Director of Special Education

OUR MISSION

Invictus Academy of Richmond prepares 100% of students in grades 7-12 to thrive in the colleges of their choice, solve relevant problems, and communicate with confidence.

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OUR SCHOOL

Invictus creates joyful, rigorous classroom cultures where students understand the importance of the content they are learning, and how it connects to their everyday lives and ambitions.

We believe in academic rigor, collaboration, have an unwavering belief in our students’ capabilities, and do whatever it takes to support their growth.

We build trusting, authentic relationships with students, families, and colleagues. With these relationships as our foundation, we work closely with each other to support students in meeting the highest academic and behavior expectations. At Invictus, we are eager to learn about and implement restorative approaches to support students to be their best selves.

Invictus Academy of Richmond embodies humility and constantly strives to strengthen our knowledge, skills, and practice. We crave feedback and welcome opportunities to grow through observations, coaching meetings, and professional development.

We are fiercely solutions-oriented. We never shy away from a problem that we must solve to achieve our mission, but always bring potential solutions to the table.

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THE ROLE

Invictus Academy is an independent public charter school located in El Cerrito and we are seeking a Director of Student Services to join our team who believes deeply that the mission, model, and values at Invictus are driving improved educational outcomes for students.

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Director of Student Services to join our leadership team. The Director of Student Services will play a crucial role in ensuring that students with diverse learning needs receive the necessary support and resources to achieve success. The ideal candidate will be passionate about inclusive education and dedicated to promoting equity and excellence for all students.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership and Administration:

• Develop and implement policies, procedures, and programs to support students with special needs in accordance with state and federal regulations
• Provide leadership and guidance to special education staff, including teachers, paraprofessionals, and related service providers
• Collaborate with the school leadership team to integrate special education initiatives into the overall school plan
• Monitor and ensure compliance with IDEA, ADA, OCR, CRDC and federal and state regulations and ensure that all IAR practices are legal and ethical for each student/family so that each child has the opportunity to achieve at a high level and be prepared for post-secondary success.
• Manage external partnerships and contractors providing services (such as speech and language and occupational therapy) for students and liaise with SELPA
• Coordinate with the Director or Operations and Back Office support to complete CALPADS reporting
• Ensure Special Education Local Plan Areas (SELPA) reporting requirements are completed, in coordination with Director of Operations and Back Office providers
• Serve as an active member of the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) team, monitoring and tracking progress for middle and high school students
• Serve as the administration liaison for all IEP meetings
• Support crisis response on campus as needed
• Provide mental health supports as needed
• Oversee all state and federal SPED compliance reporting and monitoring
• Implement, monitor, and sustain school-wide IAR systems and expectations

Program Development and Implementation:

• Oversee individualized education plans (IEPs) for students with disabilities, ensuring that goals and objectives are aligned with state standards and student needs
• Coordinate the evaluation and identification process for students with disabilities, including conducting assessments and facilitating multidisciplinary team meetings
• Develop and implement strategies to promote inclusive practices and support the integration of students with disabilities into general education classrooms
• Ensure continuous improvement and coordination of Special Education services and compliance for Students with IEPs
• Oversee counseling programs and supports from both internal and external partners
• Support the coordination and oversight of standardized state testing and testing logistics for students with disabilities
• Support summer school and credit recovery programming to ensure students stay on their graduation pathway

Staff Development and Training:

• Provide ongoing professional development and training opportunities for special education staff to enhance their knowledge and skills in supporting students with diverse learning needs.
• Provide training for special education staff regarding new legal mandates
• Collaborate with general education teachers to provide training on effective instructional strategies and accommodations for students with disabilities.
• Plan professional development for general education staff to support the implementation of special education best practices
• Supervise, coach, and evaluate the special education staff to promote continuous improvement and ensure high-quality instruction and support for students.

Parent and Community Engagement:

• Build positive and collaborative relationships with parents/guardians of students with disabilities, providing support and resources to address their concerns and questions.
• Collaborate with community organizations, agencies, and service providers to enhance support services and resources available to students with disabilities and their families.
• Organize and facilitate meetings and workshops to educate parents/guardians and community members about special education programs and services.

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in special education, education administration, or related field (Doctorate preferred).
• Valid state certification in special education administration or eligibility for certification.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in special education, with at least 2 years of leadership experience.
• In-depth knowledge of special education laws, regulations, and best practices.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to effectively collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including students, parents, staff, and community members.
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment for all students.

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To you, the “how” of what you do is just as important as the “what.” You build trusting, authentic relationships with students, families, and colleagues. You embody humility, take ownership for your continued growth, and crave feedback. You are also fiercely solutions- oriented. You never shy away from a problem and bring potential solutions to the table. You are highly reliable and collaborate closely with other school leaders in pursuit of our mission.

IS THIS YOU?

• You possess a Clear California Special Education Teaching Credential and/or a California Pupil Personnel Services Credential.
• You have a deep knowledge and experience working with students who have IEPs and 504 plans.
• You have knowledge of California A-G requirements.
• You believe that academic rigor and joy are not only compatible, but are key to driving outcomes for students.
• You believe that strong routines and consistency is essential to creating a safe learning environment.
• You have experience leading effective classrooms that result in strong academic outcomes for students.
• You have experience monitoring and analyzing data to inform instruction.
• You are an excellent written and oral communicator.
• You are professional, warm and collaborative with students, families, and colleagues.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Our ideal candidate has at least three years of teaching experience.
• Master’s Degree.
• Fluent in Spanish.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

This position is on-site. The employee must have sufficient mobility to report to campus, work in an office, and engage with students and families, with or without reasonable accommodations. The employee may be required to do light lifting, pushing/pulling, and bending, with or without accommodations. The employee must possess the ability to communicate with students, parents, and colleagues, with or without reasonable accommodations.

NON-DISCRIMINATION

Invictus Academy acknowledges and agrees that all persons are entitled to equal employment opportunity. Invictus Academy shall not discriminate against applicants or employees on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by California or federal law. Equal employment opportunity shall be extended to all aspects of the employer-employee relationship, including but not limited to recruitment, selection, hiring, upgrading, training, promotion, transfer, discipline, layoff, recall, and dismissal from employment.