Special Education Program Specialist

About the role

The primary function of this role is to contribute to our Special Education mission to support all students with disabilities to have choice-filled lives by graduating prepared to succeed in their rigorous and individualized post-secondary school, career, and life plans. This position plays a key role in strengthening inclusive academic practices and promoting access to the least restrictive environment (LRE), with the ultimate goal of equipping students for long-term success in school and beyond.

Responsibilities

• Coaching both Special Education and General Education teachers to implement inclusive, standard-aligned instruction, intervention cycles, co-teaching models, and proactive classroom management strategies across multiple campuses.
• Demonstrated ability to teach and apply the Science of Reading, utilizing multi-tiered levels of support to accelerate reading growth for diverse learners.
• Applying knowledge of reading/math intervention program implementation through improvement science (e.g., Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles).
• Strong working knowledge of MTSS frameworks and demonstrated ability to coach staff and site teams in implementing coherent, data-driven systems of intervention across academic, behavioral, and social-emotional domains.
• Demonstrates deep knowledge of lesson and unit planning aligned to standards, supporting teachers in designing rigorous, accessible, and differentiated instruction that meets diverse learner needs.
• Promoting equitable access to rigorous academics through modeling lessons, leading focused observations, and facilitating professional learning on research-based instructional strategies and practices grounded in the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework.
• Supporting teachers in designing flexible and differentiated learning environments that proactively reduce barriers to access and engagement for all learners.
• Utilizing a reflective coaching model to build teacher capacity through observation cycles, standards-based debriefs, and collaborative lesson planning.
• Supporting educators in analyzing assessment data and student work to guide instructional decision-making that is responsive to student strengths, needs, and progress.
• Collaborating with site administrators and Lead SPED Teachers to co-design school site professional development that centers inclusive academic practices and high-leverage instructional moves.
• Designing and delivering district-wide professional development that centers inclusive academic practices and high-leverage instructional moves.
• Ensuring instructional practices support students’ post-secondary goals, with a strong emphasis on college, career, and community readiness.

Program Support

• Providing individualized coaching before, during, and after IEP meetings to support inclusive, student-centered planning and decision-making.
• Training teachers on special education policies and providing technical assistance to ensure consistent implementation of services and supports.
• Co-developing inclusive program models that center student voice, family partnership, and equitable access to services and supports.
• Collaborating with school leaders, program administrators, and counselors to ensure master schedules and student course placements align with IEPs and promote access to the general education curriculum.
• Collaborating with school leaders and special education teams to design and implement systems that promote sustainable inclusive practices, progress monitoring, and instructional coaching cycles for core and intervention programs.

Compliance

• Supporting the development and implementation of high-quality, compliant IEPs that reflect student strengths, needs, and aspirations.
• Ensuring timely and accurate enrollment, placement, and service documentation across data systems such as Welligent or SEIS.
• Serving as the administrator designee in IEP meetings, ensuring collaboration, legal compliance, and student-centered decision-making for inclusive options.

Other Duties

This role also contributes to broader efforts to build inclusive school systems, support a culture of continuous learning, and ensure that all students—including those with disabilities—can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Qualifications

• Hold a valid Clear/Level II Education Specialist Credential (required) and, ideally, a CA Administrative Services Credential.
• Have a relevant Master’s degree or equivalent (preferred).
• Bring at least 5 years of special education teaching experience, with a record of improving student achievement; experience across multiple settings (e.g., SDP, RSP) is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated expertise in structured literacy implementation, including coaching teachers in fidelity-based delivery and using data to drive intervention decisions.
• Experience designing or supporting schoolwide or cross-campus systems for inclusive education, coaching, and intervention is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated expertise in leading the design, facilitation, and evaluation of professional development aligned to organizational goals, incorporating adult learning principles, inclusive practices, and data-driven decision-making to build staff capacity and improve student outcomes.
• Possesses strong knowledge of IDEA, California Standards-Based Instruction, RtI frameworks, behavior strategies, and Education Code.
• Have experience in urban school settings, preferably middle or high schools, and a passion for driving education reform.
• Exhibit demonstrated leadership, management, and team-building skills.
• Communicate effectively in both written and verbal forms, with excellent collaboration and organizational abilities.
• Operate with high ethical standards, self-awareness, dependability, humility, and a sense of humor.
• Are deeply committed to Green Dot’s mission and the communities we serve.
• Can pass a TB test and background check at the time of offer.

Pay

The salary range for this role is $85,000 to $95,000. Opportunities for salary growth are available over time; however, offers near the upper end of the salary range are uncommon. Individual education and experience will be considered when issuing offers.

Benefits

• Full-time employees are eligible to participate in Green Dot’s benefit plans, effective on the first of the month following their date of hire.
• PPO, EPO, and HMO choices for medical, dental, and vision—including a 100% employee-only paid option; multiple tiers available for purchase at a reduced cost for dependents.
• Employee Assistance Program (100% employer-paid).
• Life and AD&D Insurance (100% employer-paid).
• Optional Term Life & AD&D Insurance.
• Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance (100% employer-paid).
• Flexible Spending Accounts (health and dependent care).
• Monthly parking for Central Office-based employees (100% employer-paid).
• Wellness programs and resources.
• Financial planning/coaching access.
• California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) participation, with both employee and employer contributions.
• Optional 401k contribution option.
• Eligible employees receive a discretionary bonus after one year of service as an alternative to a traditional company match at a rate up to 4% of your salary (match of deferral) plus 20% of 4% (to offset taxes on the discretionary bonus).
• Potential for annual performance-based compensation increases.
• Potential for annual bonuses.
• Approved family care and/or medical leave (unpaid).

Green Dot also offers generous paid time off for an overall work-life balance, while giving employees the opportunity to impact a growing, mission-driven organization that is committed to the success of all students.