Director of Special Education

Job Overview

Location:

Jamaica Plain Campus – JAMAICA PLAIN, MA 02130. Position Type:
Full Time. Salary Range: $85,000.00–$95,000.00 per year.

Italian Home for Children’s Pallotta Educational Center is a K‑8 therapeutic day school for children with special education, social, emotional, and behavioral needs. The Director of Special Education will oversee the overall quality and operations of students’ academic progress, supervise Special Education Teachers and Teacher Assistants, provide professional development, and assist the Head of School in operations and curriculum development. The position reports to the Head of School and works closely with the Director of Clinical Programming.

• Develop quality improvement goals, engage staff in goals, and track academic outcomes.
• Collaborate with the Director of Clinical Programming to integrate occupational therapy, nursing, psychiatry, speech & language, expressive arts, and other clinicians into the classroom therapeutic environment.
• Mentor teachers on curriculum and lesson plans; develop yearly curriculum calendar for all grade levels.
• Set standards and high expectations for the school’s literacy program.
• Ensure compliance of individual student academic records, including assessments, literacy, and adherence to Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).
• Maintain all IEPs current and relevant by attending all Quarterly Conferences, Progress Reviews, and Medication Reviews.
• Stay current with best practices, research, policies, regulations, and trends affecting educational programs.
• Engage in de‑escalation training and ensure child safety.
• Develop, coach, and retain high‑performing staff.
• Schedule and deliver supervision and in‑service training; manage performance of direct reports under agency supervision model.
• Create a culture of mutual support, respect, personal responsibility, empowerment, and continuous skill development.
• Respond to staff feedback in a timely manner.
• Mentor special education lead teachers on supervising and managing teacher assistants.

• Master’s degree in Special Education or related field; license as a Special Educator; minimum one year of administrative experience.
• License as Administrator of Special Education strongly preferred.
• Two or more years in a leadership role preferred.
• Background working with children with behavioral health histories strongly preferred.
• Experience working effectively with children and families in diverse communities.
• Mission‑driven and self‑delivered, passionate about the agency’s mission.
• Flexible and adaptable; able to manage broad responsibilities and shifting priorities.
• Strong motivator of staff to be flexible, tolerant of change, and support program growth.
• Maintain strict confidentiality regarding clients and employees; adhere to all HIPAA regulations.
• Proven ability to establish and steward external relationships.
• Excellent communication skills, written and verbal.
• Physical ability to provide therapeutic physical restraint.
• Excellent time management, teamwork, and problem‑solving skills.
• Knowledge of Microsoft 365 required; knowledge of data collection methods required.

Base annual salary: $85,000 – $95,000, dependent on experience. Additional compensation includes PTO, medical & life insurance, EAP, and the 403(b) retirement plan.

Italian Home for Children is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We are an equal‑opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, height, weight, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.