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Director, Special Education (assigned to support Special Education Compliance)


Job Location:

San Diego, CA - USA

Monthly Salary: Not provided by the employer
Posted: 11 September 2026 (30+ days ago)
Application Deadline: 9 December 2026
Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

This opportunity is open to all interested candidates.

OVERVIEW:

San Diego Unified School District the second largest district in California and one of the top largest urban school districts in the United States is looking for leaders who care deeply for students inspire passion in their coworkers through collaborative leadership and are committed to the communities in which they serve. The District seeks leaders who are committed to educational equity and work to create access and opportunity for our students furthest from education justice. Successful candidates must demonstrate their skill as an instructional leader a firm understanding of school operations as well as the capacity to build strong relationships with all partners within a school community.

BASIC FUNCTION:

Plan organize manage and direct the daily operations within assigned Special Education programs and services to support schools staff students and families; uphold fiscal responsibilities; ensure compliance with State and federal mandates and District policies; provide leadership direction and supervision to assigned staff to continually improve and calibrate special education programs and services.

The Director Special Education (assigned to support Special Education Compliance)will provide leadership and oversight of the Special Education Departments efforts to fulfill the Districts child-find obligations for parentally placed private school students (PPPSS) within the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) boundaries. The Director will provide leadership in the development implementation and continuous improvement of integrated systems programs and services to support students with disabilities enrolled in non-public schools. This position will ensure that assigned programs and services are effectively coordinated and aligned with applicable federal and State special education laws regulations and District policies; facilitate collaboration with schools District departments governmental and regional agencies and other partners; and support timely and effective service delivery for students and families.

DIVERSITY STATEMENT:

Because each person is born with inherent worth and dignity and because equitable access and opportunity are essential to a just educated society San Diego Unified employee commitments include being respectful of differences and diverse perspectives and being accountable for ones actions and the resulting impact.

POSITION SPECIFICS:

Examples of Duties:

An incumbent may perform any combination of the essential functions shown below. This position description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties knowledge or abilities associated with this classification but is intended to accurately reflect the principal job elements.


E Essential Functions

Direct and assist in the design and implementation of district-wide special educational initiatives. E

Direct special education programs services and school sites in support of equity and access; coordinate programs and services in general education and specialized settings; provide leadership in the development and implementation of special education programs and services in support of students and families. E

Oversee policies and procedures for administering services for assessment identification certification establishment of priority and placement of students in special education program schools and classes for assigned programs and services. E

Design and implement communications and service delivery systems that are effective in providing timely communications support and resources across the District. E

Conduct research analyze data and prepare statistical reports to support and implement best practices. E

Develop allocate and monitor budgets for assigned programs services facilities equipment staffing and inventories to ensure fiscal responsibility. E

Assist management within instructional departments in planning programs implementation of services to support high expectations and standards of performance for all students. E

Collaborate with governmental agencies regional agencies and others related to special education services for students; organize and negotiate development of interagency agreements coordinate activities and programs resolve issues and conflicts and exchange information. E

Provide leadership in the review of existing and pending legislation related to special education guidelines and District policies; recommend origination modification or support of legislative measures. E

Plan organize and implement long and short-term projects to enhance special education programs and services to students. E

Direct the preparation and maintenance of a variety of statistical and narrative reports records and files for special education functions and staff to ensure reporting requirements are met for federal and state agencies district officials and the Board of Education. E

Plan and coordinate staff trainings in special education laws and regulations compliance issues corrective actions program development and related functions. E

Direct the preparation of funding applications for new and existing grants and other funding sources and for reimbursement requests ensuring compliance with funding requirements as appropriate. E

Supervise and evaluate the performance of assigned staff. E

Perform related duties as assigned.

To view the detailed position description forDirector Special Educationclick here.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience:

Any combination of training experience and/or education equivalent to a Masters degree in special education or related field and five (5) years of leadership experience in education. Special education teaching experience is desirable.

Licenses and Other Requirements:

Valid California Administrative Services Credential.

APPLICATION INFORMATION:

Application Process

To be eligible for consideration interested candidates must submit the following items.Yourapplication will be considered incomplete if you do not includeallrequired information including completion of the Work Experience and Education Sectionsof the online application required attachments and responses to all application questions.

