Director of Education

LEARN Academy•Santa Monica, CA

1d•$90,750 - $127,050•Hybrid

About The Position

LEARN Academy, a division of Learn Academy, operates certified K–12 Private Day Schools approved by state Departments of Education to provide Special Education Services. LEARN Academy is also an approved provider for Alternative Education and Alternative to Suspension programs across multiple states. LEARN Academy utilizes highly structured systems of Positive Behavior Support, treating the whole child across all developmental domains. Our programs are guided by evidence-based practices for social-emotional regulation and academic success. Staff are trained in a unique, program-specific methodology that equips students with functional independence skills across all developmental domains. The Director of Education — Multi-Market is a critical lever in improving student achievement across a portfolio of school locations. This is a year-round position not limited to the traditional academic year. The Director is responsible for conducting themselves professionally and in accordance with all HR Policies and Procedures as outlined in the LEARN Employee Manual.

Requirements

Master's Degree in Special Education or Educational Leadership required.
Dual certification preferred (General Education and Special Education).
State-specific SPED certification required.
Additional state credentials strongly preferred.
Minimum 5 years teaching students with specialized needs.
Minimum 3 years educational leadership experience.
Experience supporting adult learning and staff development preferred.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish work across multiple sites and markets.
Collaboration: Bringing others together and working toward common goals; reconciling differences across diverse teams.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Management of People Resources: Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work; identifying the best people for the job.
Management of Material Resources: Obtaining and overseeing the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to support program delivery.
Learning Strategies: Selecting and using training and instructional methods appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Multi-Market Awareness: Demonstrated ability to operate across multiple regulatory environments, school cultures, and geographic markets simultaneously.
Integrity: Modeling ethical behavior for colleagues and students at all times.
Independence: Developing one's own way of doing things; guiding oneself with little or no supervision and depending on oneself to get things done.
Analytical Thinking: Analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Leadership: A willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Client-Centered: Constantly mindful of our mission to help children and families.
Adaptability: Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, multi-site environment with evolving regulatory and program requirements.
This role supervises one or more Instructional Coaches and/or credentialed educational staff across assigned school locations. Supervisory scope expands commensurate with portfolio growth.
Required to push, pull, and lift up to 100 lbs.
Must be able to walk, stand, and sit for long periods of time.
There may be times when you will need to exert control of clients within the guidelines of ABA.
Can communicate expressively and receptively, verbally and in writing.
Problem Sensitivity: The ability to recognize when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
Candidates must be presently eligible to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Dual certification preferred (General Education and Special Education).
Additional state credentials strongly preferred.
Experience supporting adult learning and staff development preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement educational programs meeting the academic and behavioral needs of students with specialized needs, including intellectual disabilities, autism, emotional and behavioral disorders, and other disabilities.
Develop and implement systems to monitor student progress, assess student needs, and evaluate academic and behavioral program effectiveness across all assigned sites.
Serve as Lead in curriculum development, adoption of educationally related programs, textbook and online program adoption, and any education-based ancillary materials.
Serve as Coordinator for all State Testing across assigned markets, ensuring compliance and preparation.
Ensure compliance with all federal and state laws and regulations related to special education, including IDEA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, across all assigned markets.
Assist in school certifications and accreditations processes in each state of operation.
Stay current on state-specific regulatory changes and ensure timely policy updates across the portfolio.
Provide direct supervision and professional development to Instructional Coaches and credentialed teachers across assigned sites.
Provide guidance and support to ensure high-quality instruction and effective classroom management at all locations.
Serve as Instructor and/or facilitate instruction of Teacher Seminars offered to first-year, prospective, and veteran teachers seeking to refine instructional practices.
Coordinate and participate in professional development opportunities for staff; lead PLC calendar development and execution.
Work collaboratively with team members within and across regions, BCL/LEARN Site Administrators, and instruction support specialists to develop, update, and ensure the academic and intellectual welfare of students.
Manage and coordinate testing protocols and academic assessment systems across all assigned school locations.
Partner with the President and BD team on new market opportunities, district relationship support, and program expansion initiatives as needed.
Stay up-to-date on the latest research and best practices in special education to ensure effective practices are selected, modeled, and implemented across the organization.
Design, develop, and deliver a comprehensive staff training framework across all assigned markets, covering ABA/PBS methodology, evidence-based instructional strategies, classroom management, crisis intervention protocols, and IEP implementation.
Serve as primary Instructor and/or facilitate the Teacher Academy for first-year, prospective, and veteran teachers — with a minimum of 4 structured sessions per market per school year.
Build and maintain a training calendar aligned to onboarding timelines, school-year milestones, and state-required professional development hours.
Develop differentiated training tracks for new hires, paraprofessionals, Instructional Coaches, and credentialed teachers to ensure role-appropriate skill development.
Evaluate training effectiveness using pre/post assessments, classroom observation data, and staff performance metrics; continuously refine content based on outcomes.
Maintain a library of training materials, resources, and SOPs accessible to all site staff across markets.
Ensure all training programs are compliant with state licensure/CEU requirements where applicable.