This opportunity is open to all interested candidates.

BASIC FUNCTION:

Plan, organize, manage, and direct the daily operations within assigned Special Education programs and services to support schools, staff, students, and families; uphold fiscal responsibilities; ensure compliance with State and federal mandates and District policies; provide leadership, direction, and supervision to assigned staff to continually improve and calibrate special education programs and services.

The Director, Special Education (assigned to support Special Education Compliance) will provide leadership and oversight of the Special Education Department's efforts to fulfill the District's child-find obligations for parentally placed private school students (PPPSS) within the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) boundaries. The Director will provide leadership in the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of integrated systems, programs, and services to support students with disabilities enrolled in non-public schools. This position will ensure that assigned programs and services are effectively coordinated and aligned with applicable federal and State special education laws, regulations, and District policies; facilitate collaboration with schools, District departments, governmental and regional agencies, and other partners; and support timely and effective service delivery for students and families.

POSITION SPECIFICS:

• Working Location: Special Education Department. 4100 Normal Street, San Diego, CA 92103
• Work schedule: 12 months / 248 days
• The position is paid on the AASD Certificated Supervisors Salary Schedule, Salary Plan 0708, Grade 034.
• Qualifies for District Paid health and wellness benefits for employee and dependents

Examples of Duties:

An incumbent may perform any combination of the essential functions shown below. This position description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, knowledge, or abilities associated with this classification, but is intended to accurately reflect the principal job elements.

E = Essential Functions

Direct and assist in the design and implementation of district-wide special educational initiatives. E

Direct special education programs, services, and school sites in support of equity and access; coordinate programs and services in general education and specialized settings; provide leadership in the development and implementation of special education programs and services in support of students and families. E

Oversee policies and procedures for administering services for assessment, identification, certification, establishment of priority, and placement of students in special education program schools and classes for assigned programs and services. E

Design and implement communications and service delivery systems that are effective in providing timely communications, support, and resources across the District. E

Conduct research, analyze data, and prepare statistical reports to support and implement best practices. E

Develop, allocate, and monitor budgets for assigned programs, services, facilities, equipment, staffing, and inventories to ensure fiscal responsibility. E

Assist management within instructional departments in planning programs, implementation of services to support high expectations, and standards of performance for all students. E

Collaborate with governmental agencies, regional agencies, and others related to special education services for students; organize and negotiate development of interagency agreements, coordinate activities and programs, resolve issues and conflicts, and exchange information. E

Provide leadership in the review of existing and pending legislation related to special education guidelines and District policies; recommend origination, modification, or support of legislative measures. E

Plan, organize, and implement long and short-term projects to enhance special education programs and services to students. E

Direct the preparation and maintenance of a variety of statistical and narrative reports, records and files for special education functions and staff to ensure reporting requirements are met for federal and state agencies, district officials and the Board of Education. E

Plan and coordinate staff trainings in special education laws and regulations, compliance issues, corrective actions, program development, and related functions. E

Direct the preparation of funding applications for new and existing grants and other funding sources and for reimbursement requests ensuring compliance with funding requirements as appropriate. E

Supervise and evaluate the performance of assigned staff. E

Perform related duties as assigned.

To view the detailed position description for Director, Special Education click here.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience:

Any combination of training, experience and/or education equivalent to a Master's degree in special education or related field and five (5) years of leadership experience in education. Special education teaching experience is desirable.

Licenses and Other Requirements:

Valid California Administrative Services Credential.

APPLICATION INFORMATION:

Application Process

To be eligible for consideration, interested candidates must submit the following items. Your application will be considered incomplete if you do not include all required information, including completion of the Work Experience and Education Sections of the online application, required attachments, and responses to all application questions.

• Online employment application
• A completed online employment application must be submitted/received electronically by the closing date. This application MUST include all required attachments, current and previous employment history and education to evaluate your qualifications, and all other requirements identified in the recruitment and application questions. It is important to note that a resume does not substitute for completing the Work Experience and Education sections. Your application will be considered incomplete if you do not include all relevant details and attachments.
• Paper applications are not accepted.

• Answer all application questions. The application questions should be answered thoroughly, clearly, and concisely as the responses provided (along with the entire application package) will be carefully reviewed to determine which candidates will move forward in the recruitment process.

• Contact information for all previous places of employment where you served in a certificated position must be listed under the 'Employment History' section of the application (Assembly Bill 2534). As of January 1, 2025, in accordance with Education Code section 44939.5 (as amended by California AB 2534) applicants for certificated positions are required by law to provide a complete list of every school district, county office of education, charter school and/or state special school (also known as a Local Education Agency (LEA)) with which you have previously been employed, regardless of the length of service. The District may contact current and former LEAs at any time during the application screening process.
• In accordance with California Assembly Bill 2534, all applicants for certificated positions must provide a complete employment history. Please adhere to the following
• List Every Educational Employer: You must include every school district, county office of education, charter school, other educational institutions, or state special school where you have been employed, regardless of your length of service.
• HR Contact Information: In the Employer Email field, you must provide the email address for that employer's Human Resources or Personnel Office (i.e., not your direct supervisor).

Note: These email addresses are required to satisfy the employment verification and background requirements mandated by Education Code section 44939.5.

• Contact information for three references must be listed in the 'Reference' section of the application. References should be from a current or previous supervisor. Reference email requests may be sent at any time during the application screening process of this recruitment. These reference requests are not an indication of progression in the recruitment process or an interview opportunity. Written reference letters dated within the last year are also accepted and may be attached to your online application in the Reference Section.
• Attach Required Documents (PDF format recommended)
  • Cover Letter / Letter of Intent
• Resume
• Resume must reflect current and past work and accomplishments.
• A resume is to be attached, but does NOT substitute for completing work history, education sections, or the supplemental questions of the employment application.

• Credential
  • Valid California Administrative Services Credential is required.
  • A copy of your valid California Administrative Services Credential, or equivalent out-of-state administrative credential, MUST be attached to your submitted online application. Important note: preliminary and clear Administrative Services Credentials submitted with an expired date may not be considered. Verify the copy you upload to your online application is current. Certificates of Eligibility for Administrative Services Credentials typically do not have an expiration date.
  • Detailed instructions to view and print California credential(s) may be found on the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing website at thisLINK. For other states, please visit the state educator license/credential website.
  • If you are currently enrolled in an Administrative Services Credential program, you must attach verification of enrollment from the CTC-approved university/ program with the anticipated program completion date.
  • If you are currently in the process of obtaining an Administrative Services Credential by achieving a passing score on the California Preliminary Administrative Credential Examination (CPACE), you must attach a copy of the official score report. If you are scheduled to take the CPACE, you must submit a copy of the confirmation of the scheduled exam date(s).

• Additional documents (optional)
• Letters of Recommendation
• Additional documents, if any, must be attached to the online employment application.

For questions regarding this job announcement, including priority consideration, please contact Human Resources Analyst Tina Cano at [email protected].

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

If you have questions about your application, please email [email protected].

The San Diego Unified School District communicates information regarding the hiring process via email. Please be aware that the District is not responsible for messages blocked by your email service. In an effort to allow our emails through your personal spam filter, you can try to add the [email protected] and [email protected] to your safe senders list.