Director of Special Education Instruction and Effectiveness

Overview

Distinctive Schools creates diverse, joyful, welcoming communities rooted in social justice and rigorous learning. We support all learners to be engaged, curious, and to achieve their full potential. Our students become confident advocates, creative problem-solvers, and collaborative leaders.

Job Title: Director of Special Education Instruction and Effectiveness
Location: 910 W. Van Buren St., Chicago, IL
Reports To: Executive Director of Academics
Salary: Starting at $110,000, commensurate with experience
Employee Type: Regular Full Time
Start Date: June 2026

Distinctive Schools creates diverse, joyful, welcoming communities rooted in social justice and rigorous learning. We support all learners to be engaged, curious, and to achieve their full potential. Our students become confident advocates, creative problem-solvers, and collaborative leaders.

• Strategic Leadership and Compliance:
  Develop and oversee the execution of strategic plans that advance inclusive education and instructional equity for students with disabilities district wide.
• Strategic Leadership and Compliance:
  Monitor special education compliance data and ensure instructional teams and schools support meeting legal and policy requirements under IDEA, ADA, and organizational policy.
• Strategic Leadership and Compliance:
  Lead data-driven accountability cycles to improve the quality of instruction, IEPs, service delivery, and student outcomes.
• Strategic Leadership and Compliance:
  Support and lead responses to audits, investigations, and improvement plans related to compliance and instruction.
• Instructional Excellence and Support:
  Champion high-quality, research-based special education instruction through professional development, modeling, coaching, and knowledge dissemination across the organization.
• Instructional Excellence and Support:
  Ensure instructional support staff effectively guide schools in implementing Universal Design for Learning (UDL), differentiated instruction, and culturally responsive pedagogy.
• Instructional Excellence and Support:
  Promote and ensure fidelity in the implementation of IEPs and instructional interventions.
• Team Development:
  Directly lead and supervise special education instructional support staff across the network, ensuring consistency, quality, and equity in service delivery.
• Team Development:
  Manage the development of campus and network-based staff through clear goal-setting, high-impact professional development, and direct coaching cycles (including observations, co-planning, and modeling).
• Team Development:
  Embody expertise in leadership development, specifically coaching directors, managers, and school leaders toward excellence in special education oversight.
• Team Development:
  Provide strategic guidance to teachers, paraprofessionals, and related service providers to ensure a high standard of both instruction and compliance.
• Team Development:
  Partner with campus leaders to guide paraprofessional evaluations and ensure effective supervision structures are in place.
• Collaboration and Community Engagement:
  Align special education instructional efforts with broader network instructional and behavioral initiatives, ensuring cohesion and cross-departmental collaboration.
• Collaboration and Community Engagement:
  Build systems to promote authentic, culturally responsive engagement of families and communities in the special education process.
• Collaboration and Community Engagement:
  Partner with advocacy organizations and community stakeholders to foster inclusive, collaborative practices.
• Collaboration and Community Engagement:
  Collaborate with other departments to support systemic alignment and innovation.
• Collaboration and Community Engagement:
  Lead or participate in district wide initiatives, pilot programs, and special projects that enhance support for students with disabilities.
• Data-Driven Decision Making:
  Utilize data and research to inform decision-making, identify trends, and proactively address challenges in special education instructional practices.
• Data-Driven Decision Making:
  Ability to define problems, analyze data, and outline valid conclusions and action plans (Program & Curriculum Development).
• Program & Curriculum Development:
  Design and oversee special education program implementation to ensure all students access rigorous, grade-level instruction and support.
• Program & Curriculum Development:
  Partner with the academics team to align curriculum, assessments, and instructional strategies to meet the diverse needs of learners.
• Program & Curriculum Development:
  Ensure the development of inclusive instructional practices, academic interventions, and accessible curricular materials for students with exceptionalities.
• Program & Curriculum Development:
  Stay current with research and developments in special education and related services to inform network practices and instructional improvements.
• Academic Team Member Support:
  Partner with Academic Team members to lead initiatives related to teacher…