Job Description
Company Description
Our Mission
Together with our families and communities, we create joyful and identity-affirming schools where students achieve excellent and equitable academic outcomes. We believe doing this ensures that our students are prepared to pursue any path they choose — college, career, and beyond — so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world. Our program is based on:
- A focus on high-quality instruction supported by rigorous professional development to ensure that our students develop the academic skills necessary to pursue the life they choose.
- A high regard for character development to ensure that our students and staff celebrate and develop their character and identity strengths.
- An emphasis on family engagement, because we believe that our students are most likely to be able to maximize their potential when we work in partnership with our students and their families.
- A focus on college readiness for all students so that all students can make choices about their post-secondary education and future.
What We Do
We seek to provide a world-class education for students from educationally underserved communities in Lynn and Boston. Our student demographics mirror those of neighborhood schools in terms of race, socioeconomic status, Multilingual Learners (MLL), and students who receive special education services.
Our promise to families is that their children will enter college and the professional world able to thrive academically due to their literacy, numeracy, and core knowledge in science and social studies. We also promise that our students will develop the zest for learning and grit necessary to persevere as they climb the mountain to and through college and career. Our graduates will be prepared to return to their community as teachers, leaders, and architects of continued growth in Lynn and Boston.
Who We Are
KIPP Massachusetts began enrolling students in 2004. We currently hold two charters, operating two “districts.” Our first district, KIPP Academy Lynn Charter School, is based in Lynn, MA. Our second district, KIPP Academy Boston Charter School, is based in Mattapan, MA. Each district is housed on one or more “campuses,” which we use to refer to different grade spans, for example, elementary grades, middle school grades, or high school grades.
In Lynn, KIPP Academy Lynn Elementary (serving grades K-4), KIPP Academy Lynn Middle (serving grades 5-8), and KIPP Academy Lynn Collegiate (serving grades 9-12), are all under our Lynn charter. Admission to any grade in the Lynn district is admission to all remaining grades in the Lynn district K-12. 74% of our students in Lynn are Hispanic, 15% are Black, 3% are multiracial, 5% White, and 4% Asian.
In Boston, KIPP Academy Boston (serving grades K-8) is under our Boston charter. Admission to any grade in the Boston district is admission to all remaining grades in the Boston district K-8. 36% of our students in Boston are Hispanic, 59% are Black, 3% are multiracial, 1% are White, and 1% are American Indian or Alaskan Native.
Across both districts, we serve over 2,200 students. KIPP MA has a Regional Office, with teams such as Teaching and Learning, Talent and Operations, which supports both districts.
KIPP Foundation
KIPP Massachusetts partners with the KIPP Foundation, which is a non-profit national network of college-preparatory public charter schools serving elementary, middle and high school students. The KIPP Network has a 30+ year track record of preparing our students in educationally underserved communities for success in college and life.
The KIPP Public Schools Network is made up of 278 K-12 schools, 28 regional support organizations, and the nonprofit KIPP Foundation. We are a national network with nearly 16,500 educators and 190,000 students and alumni. Together, we continually raise the bar for teaching and learning, then ensure success in one classroom travels across our network to hundreds more. We believe that excellent academic, safe and structured schools, empowered teachers, an emphasis on character development and support through college and career are the foundation for student success, and we strive to provide this for every student.
All KIPP schools, whether they are in Massachusetts or in other states, are part of the free public school system in their respective states and enrollment is open to all students. KIPP public charter schools are given more academic and budgetary flexibility than traditional public schools, and in exchange commit to deliver high-quality academic results for students.
Job Description
Director of Special Education
KIPP MA is looking for a committed, culturally competent, and passionate Director of Special Education who will be responsible for ensuring that the Special Education Programs in our region are compliant with state and federal Special Education laws. The Special Education Director will report to the Managing Director of Student Supports and collaborate with the Principal and Leadership Teams at schools to carry out the necessary duties and responsibilities to help amplify our children’s potential by creating a school experience that affirms, values, and challenges all students each day. This role is critical in ensuring that our region provides excellent support services for our Special Education students in a way that is rigorous and accessible for growth and achievement.
