Executive Director of Special Services

SouthWest Metro Intermediate District #288 serves students in 11 member districts and 8 associate member districts across the southwestern Twin Cities metropolitan area with programs in Special Education, Career and Technical Education, Care & Treatment, Adult Education, and Alternative Education. We work to empower ALL learners to realize their self-worth through personalized educational instruction, connection to resources, and access to a supportive learning environment.

About the role

The Executive Director of Special Services is an innovative and creative leader with strong communication and collaboration skills who oversees all special education and special services programs within the district, supporting the academic achievement of students. This position works 8 hours a day for 260 contract days.

Responsibilities

• Advises Superintendent on overall direction of Division of Special Services and is accountable for end results affecting the District.
• Provides administrative leadership and management oversight of the department.
• Collaborates with Minnesota Department of Education staff, Regional Low Incidence Facilitators, and others on local, regional, and state initiatives.
• Conducts meetings and participates in local, regional, and state meetings as necessary.
• Presents information items at Administration Meetings and Board Meetings as needed.
• Attends Regional and State Special Education Director Meetings.
• Collaborates and communicates with 17 member and associate member districts in urban, suburban, and rural areas to plan, organize, lead, and implement new and innovative programs to meet the needs of learners.
• Collaborates with Teaching and Learning to support the professional development needs of the staff.
• Provides leadership in the use of generative artificial intelligence to support staff, students, and the community.
• Supports the planning, organizing, and leading of the READ Act, highly effective PLCs, professional development, staff mentorship, and coaching programs, and other district initiatives.
• Supervises Program Directors and other special services staff as assigned.
• Supervises the recruitment and evaluation of staff members in Special Services and collaborates with the Executive Director of Teaching & Learning on the hiring of content teachers supporting special services programming.
• Co-leads staff development with the Executive Director of Teaching & Learning for the Special Services Department.
• Provides leadership to members in the area of special education and special services.
• On request, attends or facilitates IEP/IFSP meetings or other information-sharing meetings.
• Coordinates appropriate student services plans, develops, implements, and administers programs and services to meet identified needs, including development and implementation of new programs and services.
• Participates in the determination of program plans and curriculum requirements for students with disabilities, including developing program goals and objectives that align with the cooperative mission.
• Prepares requests for new, improved, or expanded special education programs in relation to funding, staff, facilities, and materials needed; supervises implementation of educational programs for students with disabilities, ensuring each student is provided with a free and appropriate public education.
• Monitors and provides technical assistance as needed concerning the IEP/IFSP, due process procedures, and compliance with State and Federal Rules.
• Ensures that all federal, state, and local reporting requirements on special education programs are met.
• Directs fiscal and hiring operations of the Special Services Department.
• Monitors program expenditures to ensure they fit within approved budgets.
• Maintains contact with member district administrators, state consultants in special education, directors of outside agencies and school programs, and works with outside professional service providers and college personnel on matters of mutual interest.

Requirements

• Master’s degree; preferred Ed.S. or Doctorate.
• Three to five years of experience in K12 program development and/or administration.
• Minnesota Special Education Director license.
• Innovative and creative leader.
• Demonstrated excellence in administrative or supervisory experience.
• Knowledge of current state and federal special education law and regulations.
• Knowledge of and demonstrated ability to manage special education funding.
• Knowledge of current trends in the education of special education students in all disability areas.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills with students, parents, staff, and administration.
• Ability to establish and maintain productive working relationships with staff, business associates, and the general community.
• Ability to work on multiple tasks and prioritize appropriately.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to exercise initiative and make independent decisions to reschedule work to meet deadlines or to effectively handle emergency work.
• Skills in creating and leading the District vision.
• Managing staff including directing others, delegation, and building effective teams.
• Resourcefulness, taking the resources of the District into consideration.
• Working constructively with others.
• Managing constituencies effectively.

Pay & Benefits

The pay range for this position is $150,000 to $170,000 annually.

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance with HSA/FSA options.
• Dependent Care FSA.
• Vacation and Sick Time.
• Personal Time Off.
• Basic Life Insurance and AD&D.
• Voluntary Life Insurance and AD&D.
• 403(b) with a District dollar-for-dollar match.
• TRA/PERA (Pension Plan).
• Long Term Disability.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Pet Insurance.