Associate Director of Special Education, Stockton

About the position The KIPP Public Schools Northern CA Special Education Team is seeking an Associate Director. The Associate Director of Special Education is an integral member of the special education leadership team, working under the supervision of the Director of Special Education to provide sound educational programs for our students with special education needs and to manage the day to day functioning of the KIPP Public Schools Northern California Special Education Department. This is a hybrid role with the expectation that three days per week be spent onsite at our school campuses or at our Regional Support Office in Stockton. Travel to the Oakland Regional Support Office is expected up to twice per month.

Responsibilities

• Shape the vision and initiatives for the regional special education team.
• Develop plans, collaborate with school teams and other departments to advance special education initiatives and priorities.
• Develop regional tools and processes for instructional systems that increase student access to learning and achievement.
• Develop regional tools and processes for department capacity-building and reporting.
• Reinforce the team’s culture of continuous learning and shared voice through leadership of team meetings.
• Manage, coach, and supervise approximately 10 multidisciplinary staff members on the Regional Special Education team.
• Provide training, professional development, observation and coaching to build Program Specialists’ and Service Provider Team Leads' capacity to support education specialists, related service providers and school teams.
• Empower school leaders with tools, information, and analyses to help them make student-centered decisions as both leaders of schools and members of IEP teams.
• Plan and implement professional development programs for general and special education personnel and/or parents consistent with the KIPP Public Schools Northern California’s vision, mission and strategic goals.
• Collaborate with the Academics team to ensure all students have access to high quality curriculum and instruction.
• Collaborate with the Culture team to implement best practices related to behavior intervention supports.
• Collaborate with the Student Health team to implement best practices related to mental health services and early intervention support through the COST process.
• Collaborate with the Regional Operations team to support enrollment and attendance procedures.
• Collaborate with the Finance team to manage state and federal funding and local contribution through the development of equitable staff and resource allocation models and processes.
• Collaborate with the Talent team to monitor open positions and ensure schools are staffed to provide IEP services.
• Collaborate with HR to monitor teacher credentialing and service provider licenses.
• Collaborate with other KIPP NorCal teams to build and develop inclusive policies, procedures, and protocols that are responsive to the needs of school communities and student populations.
• Provide regional leadership by influencing strategic plans and priorities, participating in region wide initiatives to elevate special education student needs and planning for students on the margins.
• Analyze special education programs by conducting ongoing walkthroughs, audits, and data analysis of student achievement in order to identify trends and recommend strategies for increasing yearly progress, including through the management, development, and oversight of California Department of Education monitoring activities and plans.
• Coach, collaborate with, and manage regional service leads to ensure that service provision at school sites is effective, cohesive, and aligned throughout the department.
• Coordinate school response, in collaboration with case manager and program specialist, for cases involving advocates or attorneys, file requests, due process filings, compliance complaints and independent educational evaluation requests.
• Support program specialists when students are placed at nonpublic schools or residential programs.
• Source and manage contracts with nonpublic agencies and other vendors when necessary to provide related services or nonpublic school placement.
• Recruit, develop, promote, and retain a diverse special education team of Program Specialists and other key regional SPED leaders (service providers, managers, associates, etc).
• Support recruitment, development, promotion, and retention of a diverse special education regional team and special education teams at school sites.
• Promote and actively seek opportunities to support diverse backgrounds and perspectives to ensure all stakeholders are respected and valued.
• Model cultural humility and a commitment to anti-racism in communication, management and leadership style.
• Adapt communication and approach to influence and collaborate with various internal and external stakeholders.
• Set challenging goals for self and others; adjust plans in an effective manner, when situations change in order to achieve goals; do not confuse effort with results.
• Sort out and analyze complex problems to make or recommend solutions.
• Follow through on commitments with an appropriate sense of urgency.
• Ensure that the special education team uses evidence-based practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of special education teaching or service provision experience in a school setting, preferably with students from educationally underserved areas.
• Experience with supervision within the field of special education; collaborative management strategies, case management processes, research-based best practices for teaching and learning, and behavioral strategies.
• REQUIRED: Valid Clear California Education Specialist credential (Mild to Moderate Support Needs or Extensive Support Needs) or Related Service Provider license.
• Working knowledge of special education regulations and California State laws governing special education.
• Experience working with related service providers.
• Strong project and time management skills with ability to successfully manage multiple projects and deadlines.
• Direct people management and team development experience. Experience managing people managers preferred.
• Acts with a sense of urgency, and desire to thrive in a dynamically growing and complex educational environment.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and work well with others and to build relationships with multiple constituencies.
• A deep passion for social justice and equity for all children; belief that all students can achieve at the highest levels, regardless of demography.
• Unquestioned integrity and commitment to KIPP Public Schools Northern California’s mission and values.

Nice-to-haves

• Master’s Degree from an accredited institution of higher learning, preferably in education, administration, or a closely related field.
• Bilingual in languages that are a reflection of populations that we serve are highly desirable.
• Experience managing people managers preferred.

Benefits

• We offer a competitive salary as well as a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and transportation benefits.

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