Middle School Special Education Department Chair SY

Job Summary

Middle School Special Education Department Chair – responsible for facilitating the delivery, monitoring, and assessment of special education procedures and programming, ensuring that students with disabilities receive curriculum and services appropriate to their needs. The role includes staff development, compliance oversight, and collaboration with school leaders.

• Serve as the first and strongest advocate for racial and ableness equity and student‑centered approaches to teaching, learning, service, and support.
• Support student achievement through staff development, compliance monitoring, student transitioning, and related activities.
• Serve as the public agency representative for case conferences.
• Act as the primary liaison between the school and USS, ensuring seamless communication of systems and processes.
• Participate in USS‑designed training and monthly meetings on a regular cadence.
• Ensure all students with disabilities have access to accommodations, materials, and technology that enable them to reach their goals, regardless of the least restrictive environment.
• Monitor and support student transitions and transition planning.
• Facilitate PLC meetings for special and general educators to ensure SDI, UDL, and similar best practices are taught, practiced, and evaluated.
• Evaluate special education teachers per building leadership’s expectations or mandates.
• Provide direct managerial support, in partnership with school leaders and Learning Community Directors, to the daily work of special education and student service programming, ensuring adherence to established policies, procedures, and standards.
• Monitor the implementation of the district coaching framework for all special education coaches assigned to the building.
• Collaborate with Learning Community Directors/Principals to resolve school‑based concerns and problems with special programming.
• Assist staff in setting and attaining goals for student achievement, including those identified by the USS team.
• Facilitate RDA meetings and collaborate to support schools in increasing student achievement.
• Create and implement a system for the school team to discuss, strategize, and problem‑solve students struggling with their current IEP supports.
• Ensure MTSS is the backbone of all special education programming, intervention planning, and monitoring.
• Coordinate and articulate the district’s special education programs and services across grade levels in the Learning Community.
• Provide feedback, support, and suggestions to principals to strengthen teaching and learning for students with disabilities.
• Offer technical assistance to principals when working with marginal teachers and staff.
• Assist principals with decision‑making and problem‑solving related to intensive programming.
• Advocate for and model strong school‑family partnerships to ensure minimal barriers to student success.
• Consistently contribute to a positive team culture through direct, transparent, helpful, and collaborative communication.
• Other duties as assigned by the USS administrative team or building principal.

• Support principals in special education and student services human resource management, including recruiting, retaining, and developing staff.
• Participate in case conferences and with the assigned coach to strengthen goals and conference preparation.
• Work with principals and USS staff to review data and link best practices and materials to standards and Individual Education Plans.
• Assist principals in developing appropriate professional development programs for staff.
• Resolve difficult special education situations quickly and effectively between schools and parents that are not resolvable at the school level.
• Support staffing needs and problem‑solving for staff absences or vacancies.

• Highly‑developed written and verbal communication skills and interpersonal savvy.
• Results/action‑orientation; project management skills.
• Racial equity mindset and related DEI awareness.
• Organizational agility and negotiation skills.
• Unquestionable personal code of ethics, integrity, diversity, and trust.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strong…