Assistant Director for Special Education

About the Role

The Assistant Director for Special Education reports directly to the Director of Exceptional Learners and provides leadership, oversight, and direct support for Exceptional Learners programs within the Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES setting. This role ensures high-quality educational programming, compliance with state and federal regulations, and effective collaboration among BOCES programs, component districts, families, and CSE teams. The Assistant Director plays a key role in strengthening instructional practices, enhancing team collaboration, supporting families, and promoting positive outcomes for students.

Responsibilities

• Provide up-to-date, research-driven professional development to school district staff, students, and/or parents on topics that improve understanding, instruction, and support of students with disabilities.
• Conduct classroom observations followed by consultation and/or written feedback to support exceptional learner sites with teaching techniques, behavioral support strategies, and material adaptations/modifications based on individual student needs.
• Assist districts with team development by facilitating team meetings and encouraging consistent, positive communication among team members between exceptional learner sites and home CSEs.
• Provide parent support and education involving disability awareness, the IEP process, positive team membership, communication, and facilitation of good working relationships with district staff and community agencies.
• Offer coaching, mentoring, and modeling to teachers and support staff on instructional techniques and strategies tailored to individual student needs.
• Assist with student transitions between grade levels, school buildings, and program changes.
• Monitor and support transition planning activities for learners ages 16–22, including post-secondary readiness and services.
• Provide assistance to administration and other school staff in program support and supervision.
• Independently review, research, and maintain current knowledge, strategies, and resources for improved education and support of students with disabilities; disseminate information and materials to districts as needed.
• Prepare materials for district sharing and staff development, manage the program budget, and handle other program maintenance responsibilities.
• Assist with the Student Referral and Placement Process.
• Demonstrate flexibility with changing requests and obligations, including strong time management, organization, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Complete teacher evaluations under APPR regulations.
• Review evaluations completed for paraprofessionals and provide feedback as needed.
• Attend regional and statewide meetings in place of the Director as needed.

Requirements

• Valid New York State School District Leader (SDL) certification required.
• Minimum of five (5) years of successful experience in school administration or special education administrative leadership.
• Strong written, verbal, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to establish collaborative relationships with component districts, families, community agencies, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to travel throughout the BOCES region as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Special Education, Educational Leadership, or a closely related field.
• Special Education teaching experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal and New York State laws and regulations governing special education, including IDEA, Part 200 Regulations, Section 504, etc.
• Experience supervising and evaluating instructional staff, including conducting evaluations under the Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) process.
• Experience developing and delivering professional learning for educators.
• Demonstrated knowledge of evidence-based instructional practices, behavioral interventions, inclusive programming, and transition planning for students with disabilities.

Pay

$105,000 - $110,000