Description

POSITION : Assistant Director of Psychological and Itinerant Services, Office of Special Education Services

REPORTS TO : Executive Director of Special Education Services

SUPERVISES : School Psychologists, in collaboration with building leaders, as directed

POSITION SUMMARY : The Assistant Director of Psychological and Itinerant Services provides leadership and coordination for the district's psychological and itinerant service providers. This leadership role supervises staff including school psychologists, speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and teachers of the hearing-impaired and visually impaired. The position ensures compliance with federal and state special education requirements while supporting student eligibility determinations, IEP development, and appropriate educational placements.

RESPONSIBILITIES : This position requires extensive knowledge of special education laws, exceptional student needs, and evidence-based practices in psychological and therapeutic services within educational settings:

• Provide comprehensive leadership for all psychological and itinerant services across the district
• Supervise and coordinate activities of diverse service providers, including school psychologists, speech-Language pathologists, physical and occupational therapists, and hearing/vision teachers
• Oversee delivery of psychological services and ensure quality implementation
• Monitor and report on service activities to ensure timely completion of evaluations per state guidelines
• Manage federal, state, and local special education reporting requirements
• Guide processes related to student eligibility, IEP development, and educational placements
• Resolve complex, sensitive inquiries and complaints through effective stakeholder communication and conflict resolution strategies
• Conduct staff evaluations as directed
• Collaborate with other departments and serve as liaison when appropriate
• Serve on district teams and committees, as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES OF IDEAL CANDIDATE:

• Advanced degree in education or related field required (Ph.D. or Ed.D. preferred)
• Minimum of five (5) successful years of experience special education settings
• Experience implementing and monitoring compliance with federal and state special education requirements
• Experience with special education data management systems, particularly CT-SEDS or similar systems
• Experience leading professional development initiatives related to special education
• In-depth understanding of IEP development, implementation, and monitoring processes
• Thorough knowledge of FAPE and LRE principles and their practical application
• Experience with special education program development and evaluation, including data analysis to drive program improvement
• Experience with special education legal proceedings and due process
• Outstanding leadership and organizational skills
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills
• Strong orientation toward urban school systems preferred

CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS : Connecticut Intermediate Administrative Certification (092) and Connecticut certification in special education (or appropriate related services endorsement, School Psychology Certification preferred) are required.

UNION AFFILIATION : Hartford Principals' Supervisors' Association (HPSA)

SALARY AND TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT : Salary is in accordance with the Hartford Principals' and Supervisors' Association's 2026-2027 Schedule: Executive Principal/Principals Supervisor, Group 11, salary range of $137,101 - $146,249 (12-month work year).

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: To be considered, all internal and external applicants must fully complete a Hartford Public Schools' online application, which can be accessed through our Applicant Tracking System, Nimble, at https://app.hirenimble.com/jobs/hartford . Internal applicants should use a personal email address when applying. Please do not use your hartfordschools.org email. The code word for the internal application is hartford (lowercase "h"). Candidates' application and supporting documents will be reviewed. Candidates who advance will be contacted directly by hiring managers for interviews.

Benefits

Financial Incentives

• Tuition Reimbursement : Up to $3,000 annually
• Residency Differential : 3% of base salary for certified administrators (HPSA members) living in Hartford
• Differential for Doctorate in Education : $2,500 annually

Additional Benefits

• Comprehensive health, vision, and dental insurance
• Board contribution of 50% of the applicable Health Savings Account (HSA) deductible
• 5 Personal days per year; 20 Sick days per year
• Life insurance (2x annual salary)
• Loan forgiveness (State & Federal)
• Professional learning
• Career growth opportunities

Note: The above description covers the principle duties and responsibilities of the position. The description should not, however, be construed as a complete listing of all duties or as a contract. In all cases, these relationships, functions, and their applications are subject to change by the superintendent of schools.