Special Education Director (Northeast Campus)

MISSION: We exist to foster a diverse community of youths and adults striving together for

academic personal and civic excellence.

VISION: Creating inclusive excellence in public education.

HIGHLINE ACADEMY OVERVIEW: Education Director

Role:

School Administrator

Location:

Highline Academy Northeast

Reports to:

Campus Principal

Supervisory responsibilities:

SPED Teaching and TA Staff

Position Responsibilities:

Assistant Principal of K-2 Instruction

Highline Academy Charter Schools

Denver Colorado

210 Contracted Days

Compensation: $82350 - $104206 based on our salary scale attached below.

About Highline Academy Charter Schools

Step into the vibrant world of Highline Academy where every child is celebrated for their uniqueness and empowered to soar towards academic civic and personal greatness. Since our inception in 2004 in Southeast Denver weve been more than just a charter organization; were a tight-knit community dedicated to inclusive excellence and unwavering support for every student.

In 2014 our family expanded with the opening of our second school in Green Valley Ranch further enriching our diverse tapestry. Hailing from fifty different countries and speaking 26 languages our students bring a kaleidoscope of experiences and perspectives to our halls. Regardless of background or previous educational journey each child finds a place to thrive within our inclusive environment.

At Highline excellence isnt just a goalits our reality. Our students consistently surpass district and state averages a testament to the passion and dedication of our exceptional faculty. With high retention rates among both staff and students our school exudes a positive culture and a sense of belonging that fosters unparalleled growth and achievement.

But our commitment to excellence goes beyond academics. We believe in a well-rounded education that nurtures the whole child. Thats why we offer a rich liberal arts curriculum complete with Art Music Spanish and P.E. instruction. We set the bar high for all learners recognizing that each child has unique needs and talents. Embracing a highly inclusive environment to serve all students including multilingual learners and students with IEPs our teachers provide personalized instruction in core subjects like math and language arts ensuring every student can access the curriculum.

For those who require extra support our robust intervention program offers additional resources tailored to individual needs. We proudly welcome students with Mild/Mod and MI IEPs into our inclusive classrooms where theyre fully integrated and supported every step of the way.

Education at Highline isnt just about academicsits about character development too. Our signature Reach program instills values like responsibility empowerment aspiration citizenship and honesty in every student. Implementing a restorative justice approach we cultivate a culture of empathy self-reflection and academic excellence empowering our students to reach out reach in and reach up to their fullest potential.

At Highline were not just educatorswere advocates for every childs success. With a students-first growth mindset approach we inspire our students to dream big and strive for greatness. And as role models our staff embody these values ensuring a safe nurturing environment where every child can flourish.

Join us at Highline Academy where excellence knows no bounds and every child is empowered to shine.

About the Role

Reporting to the campus Principal the Special Education Director at Highline plays an integral role in realizing our mission to inspire and empower students to achieve their highest potential. As the Special Education Director youll play a pivotal role in driving academic excellence fostering a positive school culture and supporting the professional growth of our dedicated educators. Your leadership will not only impact the lives of our students and their families but also contribute to the overall success and reputation of our school within the community. If youre ready to make a profound difference in education and lead with purpose this is the opportunity youve been seeking. Join us in shaping the future leaders of tomorrow and embark on a rewarding journey of growth and impact as the Special Education Director at our K-5 school.

The Special Education Director will join our established Northeast Admin team; our Principal Upper Elementary Assistant Principal of Instruction our Lower Elementary Assistant Principal of Instruction and our Assistant Principal of Culture. While our team works collaboratively to support our staff and students this role is specifically focused on the instructional practices ESS compliance and growth of our special education students and staff.

Outcomes

The Special Education Director will be responsible for achieving the following outcomes within the first year:

1. The Special Education Director leads staff to implement quality curriculum and instructional strategies to ensure growth in alignment with IEP goals.

• Curriculum Leadership: Oversee and guide the implementation of a rigorous IEP-aligned curriculum to meet the diverse needs of students.
• Data-Driven Instruction: Use student achievement data to inform instructional strategies and interventions ensuring each student makes measurable progress.
• Instructional Coaching: Provide ongoing support and coaching to special education teachers in best practices for differentiated instruction progress monitoring and effective teaching techniques.
• Collaborative Planning: Facilitate regular meetings with teaching teams to collaboratively design and evaluate lesson plans ensuring they align with student goals.
• Professional Development: Lead professional development initiatives focused on enhancing instructional strategies ensuring teachers are equipped with the tools to meet students needs.
• Monitoring Student Achievement: Establish systems to monitor and review progress monitoring frequently annual IEP meetings and evaluations in accordance with DPS guidelines and IDEA.

2. The Special Education Director will support the principal in building a learning organization ensuring a culture of high achievement and aspiration for personal and civic excellence by all adults and students through high-quality professional development and coaching of a set of teachers.

• Culture of Excellence: Foster a school culture where high academic achievement and personal growth are the norm setting high expectations for all students and staff.
• Professional Development Leadership: Design coordinate and lead relevant professional development opportunities that build teacher capacity including workshops seminars and collaborative learning communities.
• Coaching and Mentoring: Provide one-on-one and group coaching for our established team of special education teachers to improve their instructional practices and support their professional growth. (7 Special Education Teachers)
• Collaboration and Reflection: Create opportunities for teachers to observe each others classrooms engage in reflective practices and share successful strategies.
• Teacher Support Systems: Develop and implement systems that identify teachers needs and provide tailored professional development support to help them succeed.
• Monitoring Teacher Growth: Track teacher progress and improvement through regular observations feedback and professional development activities ensuring continuous growth.

