Director of Special Education

Job Description

The Opportunity

The Director of Special Education leads and improves special education programming by overseeing the full continuum of services, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local requirements, and promoting delivery in the least restrictive environment. The role also manages compliance reporting, facilitates stakeholder collaboration, provides performance data, and builds staff capacity through professional development, targeted feedback, and leadership in IEP, ETR, and disciplinary processes.

The Director of Special Education reports to the Senior Director of Student Services. The role provides coaching, feedback, and performance input for Behavioral Assistants, Paraprofessionals and Intervention Specialists in partnership with School Leaders. The position collaborates closely with the Director of Diverse Learning to ensure, among other priorities, coherent MTSS and Section 504 practices.

Job Description

Key responsibilities of the the Director of Special Education include the following:

• Directs the delivery and continuous improvement of special education programming.
• Directs the implementation of the internal monitoring system, tracks participation & ensures implementation with fidelity.
• Keeps current with the K-12 courses of study, scope and sequence framework, and state standards/guidelines.
• Complies with state model policies and procedures for the education of students identified as having a disability.
• Serves as a liaison and information resource for special education.
• Coordinates placement procedures and ensures that services are provided in the least restrictive educational environment.
• Provides coaching and high-leverage feedback to staff supporting students with disabilities.
• Helps teachers and administrators with discipline and pupil management issues.
• Participates in staff selection, orientation, and evaluation processes as directed.
• Expresses high expectations and monitors staff performance & collaborates with administrators to improve staff competencies.
• Completes staff evaluations as requested.
• Designs and delivers professional learning for Paraprofessionals, Behavior Assistants, and Intervention Specialists, aligned with regional priorities and in coordination with School Leaders.
• Conducts regular classroom observations—particularly in Specialized Learning Classrooms—to provide real-time coaching and model best practices.
• Creates differentiated, ongoing professional development for special education team members.
• Ensures compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and related state regulations; monitors the accuracy and timeliness of IEPs, evaluations, and related documentation.
• Assist with tracking and monitoring required submissions to Fordham or EpiCenter on behalf of the Student Services Department
• Collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure that all records are effectively maintained and that timelines are consistently met as outlined in federal, state and local requirements;
• Facilitate regular meetings with intervention specialists, related service providers and coaches to ensure students are making progress towards academic goals;
• Serve as a district representative for IEP and ETR meetings & Manifestation Determination Reviews.
• Coordinates Home Instruction caseload, assigns courses in Edmentum & oversees home instruction intervention specialist.
• Leads the SPED record request and fulfillment process & the document transfer process, including adoption, rejection and amendments.
• Manages master SPED roster and ensures caseloads are assigned in accordance with Ohio’s Operating Standards