Director of Special Education - Immediate Vacancy

VISTA COLLEGE PREPARATORY INC • Phoenix, AZ

7d • $90,000 - $0 • Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Special Education leads the vision, strategy, and execution of special education programming across Vista College Prep campuses. The role ensures students with disabilities receive exceptional instruction, effective services, and appropriate support to achieve ambitious outcomes, while maintaining strong compliance and advancing student outcomes, instructional excellence, and continuous improvement. The Director reports to the Chief People Officer.

The Director builds sustainable systems, develops special education educators and teams, and fosters partnerships with campus leaders, teachers, families, and external stakeholders. This collaborative, solutions-oriented leader navigates change thoughtfully, builds trust across teams, and translates organizational vision into clear priorities and consistent execution.

The role is based at Vista College Prep’s Network Office in Phoenix, Arizona. The posted salary is $90,000. Vista offers a flexible and competitive compensation package, including benefits for full-time staff.

Requirements

• Deep commitment to Vista’s mission and belief that all students, including students with disabilities, can achieve at high levels.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusting, collaborative relationships with educators, school leaders, families, and other stakeholders.
• Strong coaching and people leadership skills, including developing others through clear expectations, actionable feedback, and ongoing support.
• Experience developing or improving systems that strengthen organizational effectiveness, accountability, and student outcomes.
• Ability to lead through change with transparency, sound judgment, adaptability, and a solutions-oriented mindset.
• Strong understanding of effective special education instruction and programming, with familiarity with federal and Arizona special education compliance requirements.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills, with a track record of translating complex priorities into consistent execution.
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Valid Arizona Special Education Teaching Certificate with appropriate K–8 certification or endorsement.
• Valid IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card.

Nice To Haves

• Two or more years of relevant leadership experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and develop special education team members and contracted service providers, directly or through other team leaders.
• Provide coaching, feedback, and professional development to strengthen instructional practice, case management, and service delivery.
• Build the capacity of general education teachers and campus leaders to support students with disabilities and implement IEPs.
• Establish roles, responsibilities, performance expectations, and accountability systems for the special education team; develop internal talent and leadership pipelines.
• Partner with Principals and campus teams to address student needs and strengthen special education services.
• Promote timely, transparent, and solutions-oriented communication with school and network leaders, teachers, families, and external stakeholders; strengthen family engagement and trust.
• Support teams in navigating complex student needs and challenging situations with sound judgment, empathy, and shared problem-solving.
• Translate the organization’s special education vision into priorities, plans, and systems that support consistent execution across campuses.
• Develop systems for tracking student services, IEP and MET timelines, documentation, progress monitoring, and compliance requirements.
• Use data to identify trends, prioritize improvements, and inform decisions about student services, staffing, and programming.
• Lead change by engaging stakeholders, communicating transparently, and building shared ownership; strengthen organizational structures, workflows, and decision-making processes.
• Set and execute a network-wide vision for special education that prioritizes student growth, achievement, inclusion, and access to rigorous instruction.
• Oversee the development, implementation, and evaluation of special education programming, including specially designed instruction, accommodations, modifications, and related services.
• Partner with campus leaders and teachers to support meaningful inclusion, high expectations, and joyful learning for students with disabilities.
• Evaluate program effectiveness using student achievement, progress monitoring, and service delivery data, and drive continuous improvement.
• Oversee the special education process, including Child Find, evaluations, eligibility determinations, IEP development and implementation, annual reviews, and reevaluations.
• Ensure compliance with federal and Arizona special education requirements, including IDEA, FAPE, procedural safeguards, and required timelines.
• Lead special education audits, monitoring, reporting, and corrective action planning, coordinating with external technical experts as needed.
• Oversee special education placements, related services, and complex student cases in partnership with school leaders and families.
• Develop and manage special education staffing models, budgets, and external service partnerships in alignment with student needs and organizational resources.

Benefits

• Competitive base salaries reflective of the local market, candidate experience, and education level.
• Healthcare plans for full-time staff, including health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance at low monthly premium costs and $0 copays.
• Confidential, 24/7, no-cost mental health resources and a healthcare concierge service.
• 401(k) through John Hancock with up to a 3% employer match.
• 12 days of PTO, parental leave, paid holidays, and Wellness Fridays built into the school calendar.
• Curricular materials, professional development, classroom supplies, staff laptop computers, and 1:1 devices for students.
• Opportunities for leadership, growth, and advancement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director