1263 Assistant Director

Posting # 1263

Posting date: March 18, 2026

Posting closes: April 3, 2026

Location: Sioux City

Overview

Our mission is to deliver  deliver high-quality, evidence-based, and strategic services to our educational partners that meet the diverse needs of Iowa’s learners (birth-21), educators, and school communities.

Iowa’s Area Education Agencies are educational partners embedded in Iowa schools. We exist to create a thriving educational landscape where all learners and educators have access to high-quality, evidence-based and strategic supports and services, collaboratively provided within districts, to help all learners achieve their full potential.

About the Agency

Northwest AEA provides special education and school improvement services to 34 public school districts and 34 accredited, non-public schools. The agency serves 45,000 students and more than 5000 educators in a 10-county area of Northwest Iowa (Lyon, Osceola, Sioux, O'Brien, Plymouth, Cherokee, Woodbury, Ida, Monona, and Crawford). 

Our headquarters is located at 5800 Discovery Blvd., Sioux City, with regional offices in Cherokee, Denison, Le Mars, Onawa, and Sioux Center.

Why Northwest AEA?

Our vision, mission, and anchors guide our actions. Staff at Northwest AEA believe that what they do inspires learning and leads to changed lives for the students, staff, and families we serve. Our work is anchored in building positive, professional relationships with stakeholders and with one another. We embrace responsiveness in how we serve so that students, staff, and families can see improved results.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Summary

Develop positive, professional relationships with directors, Agency Leadership Team members, AEA and school staff, and statewide partners to advance innovation, translate policy and guidance into actionable practices, and strengthen services that improve outcomes for learners.

Lead project management in order to support implementation of the Iowa AEA Strategic Plan by providing system-level coordination, facilitation, and alignment within Northwest Area Education Agency. Provide coaching, support, and supervision for AEA staff.

Qualifications

• Education:
  
  
  
  • Master’s degree in the field of education or related area
  
  
  
  


• Licensure:
  
  
  
  • Iowa administrator license
  
  
  • Iowa evaluator approval
  
  
  • Minimum of five (5) years of successful professional experience in a school district or educational service agency
  
  
  
  

Essential Functions

1. Serve as the assistant to agency directors to provide timely and ongoing support to improve the performance outcomes and well-being of all learners


2. Manage the implementation of major initiatives and change efforts


3. Contribute to the timely and accurate submission of applications and reports


4. Actively engage as a member of the Agency Leadership Team and other teams, as appropriate, to ensure that we adhere to our mission, vision, and anchors with fidelity


5. Plan and lead small group, departmental, regional, and/or agency-wide meetings as appropriate


6. Track record of producing positive results in previous assignments.


7. Represent Northwest AEA in a way that engenders trust and confidence in the agency, its mission, its vision, and anchors

Additional Responsibilities

1. Routinely engage in coaching, support, and feedback of staff through consistent, weekly contact


2. Supervise and evaluate assigned management support, certified, and/or classified staff


3. Regular review and approval of staff calendars, leave requests, and expense & travel reimbursement requests


4. Demonstrate values, beliefs, and attitudes that inspire agency staff to higher levels of performance


5. Support and mentor aspiring leaders within the AEA


6. Provide visionary leadership and oversight to AEA/School teams to implement the diagnostic, design, and delivery cycle of Specially Designed Instruction


7. Assist the Chief Administrator and designees with General Supervision responsibilities (e.g., compliance with IDEA, Iowa Administrative Rules, etc.)


8. Advocate for all students with diverse learning needs, especially children with IEPs, to support practices that align with the spirit and intent of all federal and state mandates.


9. Collaborate with service providers and agency staff to improve student learning


10. Maintain confidentiality related to agency, school, student, and/or family information

Skills and Abilities

1. Written and oral communication skills, including strong presentation skills


2. Behave ethically and professionally


3. Technology skills to complete and disseminate appropriate documentation of activities and results


4. Intervention Design and Implementation


5. Cultural Competence and Sensitivity


6. Collaboration and Teamwork


7. Time Management

It is the policy of Northwest Area Education Agency not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy, please contact Jerome Schaefer, Equity Coordinator, 5800 Discovery Blvd., Sioux City, Iowa, 51111, 712-222-6114.