Director of Special Education

Who We Are

KIPP SoCal Public Schools is a nonprofit organization that operates 20 tuition-free, open-enrollment charter public schools, within 20 Local Education Agencies (LEA), educating more than 10,000 students and supporting 6,800 alumni to and through college and beyond.

What We Believe

KIPP SoCal believes that the purpose of education is for liberation. This means that we see, develop, and inspire the limitless potential in each and all of our KIPPsters.

What We Do

At KIPP SoCal we build trusting relationships that are strengthened by high expectations and collaboration alongside laughter and joy. We set ambitious goals and hold each other accountable for students achieving their greatest potential. We work together with each other and in partnership with families and communities in the active pursuit of a more equitable world. We do the right thing, even when it's not always comfortable standing up and speaking out against anti-blackness, racism, oppression, and injustice. We persevere through obstacles and treat failure as an opportunity to learn and grow.

• Maintains knowledge of current Special Education laws, regulations and best practices
• Provides leadership in maintaining compliance for all timelines related to the IEP and 504 process.
• Reviews IEP’s/504’s and Assessment Reports and provides feedback accordingly to necessary stakeholders prior to scheduled meetings.
• Serves as the Administrative designee for IEP meetings and ensure all follow up actions are communicated to stakeholders and completed
• Coordinates Special Education program and services as required by each student's IEP
• Collaborates with Special Education teachers and SELPA as necessary in order to determine and offer appropriate placement and services to best meet student needs
• Collaborates with Leadership Teams and the SELPA as necessary to ensure appropriate implementation of processes and procedures related to discipline
• Reports progress on students with IEPs and 504 plans as well as any other related statistics to Leadership teams
• Supervises all compliance review procedures as required by the District, SELPA, state or federal authorities and maintains documentation on an ongoing basis and submits accordingly
• Reviews, disseminates and provides instruction on all Special Education required procedures related to IEP development and implementation and maintains, as appropriate, local school handbooks and procedures consistent with district requirements and updates as necessary
• Works in collaboration with administration, legal and the SELPA to resolve complaints, mediations or due process proceedings to assure timely resolution and to minimize the impact on students, programs and services as well as the school program
• Evaluates the partnerships with outside staffing agencies as appropriate
• Provides feedback and input regarding Special Education certificated and classified personnel to supervising administrator for the purposes of evaluation
• Maintains and tracks compliance data for the region using Welligent, SEIS and internal trackers
• Manages Special Education Program Specialists
• Collaborates with leadership team to coordinate and deliver professional development opportunities for Special and General Education faculty/staff and Administration on topics related to Special Education
• Provides individualized coaching support to Special Education teachers
• Provides opportunities for Welligent training
• Collaborates with leadership teams and Special Education department to ensure data driven decisions are made that benefit students with disabilities and the overall school program
• Works with the administrative staff and other faculty members to ensure the implementation of an educational program that meets the needs of all students
• Collaborates with leadership teams, administration, and related faculty/staff to manage and organize the physical classroom environments to promote learning, including the development of classroom management systems
• Develops and implements specialized programs in the region
• Works with teachers to design, accommodate/modify and implement curriculum to meet the individual learning needs of students with disabilities
• Provides technical and compliance expertise, observes and consults with instructional staff and administrators regarding student learning and Special Education requirements
• Collaborates with leadership teams and Special Education teachers in expanding and implementing a continuum of services that includes a learning lab that meets the needs of a diverse group of students with disabilities
• Leads matriculation meetings with prospective students/parents to describe Special Education programs and services for the purposes of successful transition
• Collaborates with Special Education teachers and administrators to ensure appropriate placement and services for incoming and transitioning students
• Meets and collaborates with parent/guardians to address questions and concerns regarding their student’s IEP/504 Plan
• Collaborates with Leadership teams in conducting PDs for all staff and parents
• Develops outreach opportunities to parents and guardians of students with disabilities including but not limited to the development of a parent committee as necessary for compliance purposes and to increase parent participation
• Manages database systems such as Welligent for all Special Education staff and administration
• Functions as liaison and advocate for students with diverse abilities as needed between home, school, and/or agencies
• Proactively and effectively communicates and collaborates with other members of the faculty on issues regarding concerns about individual students
• Serves as the Liaison between the District and Charter:
• Attends meetings and submits necessary documents as required
• Attends or chairs Special Education department meetings and ensures outcome is communicated to administration
• Monitors and expenditures within established guidelines; analyzes and reviews fiscal data and reports to administration
• Ensures all testing materials are up to date and materials are ordered (including maintenance of online tests/scoring systems)
• Coordinates NPS/NPA contracts with Administrative team
• Coordinates NPAs for services and/or evaluations not provided on school campus as needed
• Supports in hiring, training and appropriately placing all Special Education Assistants with assignments in classrooms and with individual students.  This includes reassigning personnel when there are absences among the classified staff.
• Writes reports for various agencies defining the school’s Special Education programs, procedures, and protocols
• Assumes responsibility for other duties/projects/assignments as required and assigned.
• Other duties as assigned by Managing Director of Special Education

• Required: Clear California Teaching Credential with Special Education/Educational Specialist (Level II) or Administrative Services Credential
• Minimum 5 years of urban teaching, school psychology, or administrator experience with demonstrated quantifiable and objective student performance gains with students with disabilities
• Minimum of 3 years of management experience; preferably over multiple sites
• Ability to organize and direct the activities relating to special education and of the organization
• Ability to understand the principles and practices of special education, and its’ relationship to the overall school program
• Ability to interpret special education and related services policies and procedures to parents and other members of the community
• Ability to provide leadership in professional development activities for special education teachers, teaching assistants, aides, related service providers, general education teachers and administrative staff
• Ability to manage and provide leadership in complex situations
• Ability to efficiently manage high volume work and multiple tasks
• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with all stakeholders, both individually and as a group.
• Ability to effectively utilize computer technologies, such as email, word, excel, PPT etc. and student information system programs.
• Ability to work with a variety of learning abilities, including those with special needs and low skill level in a general education setting.
• Demonstrated ability to work well on a team, especially with parents and community members. 
• Analytical problem solver.
• Basic understanding of data analysis. 

• KIPP SoCal Public Schools offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience in a similar position. The salary range for this position is $111,280 to $166,920. New hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint of $139,100 depending on qualifications, internal equity, and the budget allocated for this role.
• 100% of healthcare premium costs covered by employer, dependents added at 50% of cost
• KIPP SoCal life insurance
• 401(k) plan with up to 6% match by KIPP SoCal
• Voluntary Benefits (Supplemental Life, Accident, Short Term Disability, etc.)
• Generous time off program includes 22 holidays, sick leave and vacation
• Other great benefits (Flexible spending account, EAP, tuition reimbursement, etc.)

KIPP SoCal Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation/gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

KIPP SoCal strives to ensure that our careers website is accessible to all, including individuals with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, please contact us. You can find our contact information on our website, http://www.kippsocal.org/. Information will be sent to a talent acquisition representative who will provide assistance to ensure appropriate consideration in the hiring process.