Academic Program Lead Sola Academy

About the role

The Director of Education at Sola Academy by Fusion is the senior academic leader responsible for the quality, coherence, and continuous improvement of the academic program. This role requires an experienced special educator with a bachelor’s degree and at least 3 years of experience in education leadership, preferably in special education or a therapeutic setting.

Responsibilities

• Lead and strengthen the academic program, ensuring high-quality, individualized instruction aligned to each student’s learning profile.
• Hire, develop, and support teachers through coaching, professional development, and ongoing performance feedback.
• Monitor student progress and academic outcomes, ensuring programs are data-driven, compliant, and continuously improving.
• Partner with campus leadership to support IEP-aligned programming, instructional integrity, and student transitions.
• Foster a collaborative, engaging teaching culture rooted in mentorship and continuous growth.
• Support holistic student development through mentoring, behavior support, and social-emotional wellbeing.
• Collaborate with families, staff, and professionals to ensure strong communication and a consistent, high-quality student experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in Education or Special Education preferred.
• Current Illinois LBS1 certification required.
• Experience in education leadership, ideally in special education or a therapeutic setting.
• Strong background in curriculum, instruction, and assessment, including experience with diverse learners and IEPs.
• Proven ability to coach and develop teachers and build strong academic systems.
• Experience analyzing student data to drive instructional decisions and outcomes.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Passion for personalized learning and supporting students with learning differences.
• Ability to balance academic excellence with a supportive, student-centered approach.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision plans.
• Vacation time (for certain positions).
• Accident and life insurance as well as short- and long-term disability.
• In addition to the above items, full-time and part-time employees can generally participate in:
• Sick time and paid holidays in accordance with company policy.
• 401(k) plan with company match, based on eligibility.
• Tax-advantaged commuter benefits.
• Employee assistance program.

Pay

USD $80,000.00 - USD $100,000.00 /Yr.