Centering our work around special education teachers and students, the Director of Special Education will lead one of KIPP Northern California’s priorities: operating joyful, academically excellent schools. In this position, they will disrupt inequities in educational access and outcomes by upholding the bar of excellence for our organizational teaching and learning vision, driving student academic growth and achievement, and ensuring inclusive, positive school cultures. The Director will identify, plan and establish goals and objectives to promote region-wide achievement and growth for students with disabilities across our continuum of services. The Director of Special Education will provide leadership and guidance to promote high expectations and standards for quality teaching and learning of students with special needs.

The Director of Special Education centers students with disabilities in all of their decision making. They believe that our teachers deserve best in class training and support to meet the needs of a diverse learning population. This leader has expertise and experience working with students with disabilities and their school teams. The Director supports teammates to lean into collaboration and is able to influence others when there is no direct reporting structure. This individual roots decisions in equity for children with disabilities and is a champion of ensuring that pathways to choice filled lives exist for all students.

This is a hybrid role with the expectation that 3 days per week be spent onsite at our school campuses or at our Regional Support Office in Oakland.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

At least 7-10 years experience as a special education teacher (required)
Direct Special Education coaching experience (required)
Direct school leadership experience (2-5 years) (Highly desired)

Education:

Bachelor’s (required)
Master’s degree in education leadership or special education (Highly desired)

Knowledge/skills required:

Ability to analyze and use data on a regular basis to drive decision making
Strong leadership abilities including an encouraging, motivating presence to help with conflict management, team building, mentoring and coaching, goal-setting, prioritization and strategic planning
Expertise in instructional design and implementation, including curriculum and assessment
Systems-orientation and thinking, someone who can build from scratch and bring a vision to life
Ability to view the work from a special education perspective, and the impact of special education decisions on postsecondary outcomes for kids
Flexible thinking when the face of ambiguity
Organizational skills to build effective school-based systems
Understanding of CA state & federal laws that apply to special education

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Drive Results: Achieve improvements in student outcomes for students with IEPs by using data in order to drive results in schools and across the region while ensuring the region remains legally compliant;
Lead and Coordinate: Effectively coordinate and lead a regional support team that delivers support to schools through a customer service lens;
Coaching & Develop: Formally develop SpEd Team Leaders they manage through structured coaching, data analysis and observations;

Drive Results:

Set a team vision and roadmap aligned to the regional Grow priorities as well as specific department priorities to achieve academic outcomes for students with IEPs
Communicate, train and support high-quality implementation of vision to School and Regional Leaders, overseeing the plan to achieve our instructional vision and drive results, and fostering collaboration between the SpEd Team, Academics Team and School Leader Manager teams.
Regularly (i.e. monthly or quarterly depending on data) co-observe with key stakeholders to progress monitor implementation of teaching and learning vision and regional priorities.
Use data to effectively drive instructional practice; and to improve and adjust your strategy and program as needed.
Ensures that KIPP Northern California is meeting Federal Special Education indicators by leading a process to set a strategic vision and sets goals to meet our compliance metrics in accordance with IDEA, California Ed Code and SELPA guidelines
Work with relevant stakeholders (i.e. Finance team, school leaders, Human Resources, etc.) to ensure resource allocations policies maximize opportunities for students academic growth.
Maintain a cutting-edge awareness of the promising practices and innovations in programs and policies for teaching, learning, and school design that are emerging locally and nationwide.

Lead and Coordinate:

Directly manage Associate Directors who manage specialized instructional coaches and Related Service Providers to ensure that students with IEPs are making accelerated growth
Directly manage Associate Directors who are responsible for ensuring we follow state and federal regulations and deliver best-in-class services for students with special needs
Develops a regional team culture of strong school supports and a customer service orientation to ensure schools are well positioned to support their students with IEPs
Unites the team to identify and work through areas of improvement and innovation
Creates the conditions that foster trusting relationships in order to collaborate with the larger instructional team to include student intervention, acceleration, MTSS to ensure programs meet all student needs
Coach and develop Associate Directors to be effective managers and leaders
Ensure that Related Service Providers are coached on service delivery expectations, inclusive services, and relationship building with their schools
Holds the team accountable for incorporating diversity, equity, and inclusion that includes students with disabilities into our network 2025 Goals. Promotes that equity is giving students what they need and not a one size fits all model

Coaching and Development

In concert and collaboration with Associate Directors, school leadership and appropriate personnel, plan, create, facilitate, and progress monitor high impact professional development for various roles in the special education team for the purpose of achieving KIPP Northern California Special Education department vision, mission and strategic goals
Conduct regular walkthroughs and observations as part of your coaching practice to ensure Associate Directions, program specialists, and Education Specialists are continuously developing
Promote the uses data-driven action plans to coach teams in order to reach student support team goals with network leaders and school teams
Support Associate Directors in creating and facilitating high impact professional development for special education teachers
Support Associate Directors in identifying effective intervention strategies, modifications, and accommodations to ensure that students with IEPs are making accelerated growth.
Continuously identify and work through areas of improvement
Promote the uses data-driven action plans to coach teams in order to reach student support team goals with network leaders and school teams
Provides departmental leadership that promotes collaborative planning, innovative thinking and exemplary programs and services.
Onboard new team members and set individual goals with and provide coaching and feedback
Lead cross-functional initiatives
Step in to fill any needs identified by the directors, such as least restrictive environment conversations, modification and accommodations to curriculum and case management
Promote innovation in curriculum, instruction and assessment including staying abreast of innovation and opportunities outside of KIPP Northern California. Share resources and lead professional learning communities for school leaders and staff

Physical, Mental and Environmental Demands

Physical: Ability to navigate office and school campuses, and hold meetings in different spaces. Traditionally, much of the day involves sitting. Ability to access and utilize technology. Occasional lifting/carrying of equipment 1-20 lbs. Physical agility to move self in various positions in order to execute duties effectively, which may include kneeling, walking, pushing/pulling, squatting, twisting, turning, bending, stooping and reaching overhead

Mental: Stress of deadlines and normal work standards, ability to analyze problems and generate alternatives, work with interruptions, concentrate for long periods of time, read, calculate, perform routine math problems, memorize and recall objects and people.

Environmental: Office and school environment subject to constant interruptions and distractions. Frequent classroom/school environment and travel to schools. KIPP adheres to health and safety guidelines as outlined by the CDC, CDE, and public health agencies’ recommendations.

Classification

This is a full-time, exempt position based on a full year calendar cycle, based out of our Regional Support Office with frequent travel to schools and districts.

About KIPP Public Schools Northern California

We are a thriving nonprofit network of 22 free, public charter schools open to all students. At KIPP, we believe all children should grow up free to create the future they want for themselves and that schools can and should be a critical factor in making that vision a reality. Together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world.

Our student community consists of nearly 7,000 elementary, middle, and high school students in East Palo Alto, Oakland, San Francisco, San Lorenzo, San José, Redwood City, and Stockton. 81% qualify for free or reduced price lunch, 34% are multilingual learners, and 12% have special needs. We strive to cultivate a representative team of teachers and leaders that reflect our students’ diversity.

Compensation

KIPP Northern California is dedicated to you and your family's well-being! We offer a competitive salary as well as a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and transportation benefits.

We benchmark annually against comparably-sized non-profit organizations in the regions where we operate, to offer competitive salaries. The salary range for this position is $122,000 and $150,000. Most candidates would be compensated at $130,000.

The Director of Special Education centers students with disabilities in all of their decision making. They…