Regional Student Support Lead (PreK-12) - Specialized Student Services

Mesa USD 4•Mesa, AZ

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Regional Student Support Lead supports the implementation of high-quality special education services within a designated PreK–12 grade region. The role prioritizes leadership and compliance oversight at the high school level (approximately 75% focus) while providing targeted systems support for PreK–8 schools within the same region (approximately 25% focus). This position ensures alignment with district policies, state and federal laws, and promotes effective, evidence-based instructional practices for students with disabilities across all grade bands.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in education, special education, or a related field.
Valid Arizona Department of Education teaching certificate and SEI endorsement or related certificate.
Minimum of three years of successful classroom teaching or related experience.
Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and maintain attention to detail.
High reliability in meeting deadlines for IEPs, METs, evaluations, and student counts.
Demonstrated growth in instructional practice and compliance outcomes within assigned schools.
Proactive engagement with site administrators and staff to resolve issues and build capacity.
Regular documentation and reporting of site support activities and student outcome data.
Strong collaboration with regional and district leadership teams.

Nice To Haves

Arizona Supervisor or Principal Certificate
Experience in instructional leadership, coaching, and team collaboration
Strong knowledge of IDEA, state/federal special education law, and compliance requirements

Responsibilities

Serve as a regional leader for special education services, with primary responsibility for supporting high school special education systems and practices.
Collaborate with site and district leaders to implement a continuum of services aligned with IDEA, state statutes, and district expectations.
Actively participate in regional leadership teams to promote cross-departmental alignment, collaborative problem-solving, and continuous improvement efforts.
Coordinate high school special education caseloads, student schedules, and service models to ensure efficient service delivery and balanced staff workloads.
Provide direct coaching and job-embedded support to special education teachers and support staff on effective instructional strategies, compliance, and IEP implementation.
Monitor and support adherence to IEP compliance, including timelines, content accuracy, progress reports, METs, and transfer paperwork using compliance checklists.
Support site teams in preparing for and participating in state and district monitoring or audits.
Oversee accurate student counts for staffing allocations and reporting purposes.
Collaborate with school registrars and leadership to align special education student schedules with the master schedule.
Support the development and refinement of the master schedule to meet the needs of students receiving specialized services.
Participate in and facilitate transition meetings between junior high and high school to ensure smooth student hand-offs, accurate course requests, and aligned services.
Assist in planning and implementing programming that supports students moving from PreK through grade 12, with a focus on successful postsecondary transitions.
Serve as the District Representative at IEP meetings, ensuring legal and procedural fidelity and effective family communication at the high school level.
Facilitate and complete Manifestation Determination Reviews in alignment with district protocols and legal standards at the high school level.
Coordinate and provide professional learning and site-based training for special education personnel, focusing on instructional quality, compliance, and effective student support practices.
Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate special education instructional assistants and clerical support staff at the high school site.
Collaborate with school and district assessment teams to coordinate state and district testing for students with disabilities, including alternate assessments and accommodations.
Use data to inform instructional support, compliance monitoring, and staffing decisions.
Provide consultative support to PreK–8 schools in the region, ensuring consistent implementation of district procedures, instructional expectations, and early intervention systems.
Offer technical assistance to elementary and junior high sites on compliance, instructional coaching, and transition support.
Attend district- and site-level meetings and complete other responsibilities as assigned in alignment with Mesa Public Schools’ goals and priorities.