Position: Executive Director of Special Education 

July 1, 2025 Start Date

 

Job Goal:

Responsible for the strategic vision and direction of the District’s special education programming in accordance with School Committee policy, goals, and objectives; Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education rules and regulations; and federal laws and regulations.

 

Provides system-wide leadership, support and technical assistance to schools to meet the needs of students with Individualized Education Programs.

 

Reports to: Superintendent of Schools

 

Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in administration or a closely related field from an accredited college or university. Doctorate preferred.
• Valid Massachusetts educator license as Special Education Administrator.
• Seven years of supervisory/administrative/leadership experience in the field of special education.
• Knowledge of State and Federal regulations regarding special education.
• Excellent communication skills (listening, speaking, writing).
• Demonstrated experience in development and implementation of programs to support students with disabilities.
• Demonstrated experience in high level complex problem solving, building leadership capacity, managing and contributing to large scale organizational change.
• Demonstrated knowledge of special education service delivery in public school settings and out of district placements.
• Ability to work cooperatively with district administrators and principals to develop district strategies to meet the needs of students with disabilities.
• Ability to make policy-level recommendations to the Superintendent, senior management team and, as necessary, School Committee related to the District’s special education services.
• Experience in using data at the school/district level to analyze trends in student achievement.
• Demonstrated knowledge of data analysis to support professionals in improvement planning, goal setting, and continuous improvement activities.
• Proficient in the use of technical computer applications, including Aspen, Google Education Suite, Microsoft Office, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Superintendent or School Committee may find appropriate and acceptable.

 

Performance Responsibilities (included but not limited to):

• Aligned with the district’s vision and core values, leads the strategic direction for special education, and oversees the development and implementation of long-term vision, goals and objectives for all areas of oversight.
• Ensures implementation of research-based programming to support student learning, increased student engagement and academic outcomes for students with disabilities through oversight and supervision of special education staff in collaboration with other administrators, e.g., building principals.
• Supervises special education staff to ensure the development and alignment of strategies for schools and staff to promote increased and improved opportunities and experiences for students with disabilities, resulting in high quality standards based instruction.
• Develops a strategic budget for special education; prepares and manages grants and general funds for special education services, submitting spending plans and progress reports within timelines.
• Collaborates with the Deputy Director of School Finance to complete the Circuit Breaker claiming process.
• Responsible for monitoring overall improvement from schools, works with stakeholders to proactively recommend and/or develop District-level policy and practice relating to special education services.
• Facilitates a collaborative approach to support student success through programs and services involving family and community engagement.
• Serves as District liaison to the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC).
• Develops strategic alliances with educational agencies, community members/organizations and other stakeholders.
• Ensures compliance with relevant Federal and State regulations.
• Provides appropriate supervision, evaluation, mentoring, and professional growth and development opportunities to assigned staff. Assigns District special education personnel and advises building administrators in the recruitment, selection, and assignment of all building-based special education personnel.
• Communicates information on programs, services, and regulations to the School Committee, school personnel, parents, the district, and other districts.
• Directs the Medicaid Administrative Claiming process and the billing of Medicaid eligible special education services provided by the district, for the purpose of gaining fiscal resources.
• Advises Superintendent in the collective bargaining process.
• Other duties as assigned by the Superintendent.

 

Terms of Employment: 12-month position, individual contract to be negotiated

 

Salary: Regionally competitive salary and benefits package commensurate with qualifications and experience.

 

ALL CANDIDATES SHOULD VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR APPLICATION INFORMATION

 

Barnstable Public Schools is an EOE and strongly encourages minority candidates to apply.