3. The Special Education Director will work in partnership with the rest of the admin team to retain and hire new staff members that embody the knowledge skills and mindsets needed to continue to drive meaningful results for students and staff.

• Collaborative Hiring Process: Participate in recruiting interviewing and hiring new staff members ensuring they align with the schools mission vision and values.
• Retention Strategies: Work with the administration team to develop strategies for retaining top-quality teachers including career development recognition and support.
• Onboarding New Staff: Lead the onboarding process for new hires ensuring they feel supported and integrated into the school community with a strong understanding of school culture and expectations.
• Professional Growth for Staff: Identify opportunities for staff members to advance in their careers whether through leadership roles specialized training or other professional development opportunities.
• Data-Driven Decisions: Use school performance data to inform staffing decisions ensuring that hiring and retention practices contribute to improved student outcomes.
• Mentorship Programs: Establish mentorship programs where experienced teachers support new staff members in their growth and integration into the school.

4. The Special Education Director will support teachers with ensuring fair and equitable discipline implementing restorative justice practices and building strong mindsets and practices regarding behavior management.

• Restorative Practices: Implement restorative justice techniques to address student behavioral issues promoting conflict resolution accountability and personal growth.
• Equitable Discipline Policies: Ensure that discipline practices are fair consistent and equitable for all students regardless of background or identity or manifestation of disability and that they focus on student development rather than punishment.

5. Demonstrates Leadership Excellence:

• Serves as a thought partner to the Principal and leadership team contributing to strategic planning and decision-making that strengthens Highlines impact.
  

Core Competencies

The ultimate aim of the Special Education Director is to achieve the outcomes listed order to achieve those outcomes we imagine that the Special Education Director will bring a desire to continue to build upon the following core competencies:

• Instructional Leadership -Maintains a laser-like focus on equitable academic and functional achievement for students with disabilities and continues to grow and develop a deep expertise in evidence based special education practices inclusive instructional design progress monitoring family collaboration culturally responsive support and data-driven decision making aligned to individualized student needs.

• People Management- Manages people development work activities and performance with the goal of optimizing efficient use of talent. Unlocks and channels staffs potential and sees this as key to Highline Academys success. Plans for development coaches others and addresses performance issues and conflicts at the individual and organizational level.

• Personal Agility -Demonstrates a positive attitude resilience and openness to change. Adapts ones approach as the requirements of a situation change is comfortable in ambiguous situations and works effectively in a variety of settings with individuals and groups of diverse backgrounds and experiences.

• Service Orientation Builds relationships with others by acting with the needs of students and staff in mind. Facilitates delivery of solutions that meet expressed and unexpressed needs with a genuine desire to assist others and move the boulders in the road that impede success in the classroom and the school environment.

• Culture Add and Equity -Understands importance of Highline Academy being a diverse equitable and inclusive organization; shows daily commitment to diversity and mission including various perspectives in work.Maintains a deep commitment and competency in diversity equity inclusiveness belonging and anti-racism actively fostering environments where all individuals are valued respected and provided with equal opportunities regardless of their backgrounds.

• Mission and Core Values -Internalizes Highline Academys mission and vision and excites others about whats possible for our students families and communities.Internalizes embodies champions and holds others accountable to the Highline Academy core values ofresponsibility empowerment aspiration citizenship and honesty. Brings a diverse perspective a strong desire to learn and a spirit of generosity and curiosity to the team.

Role Responsibilities:

• Coach and support special educators for a positive inclusive classroom culture and climate
• Coach and support for masterful differentiated content delivery
• Train support and oversee 1:1 Dedicated Adult Support Staff
• Demonstrate essential knowledge of special education law DPS Sped policy and best practices for IEP development and implementation
• Act as a liaison between Highline Academy and the district ensuring clear communication alignment with DPS policies and advocacy for the needs of special education students and staff.
• Support the foundation and successful opening of Highline Academys first autism center (3rd-5th MI-A) in collaboration with DPS ensuring strong instructional practices inclusive supports and alignment with best practices for students with significant needs.
• Demonstrate Effective Collaboration and Engagement with parents students and colleagues
• Demonstrate thoughtful reflection learning and development

• Develops and delivers or researches and brings in professional development to train all staff in inclusive practices and differentiation strategies
• Serve as SAL for CO-Alt testing

• Responsible for overseeing the testing process for any students who have moved through the MTSS process and have been identified for testing or any student whose parent directly requests testing
• Make recommendations to school leadership regarding schoolwide inclusive practice needs and plans including input on the school budget
• Caseload management and scheduling
• Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• BS or higher Masters preferred
• Current Colorado Department of Education Teaching License with endorsement in Special Education
• 5 or more years special education experience preferred
• 3 or more years of school administrative experience preferred
• Demonstrated commitment to and understanding of the Highline mission
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• Excellent planning and organizational skills
• Proven ability to track analyze and effectively use data

Minimum Physical Requirements:

• Be able to walk quickly bend kneel crouch sit stand grab or hold with one or both hands.
• Be able to lift up to 40lbs without difficulty
• The ability to sit for extended periods during group training
• Be able to complete the required NCI training and implement that training when needed

Compensation and Benefits:

Salary Scale range: $82350 - $104000 Highline uses a salary scale to increase pay transparency and equity. Please reach out if you have any questions about your placement on our scale.

Colorado PERA/PERA 401K

PTO as personal and sick leave

Health

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance

Short Term Disability

Gap Insurance

Accident Insurance

Equal Opportunity Employer

Highline Academy is committed to creating a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Highline Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race color national origin sex gender identity religion sexual orientation age disability parental status veteran status or any other protected status under applicable laws. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply. If you are a qualified candidate with a disability please email us at if you require a reasonable accommodation to complete this application.

Required Experience:

Director