Special Education Speech and Language Services Manager

Job Description

The Manager of Special Education Speech and Language Services serves as a critical leader within Special Education, providing strategic oversight, operational leadership, and accountability for high-quality speech-language services across KIPP Texas. This role collaborates closely with regional leaders, campus teams, compliance, legal, and talent partners to ensure that speech-language pathology services are delivered in a timely, legally compliant, culturally responsive, and instructionally impactful manner for students with disabilities.

The Manager of Special Education Speech and Language Services leads the statewide implementation of speech-language pathology service systems across all KIPP Texas regions (Austin, DFW, Houston, San Antonio). This roledirectly supervises a statewide team of Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs), Speech-Language Pathologist Assistants (SLPa’s) and Speech Paras, ensuring consistency, compliance, and quality across assessment-informed service delivery, IEP implementation, and progress monitoring.

The position is responsible for monitoring service delivery, managing caseloads, addressing escalations, improving systems, and building SLP capacity. The role partners cross-functionally to ensure that speech-language services meaningfully support access to instruction, IEP goals, language development, and student outcomes.

Strategy: Supports the strategic vision for Special Education by developing and strengthening speech-language service delivery systems that promote compliance, equity, and high-quality intervention practices. Executes, monitors, and refines systems aligned to departmental goals and network priorities.

Communication: Ensures clear, proactive communication across regional teams, campus leaders, SLPs, and cross-functional partners. Provides responsive support and escalation management to resolve complex service delivery concerns.

Legal Framework & Compliance: Demonstrates deep knowledge of IDEA, Texas Education Code, TEA guidance, and ASHA standards related to speech-language services, service delivery models, documentation, and IEP implementation. Ensures systems promote legally defensible and student centered practices.

Role Responsibilities

Leadership & Management

• Manage and directly supervise a statewide team of 10-month Speech-Language Pathologists across four regions.
• Provide ongoing coaching and professional development to build SLP capacity in compliance, evidence-based intervention, collaboration, and culturally responsive practices.
• Lead regular one-on-ones, team meetings, calibration sessions, and professional learning experiences.
• Ensure SLPs/SLPa’s are appropriately resourced, trained, and supported to meet service delivery, documentation, and quality expectations.
• Monitor caseload distribution and service models; adjust staffing, coverage, and supports to mitigate risk and promote sustainability.
• Support onboarding, mentorship, and performance management for new and existing SLPs and SLPas.
  
  

Assessment Coordination & Oversight

• Monitor the delivery, quality, and timeliness of speech-language services in accordance with IEPs, service minutes, and least restrictive environment requirements.
• Serve as a point of contact for complex cases involving service delivery concerns, parent disputes, compensatory services, or compliance risks.
• Partner with regional leaders, ARD facilitators, and campus teams to resolve barriers impacting service implementation.
• Ensure consistency in speech-language service models across regions, including push-in, pull-out, consultative, and collaborative approaches.
• Provide guidance on service recommendations to ensure alignment with student needs, instructional impact, and data-driven decision-making.
• Provide guidance to SLPs and campus teams on AAC consideration, selection, implementation, and progress monitoring in alignment with IDEA and best practices.
• Support teams in addressing complex AAC cases, including access across environments, staff training needs, and family collaboration.
  
  

Data, Systems & Compliance Monitoring

• Track service delivery, caseloads, missed minutes, and compliance metrics using internal dashboards and monitoring systems.
• Analyze trends in speech-language data to identify risks, gaps, and system-level improvement opportunities.
• Collaborate with Compliance and Legal teams to ensure speech-language services meet federal, state, and organizational standards.
• Coordinate quality assurance reviews of IEP goals, service documentation, progress monitoring, and Medicaid-related requirements as applicable.
• Use data to drive continuous improvement across SLP practices and service delivery systems.
  
  

Training & Professional Learning

• Co-facilitate professional development for SLPs, campus teams, and regional leaders related to:
• Speech-language service delivery models
• IEP goal development and progress monitoring
• Language-based instructional strategies
• Procedural safeguards and service compliance
• Culturally and linguistically responsive practices
• AAC Device Selection & Use
• Provide onboarding training for new SLPs/SLPa’s to ensure consistency in expectations, systems, and clinical practices.
• Coach SLPs on effective participation in ARD meetings, including communicating progress, collaborating with families, and supporting instructional teams.
  

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with ARD Facilitators, campus leaders, and instructional teams to strengthen IEP implementation and access to instruction.
• Collaborate with Compliance, Legal, and Leadership teams to address complex cases, audits, and monitoring findings.
• Support Legal, Compliance, and Leadership with data, documentation, and guidance related to complex cases or external inquiries.
  
  

Perform all other tasks and duties as assigned

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from an accredited institution
• Current Texas licensure as a Speech-Language Pathologist and ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP)
• Minimum of two years of successful experience providing speech-language services in a school-based setting
  
  

Competency And Skills

• Strong knowledge of IDEA, Texas Education Code, TEA guidance, and ASHA standards
• Demonstrated knowledge of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), including feature matching, implementation across settings, and integration into IEP service delivery (required).
• Experience supporting AAC systems and coaching teams on AAC implementation in school-based settings (preferred).
• Experience in campus and/or district-level leadership roles
• Demonstrated proficiency with computer systems including Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and Outlook email
• Demonstrated success in managing caseloads, service delivery compliance, and documentation requirements
• Strong organizational systems, coaching skills, and data analysis abilities
  
  

Physical Requirements

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• The person in this position needs to be able to move about inside and outside the school throughout the workday.
• The candidate is expected to attend conferences, meetings and training sessions both virtually and in person within the Region.
  
  

Additional Requirements

• Reliable transportation is needed for travel between campuses
• Ability to maintain emotional control under stress.
• Work with frequent interruptions.
  
  

Work Environment

• Reports to school site Monday-Friday.
• Occasional weekend or after hours work for cultivation and recruiting events
• Typical school environment with frequent interruptions.
  
  

Travel Requirements

• Minimal travel; may travel to other school sites or regional offices for professional learning or meetings.
  
  

Additional Information

What We Bring To The Table

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans with coverage options for employees and their families.
• Competitive vacation and flexible paid time off (PTO) policies.
• Paid family leave.
• Flexible spending account or high-yield HSA.
• Employee assistance programs.
• KIPP also offers the following employee-paid benefits: legal plans, LifeLock identity protection, life insurance and disability insurance
  
  

Eeo

KIPP Texas is an Equal Opportunity Employer. KIPP Texas ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of race, creed, gender, color, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, or disability. Any individual needing assistance in making an application for any opening should contact the Talent Team.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job duties. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.