Job Title

Position Title: Executive Director, Exceptional Student Education (ESE)

Location: Fisher Building -9th Floor

Salary: $125,652 - $169,357

Reports to: Assistant Superintendent of Exceptional Student Education

Bargaining Unit: Non-Union Administrator

Benefits Eligible: Yes

Position Summary:

The Executive Director (ED) is responsible for dramatically improving the academic experience and outcomes of all DPSCD students by ensuring equitable access to instructional opportunities specifically for students with Exceptional needs. In partnership with senior leadership, instructional leadership teams, ESE Lead Administrators and general leadership, building principals, educators and district instructional staff, the Executive Director will develop, implement and evaluate operational functions for the largest special education programs. The ED will also oversee the implementation of equitable and culturally responsive instructional approaches and strategies across all content areas.

As a senior leader in the organization, the ED is accountable for building and leading an inclusive team that produces results for students with exceptional needs.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university
• Valid State of Michigan Administration Certificate and Teaching Certificate in related content area highly preferred
• Michigan Department of Education Special Education Director's Approval
• At least 5 years of effective K-12 classroom teaching experience, special education teaching experience preferred.
• At least 3 years of building or district-level leadership experience in special education in Michigan.

Essential Functions:

• Vision: Partner with stakeholders to ensure the District's vision for excellent instruction takes an asset-based view of students and equitable instructional approach; invest others in the importance of expanded access to special district instructional programs in achieving the District's mission. Focus on equity and inclusive practices to ensure access for all ESE programs utilizing the Educational Benefit Review model with Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) in mind through comprehensive evaluations and programming options.
• Strategy: Develop clear, specific, and ambitious inclusive best practices and processes for students with disabilities across the continuum of needs in DPSCD from birth to 26 years of age. DPSCD runs the most expansive special education programming with ACT 18 funding for the Eastern Region of Wayne RESA; with the support of the Assistant Superintendent, establish a strategy to achieve targets in each area of responsibility, holding parties accountable for meeting targets and adjusting strategy and approach to achieve desired outcomes.
• Curriculum/Assistive Technology and Assessments: Support the selection and implementation of high-quality instructional materials and implementation resources, and coordinate cross-curricular effort to refine curriculum materials to increase cultural and equitable access inclusive of students on either end of the bell curve; aggressively pursue opportunities to maximize students' strengths within the instructional program (e.g., expanding Gifted And Talented Education options, Seal of Biliteracy for our Deaf & Hard of Hearing Students who use American Sign Language and the consideration of increased options for access to the general education curriculum focusing on inclusive best practices; Understanding Twice Exceptional Options; work in partnership with colleagues across the Office of Strategy & Academics and Schools to ensure coherence in the student experience. To properly maximize inclusive practices for all students with exceptional needs, Assistive Technology expansion is a required understanding with emphasis on Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
• School Support: Partner with content area leaders and support partners to offer integrated support for schools that systematically address school needs.
• Professional Development: Work with team to support the design and delivery of professional development within area of responsibility; work with senior leaders across the Office of Exceptional Student Education (ESE) and schools to ensure collaboration and cohesiveness in the PD program; gather and use quantitative and qualitative school, educator and student achievement and exceptional student education data to inform the PD model, content and delivery methods across all areas of need including ancillary, instructional and support staff. ESE has a specific focus on the Educational Benefit Review (EBR) process and Least Restrictive Environment. Ancillary is focused on comprehensive evaluations in a collaborative manner.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Proactively engage constituents, including families, community members, alumni, and educators to understand motivations and needs, problem solve through challenging issues, and arrive at productive solutions.
• Budget, Contracts and Partnerships: Propose and support management of line-item budgets aligned to strategy; tightly monitor budget and contracts throughout the year to ensure responsible stewardship of resources; lead team in the development of board agenda items; forge and sustain partnerships that advance the academic strategy and support student achievement; hold vendors and partners accountable for results. Support the management of the procurement process for ESE.
• Compliance and Reporting: Ensure district compliance with all state and federal requirements within area of responsibility with a specific understanding and focus on IDEA and MARSE.
• Team Management: Lead a diverse team to great results, creating an inclusive and equitable culture where all team members can thrive; develop equitable processes and policies and build strong relationships across lines of identity and power; use performance management and strong managerial competencies to ensure staff throughout the organizational structure champion our culture, contribute meaningful work, motivate others to achieve results, and operate as constant learners.
• Equitable Focus: Demonstrate a commitment to equity and inclusion focused on outcomes for ALL students and a specific focus on underrepresented youth across the continuum of exceptional needs . The ED will bring practical solutions to issues of equity and inclusion in schools and on the team with a specific focus on programming and accessibility.
• Fulfill other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Assistant Superintendent of Exceptional Student Education.

Security Clearance:

Internal Applicants

If you are a current Detroit Public Schools Community District employee, you do not have to submit to a new security clearance, unless your new role requires a different type of criminal background check.

External Applicants

In alignment with Michigan law, if you are hired to fill a position, you will be required to submit a Detroit Public Schools Community District criminal background check. Information regarding required background checks will be shared at point of hire.

Method of Application:

Applicants must apply through the online application system. Only applications submitted through the online application system will be considered for any posted position and all applications require a resume to be considered.

Successful candidates are required to submit official transcript(s) at point of offer to hire. Teaching services outside of the Detroit Public Schools Community District must be verified by the applicant's prior employer(s) prior to hire. It is the applicant's responsibility to provide all documentation (including copies) as requested.

Applicants requesting assistance during the application process should contact the Office of Human Resources via email at recruitment@detroitk12.org or phone at (313) 873-6897.

DPSCD does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, religion, height, weight, citizenship, marital or family status, military status, ancestry, genetic information, or any other legally protected category, in its educational programs and activities, including employment and admissions. Questions? Concerns? contact the Civil Rights Coordinator at (313) 240-4377 or dpscd.compliance@detroitk12.org or 3011 West Grand Boulevard, 14th Floor, Detroit MI 48202.