Senior Director - Academic Services

Reports to: Senior Executive Director of Curriculum & Instruction

Bargaining Unit: N/A

Benefits Eligible: Yes

Telecommuting Eligibility: Eligible for telecommuting up to 20% (one day per week)

Position Summary:

The Senior Director of Academic Services oversees instruction in the District’s Resource program for diploma-track students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). The Senior Director will lead instructional practice support in these programs which include but are not limited to: curriculum guidance, instructional materials selection and use, intervention programs and teacher training. The Senior Director is responsible for ensuring diploma-track students with an IEP achieve academic success.

This position requires deep knowledge of Exceptional Student Education (ESE) best practices, state and federal law, IEP development and implementation, and District-level administration.

The Senior Director will report to the Senior Executive Director of Curriculum & Instruction and lead the implementation of the District’s revised strategy for supporting diploma-track students, beginning with students in general education classrooms and then moving to diploma-track students in self-contained classrooms (e.g., EI, POHI, ASD). This will include developing guidelines for how and when students should be receiving support, aligning the resource program with the District’s core curriculum, improving collaboration between general education and ESE Resource teachers, and ensuring consistent application across the District.

As part of this work, the Senior Director will oversee the materials and support that are available to ESE teachers and may include evaluating materials for adoption and leading training and adoption of materials for teachers in the field.

One of the Senior Director’s key responsibilities will be to lead the work of training and support for Exceptional Student Education (ESE) teachers who support diploma-track students with IEPs. This includes developing a pathway of professional learning opportunities and leading professional learning development. The Senior Director will supervise a team of two curriculum leaders, one K-8 and one 9-12, who will administer professional learning, provide teacher coaching, and support the implementation of the District’s resource program strategy.

Monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the District’s Resource programming is a key responsibility of this role. The Senior Director must develop metrics for success in alignment with the District’s strategic plan, create structures for collecting accurate and timely data, analyze data to assess the program’s effectiveness, and rely on data to make recommendations for continuous improvement.

• Master’s Degree in Special Education, Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Leadership, or related field;
  Doctoral degree preferred.
• Valid Michigan Teacher Certificate with special education endorsement
• Valid Michigan Administrator Certification
• Current Supervisor of Special Education Approval (or eligibility and willingness to obtain Approval)
• Minimum five years of successful administrative leadership experience in special education, specifically focused on academic programs and instructional services.
• Proven experience with program evaluation, instructional leadership, teacher development, and curriculum alignment.
• Extensive knowledge of state and federal special education law and regulations.

• Instructional Leadership
  • Provide instructional leadership to support the District’s diploma-track students with IEPs.
  • Lead professional learning for ESE teachers supporting diploma-track students with IEPs, including developing a learning pathway and supervising the development and delivery of content.
  • Supervise Curriculum Leaders working in the field to support ESE teachers with training and coaching.
  • Make regular field visits to observe instruction, collaborate with building leaders, and assess the implementation of the program.
• Strategic Leadership and Vision
  • Develop a coherent strategy for the District’s Resource program that prioritizes student achievement and coordinates District…