Special Education Manager

WHO WE ARE

At Tulsa Honor Academy (THA), we are on a mission to equip all scholars with the academic skills, content knowledge, and ethical character required for college graduation and life success.

We believe ALL scholars, regardless of race, background, income or ability, can achieve at high levels. We work relentlessly to ensure 100% of scholars are on a path to go to and graduate from a college of their choice, beginning in the fifth grade. 

Opening our doors in 2015 with 92 fifth grade scholars, THA will grow to serve over 1,300 scholars in grades 5-12 across our two campuses in the 2024-2025 academic year.

When you join the THA Familia, you are joining a team with an unwavering commitment to ensuring scholars in our community have access to a high-quality, college preparatory education. One that is focused on developing successful college graduates who will become well-rounded, engaged individuals who will transform their communities. 

Candidates must share our unshakeable belief that all scholars can achieve when given the opportunity. Sound like you? 

WHO YOU ARE

• You are a firm believer that all scholars can go to and graduate from college
• You demonstrate determination and know that the work is hard, but worth it
• You display humility through consistent self-reflection, problem solving and implementation of feedback
• You believe in team first and know that success is not defined by individuals, but by the team itself
• You demonstrate a commitment to structure knowing that school-wide systems are critical elements of our scholars’ success
• You are a proactive communicator who does so clearly and concisely with scholars, families and staff
• You are nerdy about ensuring scholars have access to rigorous academic instruction, including deep and complex content  
• You desire to be in the trenches with us and our kids and can engage and motivate diverse stakeholders
• You are goal-oriented and set meaningful, ambitious goals and achieve success despite potential obstacles or setbacks
• You are always hungry for more and have a deep desire to be an expert in your field 
• You display grit when the work is hard and utilize ingenuity, resourcefulness and tenacity to tackle complex problems in order to achieve our mission

WHAT YOU’LL DO 

The Special Education Manager will create, manage, and execute a variety of systems necessary for best-in-class special education services, and practices to drive compliance in coordination with the Director of Scholar Interventions, Network Team, and School Leadership Teams. Special Education services at THA include but are not limited to IEP Eligibility, IEP process supervision, State and Federal Special Education Compliance, child find, child study, and response to intervention. 

The Special Education Manager, a network leader, is a highly self-motivated professional capable of leading our team to support all scholars to exceptional growth and ensures that our schools meet all federal and state regulations related to special education. 

Core Commitments 

-It is hard, but joyful for both kids and adults. We work hard, but love just as hard.

• Develop a palpably positive classroom and school climate with frequent and authentic instances of shared smiling, laughter and enthusiasm where joy is deeply rooted in achievement, the content, and team/individual successes
• Believe that scholar actions and mindsets stem from teacher actions and mindsets

-Back-to-basics, liberal arts school - We have a fundamental belief in teaching kids to be critical thinkers through ELA and STEM.

• Develop a strong skill foundation
• Ensure all scholars complete the cognitive work during the lesson, such as reading, writing, discussion, analysis, meaning-making, computation, and problem-solving
• Display that you value risk-taking, especially when the work is challenging. Expect all scholars to  attempt all work, take academic risks, and learn from their mistakes

-Structure driven school - We sacrifice autonomy in exchange for consistency and commitment to a shared definition of excellence.

• Sweat the small stuff 
• Believe that scholars want and need to be held to a higher standard and that scholars are capable of making good choices
• Teach and enforce school-wide systems, rules and consequences, disciplinary codes, and rewards at all times
• Know that warm and strict are not opposites 

-Team, team, team - We support our community, learn from one another and respect each other enough to hold high expectations for ourselves and our scholars. 

• Value parents as our partners
• Model what we expect because we know adults drive culture 
• Believe in an all hands on deck mentality 

-Constant Improvement - We model what it really means to receive feedback. 

• Gain energy from the feedback cycle, not lose it 
• Use feedback to make productive changes in performance

-Diversity and Equity - We believe institutions thrive with diverse people and backgrounds.

• Ensure our community is an inclusive and safe place
• Deeply believe in and participate in our work as an anti-racist organization 

-People, paper, college - What we invest in says a lot about what we prioritize.

• Execute rigorous instructional materials 
• Support teammates, families and scholars 
• Do whatever it takes to ensure our scholars go to and graduate from college 

Core Responsibilities

-Commitment to Mission & Vision: The Special Education Manager collaborates to develop and maintain a shared vision of high expectations, ensures THA’s mission and vision drive decisions and conducts difficult conversations to improve student results.

-Academic Achievement: Through contributing to a data-driven culture, scholar goal-setting, a focus on results, and professional development, the Special Education Manager is consistently focused on academic achievement for all scholars. 

-Coaching: Through frequent observations, quality feedback, collaboration, and  professional development:

• The Special Education Manager will train special education teachers related to all special education compliance, documentation and archiving, EdPlan, and THA Special Education policy and procedure. 
• The Special Education Manager will support school leadership teams to ensure that special education teachers are effectively providing individualized services to scholars with special needs without lowering academic or behavioral expectations.
• The Special Education Manager will work with school leaders to make sure that general education teachers are providing legally required accommodations and are getting appropriate academic results from scholars with special needs in the general education setting without lowering academic or behavioral expectations.

-Special Education Systems and Outcomes: The Special Education Manager ensures that Tulsa Honor Academy is in compliance with all laws, rules, policies, and timeliness expectations and provides guidance in the writing of IEPs, behavior plans, and functional behavior assessments. The Special Education Manager monitors the individualized education plan creation and writing process, ensures all participants understand the education plan process, protects rights and confidentiality, and demonstrates knowledge of current trends in special education to best support education plans. 

-Adult Culture: The Special Education Manager addresses teacher needs, communicates proactively, celebrates scholar achievement, models what THA expects (from scholars and adults), and works to build positive staff morale. 

-Leadership: The Special Education Manager holds expectations for themselves by modeling all hands on deck mentality, embodying THA’s leadership mindset, managing time and tasks, taking ownership of tasks, communicating effectively, remaining committed to excellence, and remaining proactive in all areas of responsibility. 

-Other Network Priorities: The Special Education Manager will execute other network priorities, duties, and responsibilities as needed as set by the Chief Academic Officer or Director of Scholar Interventions.

THE DETAILS

Qualifications/Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Oklahoma Mild/Moderate certification required, additional Special Education certifications preferred.

Experience

• Prior Special Education teaching experience is required.
• Prior Special Education leadership or coaching experience in a school serving a similar population to THA’s is preferred.
• Charter school experience is highly preferred.
• Fluency in EdPlan is highly preferred. Familiarity with Windows or ChromeOS required.
• Demonstrated track record of achievement in prior roles.

Compensation and Benefits 

• THA’s starting salary range for Managers is $62,000. Salary is commensurate with full-time, K-12 leadership experience in accredited schools. THA’s compensation includes a comprehensive benefits package. To learn more about THA’s benefits, visit tulsahonor.org/careers.

The Role

• Reports to and is held accountable by THA’s Director of Scholar Interventions. 
• Full-time, year-round, exempt.

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