Regional Student Support Lead; PreK-12 - Specialized Student Services

Position: Regional Student Support Lead (PreK-12) - Specialized Student Services
* Forbes named Mesa Public Schools in their list of Best Employers in Arizona for multiple years.

* East Valley Tribune names Mesa Public Schools as Best Place to Work in East Valley for multiple years.

Employment Type:

Full time

Base Salary:

$70,947

Pay Grade:

Certified I

Calendar:

10.75 month position, 238 workdays

Benefits:

Sick leave, holidays, matched retirement through Arizona State Retirement System, health, life insurance

Performance Pay:

Available annually

New Hire Salary with Experience and

Education:

STEP 1:

Teacher base salary + $500 for each full-time year of certified or verified like experience.

$65/hour of graduate level credits: BA +45 hours max, MA +60 hours max, $1000 for an advanced degree

Current Employee Salary:

STEP 1:

Current certified salary/teacher calendar OR

Certified I, II or III +/- difference (see MEA working conditions)

New Hire/Current Employee:

STEP 2:

Add an additional $9,331

Job Summary:

The Regional Student Support Lead supports the implementation of high-quality special education services within a designated PreK-12 grade region. The role prioritizes leadership and compliance oversight at the high school level (approximately 75% focus) while providing targeted systems support for PreK-8 schools within the same region (approximately 25% focus). This position ensures alignment with district policies, state and federal laws, and promotes effective, evidence-based instructional practices for students with disabilities across all grade bands.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & System Oversight

* Serve as a regional leader for special education services, with primary responsibility for supporting high school special education systems and practices.

* Collaborate with site and district leaders to implement a continuum of services aligned with IDEA, state statutes, and district expectations.

* Actively participate in regional leadership teams to promote cross-departmental alignment, collaborative problem-solving, and continuous improvement efforts.

* Coordinate high school special education caseloads, student schedules, and service models to ensure efficient service delivery and balanced staff workloads.

Instructional and Compliance Support

* Provide direct coaching and job-embedded support to special education teachers and support staff on effective instructional strategies, compliance, and IEP implementation.

* Monitor and support adherence to IEP compliance, including timelines, content accuracy, progress reports, METs, and transfer paperwork using compliance checklists.

* Support site teams in preparing for and participating in state and district monitoring or audits.

Case Management and Scheduling

* Oversee accurate student counts for staffing allocations and reporting purposes.

* Collaborate with school registrars and leadership to align special education student schedules with the master schedule.

* Support the development and refinement of the master schedule to meet the needs of students receiving specialized services.

Transition Planning

* Participate in and facilitate transition meetings between junior high and high school to ensure smooth student hand-offs, accurate course requests, and aligned services.

* Assist in planning and implementing programming that supports students moving from PreK through grade 12, with a focus on successful postsecondary transitions.

IEP and Manifest Determination Review (MDR) Facilitation

* Serve as the District Representative at IEP meetings, ensuring legal and procedural fidelity and effective family communication at the high school level.

* Facilitate and complete Manifestation Determination Reviews in alignment with district protocols and legal standards at the high school level.

Staff Development & Supervision

* Coordinate and provide professional learning and site-based training for special education personnel, focusing on instructional quality, compliance, and effective student support practices

* Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate special education instructional assistants and clerical support staff at the high school site.

Assessment & Data Management

* Collaborate with school and district assessment teams to coordinate state and district testing for students with disabilities, including alternate assessments and accommodations.

* Use data to inform instructional support, compliance monitoring, and staffing decisions.

PreK-8 Systems Support (25%)

* Provide consultative support to PreK-8 schools in the region, ensuring consistent implementation of district procedures, instructional expectations, and early intervention systems.

* Offer technical assistance to elementary and junior high sites on compliance, instructional coaching, and transition support.

Other Duties

* Attend district- and site-level meetings and complete other responsibilities as assigned in alignment with Mesa Public Schools' goals and priorities.

Required Qualifications:

* Bachelor's degree in education, special education, or a related field.

* Valid Arizona Department of Education teaching certificate and SEI…