  • Online employment application
    • A completed online employment application must be submitted/received electronically by the closing date. This application MUST include all required attachments current and previous employment history and education to evaluate your qualifications and all other requirements identified in the recruitment and application questions.It is important to note that a resume does not substitute for completing the Work Experience and Education sections.Your application will be considered incomplete if you do not include all relevant details and attachments.
    • Paper applications are not accepted.
  • Answer all application questions.Theapplication questions should be answered thoroughly clearly and concisely as the responses provided (along with the entire application package) will be carefully reviewed to determine which candidates will move forward in the recruitment process.
  • Contact information for all previous places of employment where you served in a certificated position must be listed under the Employment History section of the application (Assembly Bill 2534).As of January 1 2025 in accordance with Education Code section 44939.5 (as amended by California AB 2534) applicants forcertificated positionsare required by lawto provide a complete list of every school district county office of education charter school and/or state special school (also known as a Local Education Agency (LEA)) with which you have previously been employed regardless of the length of service. The District may contact current and former LEAs at any time during the application screening process.
    • In accordance withCalifornia Assembly Bill 2534 all applicants for certificated positions must provide a complete employment history. Please adhere to the following
      • List Every Educational Employer:You must include every school district county office of education charter school other educational institutions or state special school where you have been employed regardless of your length of service.
      • HR Contact Information:In theEmployer Emailfield you must provide the email address for that employersHuman Resources or Personnel Office(i.e. not your direct supervisor).

Note:These email addresses are required to satisfy the employment verification and background requirements mandated by Education Code section 44939.5.

  • Contact information for three references must be listed in the Reference section of the application.References should be from a current or previous supervisor.Reference email requests may be sent at any time during the application screening process of this recruitment.These reference requests are not an indication of progression in the recruitment process or an interview reference letters dated within the last year are also accepted and may be attached to your online application in the Reference Section.
  • AttachDocuments (PDF format recommended)
    • Cover Letter / Letter of Intent
    • Resume
      • Resume must reflect current and past work and accomplishments.
      • A resume is to be attached butdoes NOT substitute for completing work history education sections or the supplemental questions of the employment application.
    • Credential
      • Valid California Administrative Services Credential is required.
      • A copy of yourvalid California Administrative Services Credential or equivalent out-of-state administrative credential MUST be attached to your submitted online application.Important note: preliminary and clear Administrative Services Credentials submitted with an expired date may not be considered. Verify the copy you upload to your online application is current.Certificates of Eligibility for Administrative Services Credentials typically do not have an expiration date.
      • Detailed instructions to view and print California credential(s) may be found on the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing website at thisLINK. For other states please visit the state educator license/credential website.
      • If you are currently enrolled in an Administrative Services Credential program you must attach verification of enrollment from the CTC-approved university/ program with the anticipated program completion date.
      • If you are currently in the process of obtaining an Administrative Services Credential by achieving a passing score on theCalifornia Preliminary Administrative Credential Examination (CPACE) you mustattach a copy of the official score report. If you are scheduled to take the CPACE you must submit a copy of the confirmation of the scheduled exam date(s).
  • Additional documents(optional)
    • Letters of Recommendation
    • Additional documents if any must be attached to the online employment application.

For questions regarding this job announcement including priority consideration please contact Human Resources Analyst Tina Cano at.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

If you have questions about your application please email.

The San Diego Unified School District communicates information regarding the hiring process via email. Please be aware that the District is not responsible for messages blocked by your email an effort to allow our emails through your personal spam filter you can try to add theandto your safe senders list.

San Diego Unified School District is committed to equal opportunity for all individuals in education. District programs and activities shall be free from discrimination harassment intimidation and bullying by reason of the following actual or perceived characteristics: age ancestry color mental or physical disability ethnicity ethnic group identification gender gender expression gender identity genetic information immigration status marital or parental status medical condition nationality national origin actual or perceived sex sexual orientation race religion or on the basis of a persons association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.

For more information about equity in employment contact:

Title II Coordinator & Uniform Complaint Compliance OfficerEric Rico: /Title IX CoordinatorAnna Ward: /504 CoordinatorEri Nall:


Required Experience:

Director