Senior Associate Commissioner for Special Education

About the role

The Senior Associate Commissioner of Special Education is a senior-level position serving on the cabinet and reporting to Deputy Commissioner Robert Curtin. This role directly supervises four special education-related offices: Approved Special Education Schools, the Problem Resolution System, Special Education in Institutional Settings, and Special Education Planning and Policy. The position coordinates efforts across these offices and with the Monitoring and Compliance Unit to ensure coherent and consistent supports for students with disabilities throughout the Commonwealth.

Responsibilities

• Organize coordination meetings of directors and assistant directors of the four special education offices, data review meetings with leaders of the four offices and the Bureau of Special Education Appeals (three times per year), and quarterly all special education staff meetings.
• Provide oversight and direction for Special Education in Institutional Settings, which delivers direct services to students in facilities maintained by the Department of Corrections, the Department of Mental Health, the Department of Public Health, and the Department of Youth Services.
• Represent the Department in regular coordination meetings with special education advocacy and professional organizations.
• Serve as the Commissioner’s designee to the Autism Commission and co-chair the Ages 0–14 Subcommittee of the Autism Commission.
• Serve as the Commissioner’s designee to the Bureau of Special Education Appeals (BSEA) Advisory Council and coordinate the Department’s oversight of the BSEA.
• With support from the Director of Special Education Policy and Planning, co-lead coordination with OSEP as the Department develops and implements improvements related to General Supervision ahead of a scheduled onsite monitoring visit in 2025.
• Direct specific interoffice initiatives requiring high-level oversight and coordination.
• Provide administrative leadership and supervision to assigned unit offices, including developing operational plans, overseeing day-to-day operations, allocating budgetary and staffing resources, and mentoring subordinate managers.
• Engage in strategic planning, evaluating existing programs and developing new initiatives to advance the Department’s mission and improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• Direct oversight and leadership of major projects involving staff from other Department units and/or external agencies.
• Provide oversight and direction on policy development and implementation across Approved Special Education Schools, the Problem Resolution System, Special Education in Institutional Settings, and Special Education Planning and Policy, including coordination with other DESE offices.
• Maintain expertise through attendance at national conferences, review of research, and engagement with officials at the U.S. Department of Education, OSEP, and other state education agencies.
• Ensure effective communication and collaboration among supervised staff, Department colleagues, and external stakeholders.
• Represent DESE at meetings with external groups as needed, including presenting at BESE meetings and with OSEP.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner (e.g., responding to constituents, presenting at Board meetings).

Preferred Qualifications

• Thorough understanding of public policy and educational practice at the district and state level.
• Experience and demonstrated knowledge of special education school programming, state and federal special education policies, and general supervision.
• Ability to articulate a clear vision of high-quality education for students with disabilities.
• Experience implementing state and federal laws and program standards.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to effectively establish dialogue with all stakeholder groups.
• Background in a leadership position in a school, district, or educational organization.
• 5–10 years of senior-level leadership experience in an educational setting.
• Extensive experience in education policy development and program implementation.
• 5–10 years of experience supervising professional education-related staff.
• MA Special Education Administrator license preferred.

Minimum Entrance Requirements

Applicants must have at least (A) seven years of full-time or equivalent part-time professional, administrative, supervisory, or managerial experience in business administration, business management, public administration, public management, clinical administration, or clinical management, of which (B) at least four years must have been in a managerial capacity.

Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package.