Director of Special Education

OUR SCHOOLInvictus Academy is a high performing independent public charter school located in El Cerrito, and we are seeking leadership team members who want to join our team and create an exceptional school. Invictus creates joyful, rigorous classroom cultures where students understand the importance of the content they are learning, and how it connects to their everyday lives and ambitions. We work to ensure that in every lesson, the heavy lifting is done by our students. We build trusting, authentic relationships with students, families, and colleagues. With these relationships as our foundation, we work closely with each other to support students in meeting the highest academic and behavior expectations. At Invictus, we are eager to learn about and implement restorative approaches to support students to be their best selves.Invictus Academy of Richmond embodies humility and constantly strives to strengthen our knowledge, skills, and practice. We crave feedback and welcome opportunities to grow through observations, coaching meetings, and professional development. We are fiercely solutions-oriented. We never shy away from a problem that we must solve to achieve our mission, but always bring potential solutions to the table. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONSWe are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Director of Special Education to join our leadership team. The Director of Special Education will play a crucial role in ensuring that students with diverse learning needs receive the necessary support and resources to achieve success. The ideal candidate will be passionate about inclusive education and dedicated to promoting equity and excellence for all students.We are seeking exceptional individuals to execute the following essential job functions and professional responsibilities:Develop and implement policies, procedures, and programs to support students with special needs in accordance with state and federal regulationsProvide leadership and guidance to special education staff, including teachers, paraprofessionals, and related service providersCollaborate with the school leadership team to integrate special education initiatives into the overall school planMonitor and ensure compliance with IDEA, ADA, OCR, CRDC and federal and state regulations and ensure that all IAR practices are legal and ethical for each student/family so that each child has the opportunity to achieve at a high level and be prepared for post-secondary success.Manage external partnerships and contractors providing services (such as speech and language and occupational therapy) for students and liaise with SELPACoordinate with the Director or Operations and Back Office support to complete CALPADS reporting Ensure Special Education Local Plan Areas (SELPA) reporting requirements are completed, in coordination with Director of Operations and Back Office providersServe as an active member of the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) team, monitoring and tracking progress for middle and high school studentsServe as the administration liaison for all IEP meetingsSupport crisis response on campus as neededProvide mental health supports as neededOversee all state and federal SPED compliance reporting and monitoringImplement, monitor, and sustain school-wide IAR systems and expectationsOversee individualized education plans (IEPs) for students with disabilities, ensuring that goals and objectives are aligned with state standards and student needsCoordinate the evaluation and identification process for students with disabilities, including conducting assessments and facilitating multidisciplinary team meetingsDevelop and implement strategies to promote inclusive practices and support the integration of students with disabilities into general education classroomsEnsure continuous improvement and coordination of Special Education services and compliance for Students with IEPsOversee counseling programs and supports from both internal and external partnersSupport the coordination and oversight of standardized state testing and testing logistics for students with disabilitiesSupport summer school and credit recovery programming to ensure students stay on their graduation pathwayProvide ongoing professional development and training opportunities for special education staff to enhance their knowledge and skills in supporting students with diverse learning needs.Provide training for special education staff regarding new legal mandatesCollaborate with general education teachers to provide training on effective instructional strategies and accommodations for students with disabilities.Plan professional development for general education staff to support the implementation of special education best practicesSupervise, coach, and evaluate the special education staff to promote continuous improvement and ensure high-quality instruction and support for students.Build positive and collaborative relationships with parents/guardians of students with disabilities, providing support and resources to address their concerns and questions.Collaborate with community organizations, agencies, and service providers to enhance support services and resources available to students with disabilities and their families.Organize and facilitate meetings and workshops to educate parents/guardians and community members about special education programs and services.Actively supervise students during transitions such as arrival, homeroom, passing periods, lunch, and dismissal.Attend and participate in school-wide events including Back to School Night, Parent/Teacher conferences, End of the Year events, Grade Level Meetings, Department Meetings, Summer Professional Development, weekly Professional Development during the school year, and other assigned meetings.Demonstrate proficient use of technology to communicate with staff, families, and community members using multiple school-based platforms.Utilize Educational Technology platforms for curriculum development and planning.Other duties as assigned by the Principal or an administrator. PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIESDemonstrate regular and consistent attendance in order to perform essential functions of the role.Serve as a substitute teacher across different spaces as needed.Collaborate with staff and leadership to continuously improve practices and address student needs effectively.Foster open and respectful communication, offering and receiving constructive feedback to enhance personal and team performance.Set and hold high expectations for academics and behavior.Develop trusting, authentic relationships with students and their families. Create and maintain a joyful, safe, structured, and engaging school and classroom culture.Demonstrate passion for the content area you coach.Encourage students to take risks and learn from their mistakes and create opportunities for students to leverage the power of their voice.Supervise and engage with students in-person to ensure student safety and learning.Uphold and model core values, including purpose, perseverance, productivity, growth mindset, integrity, leadership, joy, gratitude, mindfulness, and kindness.Perform any other reasonable duties or responsibilities as assigned by your supervisor.Participate in the performance evaluation process, which is based on adherence to the outlined responsibilities and qualifications.______________________________________________________________________________PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYMENT REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONSEarned Bachelor's Degree.Pass a Criminal Background Check through the Department of Justice.Obtain a negative TB reading prior to starting employment.DESIRED QUALIFICATIONSYou possess a Clear California Special Education Teaching Credential and/or a California Pupil Personnel Services Credential.You have a deep knowledge and experience working with students who have IEPs and 504 plans.You have knowledge of California A-G requirements.You have experience monitoring and analyzing data to inform instruction.You are an excellent written and oral communicator. You are professional, warm and collaborative with students, families, and colleagues. Bilingual in Spanish.

Created: 2025-03-06