Administrator of Special Education District Support & Services

Great Prairie Area Education Agency has an opening for aAdministrator of Special Education District Support & Servicesbeginning with the 2026-2027 school year.

Reports To: Chief Administrator
Classification: Administrator

Supervises: Certified Staff others as directed by the Chief Administrator.

Job Summary:

The Administrator of Special Education District Services & Supports facilitates the planning implementation and monitoring of professional learning opportunities for local education and area education staff and administrators. The administrator is responsible for leading Great Prairie special education compliance and professional learning collaborating with local education partners and overseeing fee-for-service special education services. The administrator will be responsible for collaborating with GPAEA Administrators and the Iowa Department of Education to successfully implement state regulations and guidelines related to special education across the school districts within the agency. The administrator will oversee and direct the work to close the achievement gap for students with disabilities.

In addition to understanding effective research-based professional development standards and delivery models the Administrator will demonstrate knowledge of the skills necessary to meet the needs of all professionals and learners; play an integral role in cultivating and developing leaders across GPAEA; ensure quality practices rooted in data equity culturally responsive teaching and coaching and engage in cross-team collaboration.

The goal of this position is to make significant contributions to improving student achievement by designing delivering and promoting high quality professional learning systems that will build the capacity of innovative leadership to create a culture of learning for GPAEA internal and external stakeholders.

Qualifications:

• Education: Masters degree in education or a related field.
• Certification: Valid Iowa Board of Educational Examiners Administrator license with the Iowa Evaluator Approval (190).
• Experience: Five plus years of successful administrative experience is preferred.

Essential Functions:

• Demonstrate leadership and management skills and the ability to disseminate use of these skills for the benefit of the agency.
• Collaborate on district service plans with the Administrator of Agency Managed Services that focus on effective school leadership improved teacher quality sound school improvement practices and embedded data-informed implementation methods.
• Provide agency leadership in conjunction with the Administrator of Agency Managed Services on the development and support of contracted / fee-for-service days with local school districts specifically those related to special education.
• Provide leadership to targeted special education subgroups and IDEA-DA with internal staff and local school district leaders.
• Lead development of contracted special education service areas ensuring alignment to district needs and agency goals.
• Support agency networks such as the special education director network and establish a leadership network focusing on closing the achievement gap for students with special needs.
• Supervise staff in contracted services such as Shared Special Education Director Special Education Facilitators and other special education department services and program enhancements.
• Assist local school districts in their planning process to provide quality special education services.
• Assist agency staff and local schools to use evidence-based instructional practices and Iowas SDI framework to improve outcomes and close the achievement gap for learners with disabilities.
• Develop and implement continuous improvement plans to address the student achievement of learners with disabilities in Great Prairie AEA.
• Lead agency teams in accreditation and reporting such as annual desk audits.
• Stay abreast of new ideas in the fields of education and leadership.
• Ensure clear and timely communication internally across Great Prairie AEA and externally with local school districts and the general public.
• Work cooperatively with other service areas and outside agencies.
• Oversight of IEP weighting process and staff.
• Manage AEA support on District Developed Service Delivery Plans.
• Oversee the public and non-public special education consultation process.
• Assume other duties as assigned by the Chief Administrator.

Working Conditions:

• Regular travel requirements: Frequent travel is required between office locations and school sites within the agencys designated area. Travel often involves multiple trips within a single day and may necessitate extended periods in a vehicle. Occasional statewide or out-of-state travel for conferences training sessions and other professional development events is also expected.
• Physical demands: In addition to regular standing and sitting the role may involve prolonged periods of walking or standing particularly during site visits or meetings. Occasional lifting and carrying of equipment and materials (weighing up to 25 pounds) is required. This may include setting up for presentations carrying materials to different locations and managing files or supplies. The role also requires sufficient mobility and dexterity to perform office-based tasks including typing filing and other administrative duties.
• Environmental conditions: Travel and on-site visits may expose employees to varying weather conditions and environments including outdoor settings school facilities and community event locations. The ability to adapt to diverse environments including loud or crowded spaces is important.
• Visual and auditory requirements: Effective performance in this role requires clear and efficient verbal communication with staff students and community members. Auditory ability is necessary for listening to presentations and participating in discussions while visual acuity is required for reviewing documents digital screens and visual materials.
• Mental demands: The role requires a high level of concentration attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously. The ability to remain organized and flexible amidst frequent interruptions and variable work schedules is essential.

Terms of Employment

The work schedule and compensation will be determined in alignment with Great Prairie AEA policies and subject to board approval.

Evaluation

Performance will be evaluated based on the Iowa Standards for School Leaders and criteria which represent a set of knowledge and skills that reflects the best evidence available regarding effective leadership for Iowa schools. The standards and criteria are linked to the evaluation of administrators and the professional development plans for administrators.

In the AEA leaders first year in the position the AEA leader is evaluated based on all 10 subsequent years the AEA leader and supervisor revisit their mutual understanding of the AEA leaders competence relative to all 10 standards. They then move to an in-depth and focused conversation grounded in the leaders IAPDP goals and aligned standards.

Required Experience:

Unclear Seniority