Director of Special Education and Student Services 2025-2026

Position Type:
Administration

Date Posted:
1/3/2025

Location:
Bellwood School District 88
(High-Needs School)

Date Available:
07/01/2025

Closing Date:
until filled
Bellwood School District 88
Equal Opportunity Employer
Notice of Vacancy
2025-2026
Director of Special Education and Student Services

Bellwood School District 88 is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

Job Title: Director of Special Education and Student Services
Department: Special Education/ Student Services
Reports To: Superintendent
FLSA Status: Exempt
Salary: $105,000- $140,000
Terms of Employment: 12-month employee (July 1- June30)
Benefits: Sick, Vacation, Personal and TRS Contributions
Insurance: Medical/ Dental/ Vision/ Life
Supervises: All special services staff and related service personnel employed or contracted by the district in cooperation with building principals and health services.

Summary: The Director of Special Education & Student Services has the responsibility for the supervision and coordination of the district student services and special education programs as it relates to special and general education programming.
The Director of Special Education will assist the Superintendent in working with the administrative team, staff, parents, and the community and collaborate and articulate a vision for Special Education.

Required Education/Certification:

• Professional Educators License (PEL) with the Director of Special Education Administrative Endorsement
• Master's Degree
• Successful passage of Teacher and Principal Evaluator modules
• Minimum Three - Five years of previous administrator experience
• Ability to deal with all aspects of special education program.

Administrative/ Leadership Major Responsibilities and Duties:

• Serve as the school district lead representative/contact person of programs for special needs students; effective management, supervisory, team building and problem-solving skills.
• Collaborate with building administrators to coordinate services provided to students with special needs.
• Review federal and state legislation/regulations related to special services (including special education/title programs/pupil services) identify and share the impact of changes on the building and district level.
• Maintain open lines of communication regarding special services with all interested parties; respond to concerns of parents, teachers, building, and central office administrators.
• Facilitate research regarding trends and best practices to support the appropriate recommendations for student success through rigorous, innovative, and technological programming.
• Monitor compliance with school board policies and regulations and work with the school board as needed to develop required policies.
• Conduct ongoing needs assessment, collect and analyze data, use pertinent data to refine and improve operation functions and services; evaluation special education/pupil services program initiatives.
• Maintain a communication network with other special services directors within the state and region.
• Use discretion and exercise sound judgment; exceptional public relations/interpersonal skills to respond to parents and advocacy groups.
• Review and evaluate all programs-pilot programs. Long-term programs, future programs.
• Attend community PAEC meetings.

Advocacy Responsibilities and Duties:

• Develop parent-friendly resources.
• Serve as a liaison between outside agencies and district parents.
• Serve as point of contact for students in transitional living situations.

Budgeting Responsibilities and Duties:

• Develop, monitor, supervise, and manage all aspects of annual budgets for special services.
• Coordinate the implementation of federal and state grant applications and assist with the management of appropriate IDEA grants.
• Manage Special Education enrollments and projections.

Personnel Responsibilities and Duties:

• Interview and recommend special education and student services personnel candidates.
• Plan, implement and facilitate professional development/in-services for staff assigned with the responsibilities of delivering and overseeing the special education/pupil services/ process in the respective building.
• Engage all new staff members in an effective induction to special education and child find procedures and facilitate continued professional development around special education related topics through ongoing training opportunities with the building and district.
• Plan and implement professional development for staff; involve staff in continuous improvement through self-evaluation and goal setting.
• Assist with the screening of special education/ student services applicants as needed.
• Assist with the development of Professional Development Plans as needed.

Legal Responsibilities and Duties:

• Interpret and remain current on all federal, State, and local special education mandates including Section 504 services to ensure that the district is in compliance.
• Ensure that special education programming complies with federal, state, and local laws
• Civil Rights Compliance

Pupil Management:

• OT/PT/SLP and/or contractual services
• IEP meetings
• Preschool (including transition programming from Early Intervention)
• Establish and communicate an environment for serving special needs students.
• Guide the development and implementation of long-range and short-range plans for achieving service goals and objectives.
• Direct special education services for all students with disabilities ensuring that students have access to the district's established curricular resources.
• Monitor the development and implementation of all aspects of the special education process.
• Facilitate and/or participate in all matters of dispute resolution.
• Pupil Service (Psychological services, Counseling services, Nursing services, Crisis Prevention & Intervention)
• Assist with the coordination of a multi-tier system of support (MTSS)
• Emergency/Crisis Preparedness
• Advise on the design, furnishings, and equipment for special education classrooms and facilities.
• Safety Plans

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Encourage and support the development and implementation of effective instructional programs to achieve identified needs.
• Evaluate and recommend improvement in the purposes, design, materials, and implementation of the instructional program, as well as other support programs.
• Support the district-wide goals and objectives for the school and organizational climate.
• Maintain accurate district and campus accounts following local, state, and federal guidelines for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA).
• Ensures that the staff implements school improvement efforts that are consistent with federal and state law.
• Coach staff by providing assistance to principals, teachers, and other special education/ student service personnel.
• Ensure that support services for students with disabilities are effective in achieving their objectives.
• Ensure that rules and procedures for the discipline of students with disabilities are effective and conform to federal and state laws.
• Assist in the coordination of district-wide assessments and planning initiatives.
• Performs any other duties as assigned by the appropriate supervisor.

Mental Demands: Ability to communicate effectively (verbal and written); interpret policy, procedures, and data; coordinate district functions; maintain emotional control under stress

Physical Demands/Environmental Factors: Frequent district-wide travel and occasional statewide travel; occasional prolonged and irregular hours.

Evaluation: The performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of Board policy.

This job posting/description describes the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned.