Regional Office: Director of Special Education - Greater Boston (2026-2027)

About the position

KIPP MA is looking for a committed, culturally competent, and passionate Director of Special Education who will be responsible for ensuring that the Special Education Programs in our region are compliant with state and federal Special Education laws. The Special Education Director will report to the Managing Director of Student Supports and collaborate with the Principal and Leadership Teams at schools to carry out the necessary duties and responsibilities to help amplify our children’s potential by creating a school experience that affirms, values, and challenges all students each day. This role is critical in ensuring that our region provides excellent support services for our Special Education students in a way that is rigorous and accessible for growth and achievement. This role requires consistent and reliable demonstration of the following essential job functions and key responsibilities:

Responsibilities

• Develop, monitor, supervise, and manage all aspects of Special Education and Section 504 processes including scheduling, meeting, chairing, IEP writing, signature trackdown, transition planning, and progress reporting
• Facilitate processes to ensure vision and alignment of services for students K-12 or their entire KIPP experience
• Ensure that IEPs and 504s are high quality, including goals aligned to existing curriculum and assessments whenever possible through development of school-based teams
• Participate in dispute resolution meetings, hearings and mediation settlement meetings as needed
• Maintain open lines of communication regarding special services with all interested parties and respond promptly to questions and concerns of families and community members.
• Lead the Special Education Parent Advisory Council in Lynn or Boston
• Collaborate with Principals, Leadership Teams, teachers, and related service providers to manage activities related to compliance with all state and federal regulations and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
• Collaborate with Deans, APs of Support Services and School Leaders to ensure staff are internalizing IEPs and 504s and are implementing them with integrity
• Collaborate with teachers, counselors, and the Leadership Team to develop, implement, and track intervention support plans for students to address acute needs
• Provide and/or arrange ongoing professional development based on prior experience for special educations teachers and related service providers
• Consult with and support special education teachers and related service providers in their responsibilities to chair reviews and develop IEPs for these students
• Write IEPs as determined by the Managing Director of Student Support Services
• Manage Speech and Language Pathologists and contracted service providers such as Occupational Therapists and ABA Therapists as needed and directed
• Ensure students receive appropriate testing accommodations
• Provide support to APs and Deans of Student Support Services regarding research-based and effective instructional and social-emotional-behavioral practices
• Embody KIPP MA’s Code of Conduct by acting with integrity, leading with humanity, centering self-awareness and critical consciousness, taking personal responsibility, and engaging productively
• Participate and engage in regional professional development and community events as required
• In addition to the responsibilities listed above, there will occasionally be other duties as assigned that staff will engage in to help promote a positive and safe learning environment and culture.

Requirements

• Deep alignment with KIPP MA’s mission and values, including the unwavering belief in the high potential of all students
• Demonstrated ability to drive student growth and achievement and to create a warm, inclusive, rigorous learning environment
• Passion for special education and demonstrates commitment to professional learning
• 3-5+ years of full-time special education teaching experience
• 3+ years case management and the IEP process experience
• Deep knowledge of the IEP process and Special Education policy
• Demonstrated ability to develop a strong IEP to support rigorous and individualized learning experiences
• Demonstrated ability to plan & implement professional development of the IEP process and access for all learners
• Deep knowledge of the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and collaboratively to ensure all learners have to access their LRE
• Knowledge of the RtI and pre-referral process
• Strong project management and organizational skills
• Bachelor’s Degree required
• Pass Criminal Background Checks
• License in Special Education required (preferably an administrative license, and if not, willingness to apply for MA Special Education Administrator License within one year.)

Nice-to-haves

• Master’s Degree highly preferred
• Fluent Spanish speakers strongly encourage to apply
• Ongoing higher education or alternative pathways in Special Education could substitute for Master’s Degree