The Director, Special Education will play a key role in standing up and maintaining a new business unit that provides centralized special education services to K-12 students across the ACCEL Schools network. This position will be responsible for initial organizational design and strategy as well as day-to-day execution, in close collaboration with leadership at the corporate and school levels.
The overarching goals of this business unit are to improve achievement for all students who receive specialized services as noted in an IEP or 504 plan in a compliant and cost-effective manner.
Key Responsibilities:
Operational Leadership
- Develop an implementation approach consistent with ACCEL Schools’/network strategy.
- Forecast schools’ staffing needs related to special education services. Work with recruitment team to support special education hiring.
- Manage operational costs, create special education budgeting recommendations, and consult with special education coordinators, school leaders and the school’s finance partners.
Compliance
- Analyze and report on special education services provided and associated costs on a regular basis.
- Ensure that Special Education and 504 documentation is completed thoroughly and timely and stored in the appropriate systems.
- Work with regional Operations team to ensure valid data for all state and local reporting.
Programmatic Leadership
- Consult with Principals and regional special education coordinators to develop, monitor, and evaluate the effectiveness of special education programs including school visits, regular check-ins and coaching.
- Consult with schools on high-need student cases that involve special placement decisions or unique logistical issues (i.e. transportation, medical services, homebound instruction, etc.).
- Co-lead cases involving lawyer or parent advocate involvement in collaboration with school personnel.
- Design and deliver professional development workshops for special education professionals.
- Serve as a point of contact for internal programmatic and compliance questions related to Special Education (including services, discipline, etc.).
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education required, Master’s Degree preferred
- Minimum three years Special Education Leadership experience required
- Experience with management and/or coaching of professional staff
- Knowledge of national, state, and local special education statutes and laws required
- OH State Certification in Special Education preferred
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
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