Executive Director of Education

The Children's Institute of Pittsburgh•Pittsburgh, PA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Day School at The Children’s Institute provides transformative educational experiences for students with complex needs through compassionate care, innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and individualized support. The Executive Director of Education plays a vital leadership role in shaping the future of specialized education while making a lasting impact on students, families, staff, and the broader community. The Executive Director of Education serves as the senior educational and operational leader of The Day School (TDS) at The Children’s Institute and is responsible for the strategic leadership, administration, and overall performance of the school. The Executive Director of Education provides visionary leadership to ensure exceptional educational programming, operational excellence, regulatory compliance, interdisciplinary collaboration, and positive student outcomes for children with complex educational, behavioral, communication, developmental, and therapeutic needs. This position reports to the President and CEO. This role is responsible for all aspects of school leadership, including educational programming, student services, staffing, compliance, budgeting, operational oversight, safety, culture, and stakeholder engagement. This role ensures that students and families experience a compassionate, inclusive, safe, and student-centered environment that supports academic achievement, social-emotional growth, communication, independence, and the development of lifelong skills.

Requirements

Master’s Degree in Special Education, Educational Leadership, School Administration, or related field from an accredited college or university required.
Pennsylvania or equivalent non-PA Certification in Special Education required.
Pennsylvania or equivalent non-PA Principal K–12 Certification or Supervisor of Special Education required PK-12.
Current CPR and First Aid Certification required or obtained upon hire.
Act 73 FBI, Act 34 Criminal Clearance, and Act 33 Child Abuse Clearance
Minimum of ten (10) years of progressive experience in special education or related educational programming is required.
Minimum of five (5) years of successful educational leadership and administrative experience required, preferably within a special education setting.

Nice To Haves

Doctoral degree preferred.
Prefer Superintendent Letter of Eligibility and/or Supervisor of Special Education Certification.
Experience overseeing multidisciplinary teams, educational operations, and strategic initiatives preferred.

Responsibilities

Serves as a member of the Senior Leadership Team of The Children’s Institute and contributes to organizational planning, growth strategies, operational excellence, and mission advancement.
Identifies opportunities for program expansion, innovation, and strategic partnerships that enhance services and support organizational growth.
Develops and communicates a clear vision for The Day School that promotes student success, educational excellence, innovation, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
Leads and supports organizational change initiatives within The Day School and across The Children’s Institute, ensuring thoughtful planning, communication, and implementation.
Drives organizational change by effectively managing transitions, fostering stakeholder alignment, and maintaining team engagement.
Provides clear direction and stability during periods of transition, helping staff navigate change with confidence, clarity, and purpose.
Oversees the planning, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of educational programming and services.
Ensures curriculum, instruction, assessment, and interventions align with Pennsylvania standards, special education regulations, and evidence-based practices.
Develop and oversees performance metrics to evaluate student achievement, behavioral outcomes, attendance, program effectiveness, and organizational goal attainment.
Oversees student placement, classroom grouping, staffing models, scheduling, and Extended School Year (ESY) programming.
Directs all school operations to ensure effective, efficient, safe, and compliant educational services.
staffing structures, operational systems, communication processes, transportation coordination, safety planning, and facility operations related to The Day School.
Ensures compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, licensing standards, and accreditation requirements.
Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of Pennsylvania Public School Code, IDEA, Chapter 14 regulations, and other applicable special education laws and requirements.
Oversees preparation for Pennsylvania Department of Education reviews, audits, licensing activities, and compliance monitoring.
Recruits, hires, supervises, develops, evaluates, and retains highly qualified staff committed to the mission and values of the organization.
Provides leadership, mentorship, coaching, and performance management for school leaders and employees.
Builds strong relationships with students, families, school districts, referral sources, and community partners.
Serves as an advocate for students and families while promoting exceptional educational experiences and outcomes.