Despite this, she remained resilient, finding gratitude in the treatments she received and maintaining her signature optimism.

Doris never let her challenges define her. Instead, she focused on learning about the blind and low-vision community, determined to understand and connect with their experiences. This shared understanding brought her closer to Taylor, who also lives with vision loss.

Taylor’s Journey of Advocacy

Doris played a crucial role in shaping Taylor’s perspective on disability and inclusion. Diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at just 15, Taylor faced challenges that Doris helped her navigate with love and encouragement. Doris also connected Taylor with others experiencing vision loss, helping her forge meaningful connections and build confidence. 

Cooking was another way Doris and Taylor bonded. As Doris began struggling to read recipes, they found joy in learning new ways to cook together. From birds’ nest (or haystacks) – Chinese noodles covered in peanut butter and butterscotch – to her famous million-dollar fudge, Doris passed down her love of cooking and the special recipes that connected their family.

Taylor’s work with BIT has transformed her into a passionate advocate for accessibility. Whether reaching out to companies about usability improvements or sharing her story, Taylor credits BIT and her grandmother for giving her the courage to speak up and make change happen. When asked for advice to give others, Taylor shared, “Advocating for accessibility isn’t just the responsibility of people with disabilities – companies need to take accountability, too,” Taylor says. “Don’t be afraid to speak up!”

Pride in Purpose

When Taylor joined the Blind Institute of Technology, Doris could not have been prouder. She frequently called Taylor, leaving heartfelt voicemails expressing how proud she was of Taylor’s dedication and the incredible impact BIT was making. Doris’s background as a teacher gave her a deep appreciation for purpose-driven work, and she was thrilled to see her granddaughter thrive in an organization dedicated to making a difference.

Doris’s pride in BIT extended beyond words. In her final wishes, she asked friends and family to donate to BIT in lieu of flowers, ensuring that her legacy would continue to support inclusion and opportunity for others.

Carrying the Legacy Forward

Doris’s life was a testament to compassion, curiosity, and purpose. The donations made in her honor will fuel BIT’s mission of empowering professionals with disabilities, continuing her legacy of making the world a better place.

“Her support gave me the foundation to embrace my disability and use it as a strength,” Taylor says. “She taught me to always find joy and to give back wherever I could.”

We are privileged to honor Doris’s memory and carry her kindness and advocacy into our work every day.

C2HR  2024 Award Recipient

C2HR  2024 Award Recipient

C2HR 2024 Award Recipient

BIT is proud to announce that our Founder/Executive Director, Mike Hess, has been honored with the prestigious C2HR Content & Connectivity Human Resources Game Changer Award in the Ignitor category for his outstanding commitment to creating clear pathways for employment opportunities for professionals with disabilities. Mike’s efforts have truly transformed the landscape for professionals with disabilities.

Check out all the 2024 award winners: https://c2hr.org/2024-winners/

Save The Date – “BITS” of Brilliance Salesforce Org Jam

Save the date for our BITS of brilliance salesforce org jam on July 24

Image Description:

This green BIT save the date webinar graphic has the BIT logo in the bottom right-hand corner, the date of July 24, 10AM PST circled and the following text: “BITS” of Brilliance: Salesforce Org Jam. Six talented Salesforce Administrators will battle it out as they showcase their live demos in a friendly competition. Who will reign supreme?

BIT Academy Updates

Hold onto your hats because the BIT Academy has been on fire this past month! We are currently cruising into week 7 of our third cohort in the Digital Accessibility Analyst Program. Who knows what surprises and discoveries await us in the weeks to come?

Our students continue to blow us away with their dedication and talent. Just when we thought they couldn’t get any more amazing, we had yet another student from the second cohort pass their Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) exam! Huge congratulations to Katya Chupryna on this incredible achievement!

And that’s not all! Get ready to mark your calendars because we are on the brink of unveiling a new BIT Academy website! This versatile platform will showcase all of our fantastic courses, student portfolios, industry-specific resources and tools, and even publications from our brilliant students and staff.

There’s more excitement in store! The Academy has placed four candidates with one of the largest communication technology companies on the planet for an exciting year-long contract conducting accessibility analysis. Talk about making waves in the industry!

Stay tuned because the adventure at the BIT Academy is just getting started!