This role requires consistent and reliable demonstration of the following essential job functions and key responsibilities:
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Special Education Program Management
- Develop, monitor, supervise, and manage all aspects of Special Education and Section 504 processes including scheduling, meeting, chairing, IEP writing, signature trackdown, transition planning, and progress reporting
- Facilitate processes to ensure vision and alignment of services for students K-12 or their entire KIPP experience
- Ensure that IEPs and 504s are high quality, including goals aligned to existing curriculum and assessments whenever possible through development of school-based teams
- Participate in dispute resolution meetings, hearings and mediation settlement meetings as needed
- Maintain open lines of communication regarding special services with all interested parties and respond promptly to questions and concerns of families and community members.
- Lead the Special Education Parent Advisory Council in Lynn or Boston
School-Based Development and Support
- Collaborate with Principals, Leadership Teams, teachers, and related service providers to manage activities related to compliance with all state and federal regulations and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
- Collaborate with Deans, APs of Support Services and School Leaders to ensure staff are internalizing IEPs and 504s and are implementing them with integrity
- Collaborate with teachers, counselors, and the Leadership Team to develop, implement, and track intervention support plans for students to address acute needs
- Provide and/or arrange ongoing professional development based on prior experience for special educations teachers and related service providers
- Consult with and support special education teachers and related service providers in their responsibilities to chair reviews and develop IEPs for these students
- Write IEPs as determined by the Managing Director of Student Support Services
- Manage Speech and Language Pathologists and contracted service providers such as Occupational Therapists and ABA Therapists as needed and directed
- Ensure students receive appropriate testing accommodations
- Provide support to APs and Deans of Student Support Services regarding research-based and effective instructional and social-emotional-behavioral practices
General Requirements and Responsibilities
- Embody KIPP MA’s Code of Conduct by acting with integrity, leading with humanity, centering self-awareness and critical consciousness, taking personal responsibility, and engaging productively
- Participate and engage in regional professional development and community events as required
KIPP MA staff are supported in their demanding work by experienced and dedicated leadership and staff who have themselves proven successful in their role. Our KIPP MA Executive Leadership Teams maintain consistent systems and procedures designed to permit staff to do their best work.
In addition to the responsibilities listed above, there will occasionally be other duties as assigned that staff will engage in to help promote a positive and safe learning environment and culture.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Deep alignment with KIPP MA’s mission and values, including the unwavering belief in the high potential of all students
- Demonstrated ability to drive student growth and achievement and to create a warm, inclusive, rigorous learning environment
- Passion for subject/content area and demonstrated commitment to professional learning
- 2+ years of full-time teaching experience
- Bachelor’s Degree required
- Pass Criminal Background Check
Qualifications
QUALIFICATIONS
- Deep alignment with KIPP MA’s mission and values, including the unwavering belief in the high potential of all students
- Demonstrated ability to drive student growth and achievement and to create a warm, inclusive, rigorous learning environment
- Passion for special education and demonstrates commitment to professional learning
- 3-5+ years of full-time special education teaching experience
- 3+ years case management and the IEP process experience
- Deep knowledge of the IEP process and Special Education policy
- Demonstrated ability to develop a strong IEP to support rigorous and individualized learning experiences
- Demonstrated ability to plan & implement professional development of the IEP process and access for all learners
- Deep knowledge of the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
- Demonstrated ability to think strategically and collaboratively to ensure all learners have to access their LRE
- Knowledge of the RtI and pre-referral process
- Strong project management and organizational skills
- Bachelor’s Degree required
- Master’s Degree highly preferred*
- License in Special Education required (preferably an administrative license, and if not, willingness to apply for MA Special Education Administrator License within one year.)
- Pass Criminal Background Checks
- Fluent Spanish speakers strongly encourage to apply
\* Ongoing higher education or alternative pathways in Special Education could substitute for Master’s Degree
Additional Information
What We Offer
The minimum salary range for this exempt position is $75,000 to $90,000 (per 1.0 FTE/45 hours per week) with a $1,000 signing bonus—and an annual $2,000 retention bonus in subsequent years, as well as other bonuses, when eligible. This role follows our 12 Month calendar is eligible for in-region hybrid work. For more about what we offer, how to apply and more about KIPP MA, please visit this link HERE.
KIPP MA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe in building a vibrant and welcoming school community that advances our mission of ensuring that all KIPP students graduate with the skills and confidence to lead fulfilling lives. This includes a commitment to attracting and developing individuals who understand the experiences of the students and communities we serve. We hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability.
