Director, Special Education

San Diego Unified School District•San Diego, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This opportunity is open to all interested candidates. OVERVIEW: San Diego Unified School District, the second largest district in California and one of the top largest urban school districts in the United States, is looking for leaders who care deeply for students, inspire passion in their coworkers through collaborative leadership, and are committed to the communities in which they serve. The District seeks leaders who are committed to educational equity and work to create access and opportunity for our students furthest from education justice. Successful candidates must demonstrate their skill as an instructional leader, a firm understanding of school operations, as well as the capacity to build strong relationships with all partners within a school community. BASIC FUNCTION: Plan, organize, manage, and direct the daily operations within assigned Special Education programs and services to support schools, staff, students, and families; uphold fiscal responsibilities; ensure compliance with State and federal mandates and District policies; provide leadership, direction, and supervision to assigned staff to continually improve and calibrate special education programs and services. The Director of Special Education (Specialized Supports) , provides leadership, coordination, oversight for specialized supports/programs (Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Successful Transition Achieved through Responsive Support-STARS, Extended School Year, Low Incidence) and related services (Speech and Language, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, School Psychology) to ensure equitable, legally compliant, and high-quality supports for students with disabilities. DIVERSITY STATEMENT: Because each person is born with inherent worth and dignity, and because equitable access and opportunity are essential to a just, educated society, San Diego Unified employee commitments include being respectful of differences and diverse perspectives, and being accountable for one’s actions and the resulting impact.

Requirements

Master's degree in special education or related field and five (5) years of leadership experience in education.
Valid California Administrative Services Credential.

Nice To Haves

Special education teaching experience is desirable.

Responsibilities

Direct and assist in the design and implementation of district-wide special educational initiatives.
Direct special education programs, services, and school sites in support of equity and access; coordinate programs and services in general education and specialized settings; provide leadership in the development and implementation of special education programs and services in support of students and families.
Oversee policies and procedures for administering services for assessment, identification, certification, establishment of priority, and placement of students in special education program schools and classes for assigned programs and services.
Design and implement communications and service delivery systems that are effective in providing timely communications, support, and resources across the District.
Conduct research, analyze data, and prepare statistical reports to support and implement best practices.
Develop, allocate, and monitor budgets for assigned programs, services, facilities, equipment, staffing, and inventories to ensure fiscal responsibility.
Assist management within instructional departments in planning programs, implementation of services to support high expectations, and standards of performance for all students.
Collaborate with governmental agencies, regional agencies, and others related to special education services for students; organize and negotiate development of interagency agreements, coordinate activities and programs, resolve issues and conflicts, and exchange information.
Provide leadership in the review of existing and pending legislation related to special education guidelines and District policies; recommend origination, modification, or support of legislative measures.
Plan, organize, and implement long and short-term projects to enhance special education programs and services to students.
Direct the preparation and maintenance of a variety of statistical and narrative reports, records and files for special education functions and staff to ensure reporting requirements are met for federal and state agencies, district officials and the Board of Education.
Plan and coordinate staff trainings in special education laws and regulations, compliance issues, corrective actions, program development, and related functions.
Direct the preparation of funding applications for new and existing grants and other funding sources and for reimbursement requests ensuring compliance with funding requirements as appropriate.
Supervise and evaluate the performance of assigned staff.
Provide leadership and supervision for specialized supports/programs and related service providers across the district.
Ensure compliance with IDEA, state and federal regulations, and district policies related to special education services and programming.
Collaborate with site leaders, program managers, and multidisciplinary teams to support inclusive practices and equitable access for students with disabilities.
Oversee the implementation, coordination, and continuous improvement of STARS, ESY, and Low Incidence programs and services.
Support recruitment, supervision, professional learning, and evaluation of specialized support staff including SLPs, OTs, PTs, Psychologists, and Low Incidence personnel.
Monitor program effectiveness, service delivery models, staffing allocations, and student outcomes through data-informed practices.
Facilitate collaboration with families, school teams, community agencies, and SELPA partners to support student success.
Assist with program development, budgeting, compliance activities, and strategic planning related to specialized supports and services.