Special Education Coordinator​/Director

MATCHBOOK LEARNING

Wendell Phillips School 63 | Indianapolis, Indiana

K–8 | Leadership | 18% of Special Education Population of 700 Total Students | Team of 13

12-Month Position | Salary:
Commensurate with Experience

At Matchbook Learning, our vision is simple: every child is known, loved, and flourishing. We are a tuition-free public charter school rooted in the Haughville neighborhood of Indianapolis, serving K–8 students at Wendell Phillips School 63. Our students come with high needs and extraordinary potential — and our staff shows up every day to meet both.

Our Special Education team is one of the most celebrated parts of Matchbook Learning — a well-built, deeply committed department that has produced remarkable outcomes for students. The leader who built it is passing the baton. We are not starting over. We are looking for someone who can carry what has been built, and help it grow.

The Special Education Coordinator/Director leads and supports a team of 13 — five special education teachers and eight instructional assistants — serving students in grades K–8, including a dedicated DREAM life skills program. This is a 12-month position that carries significant compliance responsibility, meaningful human leadership, and daily coordination across the school.

This is a full-year role with the same paid breaks as our teaching staff (Thanksgiving week, fall, winter, spring, and summer breaks). Summer weeks are predominantly remote and light in nature, though some in-person time may be required. You will have flexibility in summer while remaining available to support compliance timelines, transition planning, and staff onboarding.

You will be surrounded by a full leadership team: a Tier 1 Admin, Tier 3 Admin, MLL/MTSS Director, Dean of Students, Director of Competency-Based Learning, COO, Director of Data and Compliance, and the Head of School. You will not be alone. You will be supported, visible, and valued.

• Foster a positive, collaborative, student-centered Special Education culture across all subgroups: DREAM life skills, resource, and middle school
• Provide instructional coaching, real-time feedback, and meaningful individual check-ins with special education teachers and assistants
• Build strong, trusting relationships with students, staff, and families — be visible and approachable every day
• Advocate for appropriate staffing, manageable caseloads, and equitable workload distribution across the team
• Facilitate regular full-team meetings and promote connection across DREAM, resource, and middle school groups
• Support staff during complex behavioral, academic, and compliance situations with a problem-solving mindset
• Coordinate with third-party providers including Kids Count, BCBAs, and RBTs
• Protect and champion the integrity of the DREAM life skills program, including clear and documented placement criteria

• Ensure full compliance with IDEA, Indiana Article 7, and all Special Program requirements, timelines, and state reporting obligations
• Oversee IEP development, progress monitoring, manifestation determinations, evaluations, and case conference procedures
• Serve as the school’s primary contact at case conferences — attendance and reliability are essential to this role
• Maintain accurate and complete special education documentation, schedules, communication logs, and student records in IIEP/Indiana IEP systems
• Coordinate evaluation processes with school psychologists, related service providers, and MTSS teams
• Build systems for timely general education teacher input and feedback on case conferences
• Develop clear protocols for evaluation request review — including denial criteria — in partnership with MTSS

• Lead resource room restructuring and thoughtful caseload distribution across teachers
• Support appropriate student placement decisions based on academic, functional, behavioral, communication, and cognitive needs
• Collaborate with general education staff to strengthen inclusion practices and cross-setting student support
• Assist staff in identifying…