Senior Advisor to the Director of Special Education
About the role
The Senior Advisor to the Director of Special Education provides high-level strategic leadership and advisory support to advance the Nashua School District's vision for inclusive, equitable, and effective special education services.
Responsibilities
Serve as a strategic advisor to the Director of Special Education on districtwide initiatives and priorities
Lead the design and implementation of systems aligned to the Nashua Inclusive Education Model
Ensure alignment between special education programming, district strategic goals, and regulatory requirements
Support long-range planning to increase access, participation, and progress for students with disabilities
Develop, review, and refine district special education policies, procedures, and protocols
Ensure alignment with IDEA, New Hampshire Rules for the Education of Children with Disabilities, and district expectations
Lead implementation of policies across schools, ensuring clarity, consistency, and fidelity
Provide guidance on complex compliance and procedural issues
Design and oversee districtwide professional learning related to: Inclusive practices and co-teaching, MTSS and specially designed instruction (SDI), IEP development and implementation, Progress monitoring and data use
Build leadership capacity among administrators, special educators, and related service providers
Develop scalable systems for ongoing coaching and professional learning
Lead districtwide special education program evaluations and internal reviews
Develop tools and protocols for monitoring program effectiveness and compliance
Analyze qualitative and quantitative data to identify strengths, gaps, and priorities
Provide actionable recommendations to improve service delivery and student outcomes
Support districtwide implementation of inclusive practices and service delivery models
Collaborate with school teams to design schedules, staffing models, and service delivery aligned to LRE
Ensure that inclusive education is operationalized through: Master scheduling, Service mapping, Instructional practices
Monitor implementation fidelity and support continuous improvement
Develop and support systems for: Progress monitoring, Program evaluation, Compliance tracking
Use data to inform decision-making at the district and school levels
Lead continuous improvement cycles aligned to district priorities
Partner with: Curriculum and instruction teams, Multilingual learner (MLL/EL) departments, Student support services, Building leadership teams
Ensure coherence across initiatives impacting students with disabilities
Support integrated approaches to instruction, intervention, and service delivery
Lead complex, districtwide initiatives related to special education and inclusion
Develop implementation plans, timelines, and deliverables
Monitor progress and ensure successful execution of key initiatives
Manage competing priorities in a complex educational system
Maintain accurate records, lesson plans, and documentation in alignment with district and state CTE requirements
Qualifications
Master's degree or higher in Special Education, Educational Leadership, or related field
Significant experience in special education leadership at the district and school level
Deep knowledge of: IDEA and special education law, Inclusive practices and LRE requirements, MTSS and evidence-based instruction
Demonstrated expertise in: Policy development and implementation, Professional learning design, Program evaluation and improvement, Data-driven decision-making
Experience working in a districtwide leadership role
Experience implementing inclusive education systems at scale
Strong background in coaching and adult learning
Demonstrated success in leading organizational change