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Director of Special Education and Student Services SY'25-26

285 Dorset Street, Springfield, MA 01105

 

Job Summary
Our Mission

“Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Charter School of Excellence prepares kindergarten-through-5th-grade students of Springfield for academic success and engaged citizenship through insistence on rigorous, challenging work. The school incorporates Dr. King’s commitment to the highest standards in scholarship, civic participation and the ideal of the beloved community.

Background on MLKCSE
Martin Luther King, Jr. Charter School of Excellence (MLKCSE) is a stand-alone free and public charter school serving 360 students in grades K through 5 in Springfield, Massachusetts. MLKCSE was founded in 2006 and is dedicated to fighting the opportunity gap in Western MA. We are committed to providing each and every one of our students with the quality education they deserve.

MLKCSE is a Title I school. Our MLKCSE students are 28% African American and 64% LatinX. 100% of our students qualify for free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch. 25% of our students are Emerging Bilingual students, and 14% of our students have special needs.

Our school is meeting or exceeding targets for most (93%) accountability measures. Overall, our school performs better than 60% of elementary and middle schools statewide at the 61st percentile. MLKCSE is ranked one of the six charter schools in Massachusetts to meet more than 75% of the criterion-reference targets. MLKCSE ranked as the 4th highest charter school in the State for our math performance.

The Role

Serve as an Organizational and Community Leader

Serve as a member of the Leadership Cabinet team, Crisis Response team, and the Student Interventions Committee (SIC)
Collaborate with the SIC team to ensure intervention plans are created for students who need additional behavioral support
Work closely with the Executive Director and Principal to establish a positive, structured, and achievement-oriented school culture
Collaborate with the Academic Leadership Team to plan and facilitate professional development for educators, parents, or students
Coordinate with the Director of Infrastructure and Technology to ensure the data management system for Special Programs is properly configured
Oversee all aspects of the program from grades K-5, managing a comprehensive vision and strategy for meeting the unique needs of Tier 2 and Tier 3 students
Consult with the Principal on the implementation of MA Dyslexia Screener guidance
Secure and maintain outside vendors/related service providers based on student need

Oversee and Provide Staff and Student Support

Collaborate with the Executive Director for the purpose of implementing and maintaining services and/or programs
Direct the Special Education staff, for the purpose of delivering services that conform to established guidelines
Communicate information on programs, services, and regulations to school personnel
Collaboratively develop and procure special education curriculum materials to support students and teachers
Collaboratively design and coordinate special education services based on IEPs and 504 plans which comply with DESE and federal requirements
Monitor and evaluate the implementation 504 plans
Collaborate with teachers to identify the needed instructional practices to sustain and increase student achievement of special education students including ways to effectively educate special education students that include co-teaching, consultations, observations and feedback, differentiation, accommodations, and interventions among many others

Lead Documentation and Compliance


Coordinate the evaluation of referred children. Ensure evaluations are completed and implemented within the required timeframe and oversee the development of new IEPs in accordance with state and federal law
Evaluate the school’s Special Education programs and monitor the implementation of special education and compliance with all state and federal regulations
Serve as the District Representative for and lead IEP meetings. Develop all Individualized Education Programs in accordance with the new MA IEP.
Ensure all students at MLKCSE receive a free and appropriate public education (FAPE)
Ensure MLKCSE provides special education services in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA-97 and IDEA 2004), 603 CMR 28.03 and selected state special education requirements pursuant to M.G.L.c.71B (Chapter 766 of the Acts of 1972)
Serve as the school’s contact liaison with DESE for special education and 504 plans
Prepares accurate required reports and maintains all appropriate records
Maintain a high level of knowledge regarding developing special education issues, changes in the laws and case law, and educational methods of educating students with disabilities, for the purpose of managing an excellent special education program
Maintain records/files of special education data, service models and hours, and communication with families of special education students that is easily accessible and in compliance with DESE and charter requirements.

Qualifications

Licensed as a Special Education Administrator,  All Levels and Sheltered English Immersion - Administrator
At least 3 supervisory experience in a school setting

Our community and students are diverse, and we are committed to reflecting that diversity in our staff. We strive to have the most diverse applicant pool possible and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply for any position at MLKCSE. By fostering a diverse and inclusive environment, we provide the best educational experience to prepare our students for a future reflective of the world we live in.

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