Director of Special Education Assignment and Placement (Anticipated Vacancy) (SY24-25)

Primary Location

Central Office - Specialized Services

Salary Range

$118,479.00 / 1.0 FTE

Shift Type

Central Office

This position is an anticipated vacancy. It is expected to be vacant by 01/06/2024. However, the current incumbent has a right to rescind their retirement, leave, or resignation up until the day of the expected vacancy date. Your hire will not be confirmed until the position is vacated, and you may start the year as a Long-Term Substitute if the position does not become vacant by the start of the school year.

Reports to: Assistant Superintendent, Office of Special Education and Student Services or his/her designee

Job Description:

Boston Public Schools is seeking to fill the position of Director of Special Education Assignment and Placement for the Office of Special Education. This position is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day student placement needs of special education students; ensuring that placement data is readily accessible for planning purposes; performing data analyses that aid in the projections; development and maintenance of student seats and special education programs; facilitate annual program planning by sharing and utilizing data; work with the the district’s Planning and Analysis Team to ensure OSE programs and student assignments inform and align with the district’s short and long-term plans; serve as the department liaison with the transportation and enrollment departments.

Working as part of the OSE team, this position is responsible for taking the lead in all aspects of the OSE related student assignment and placement process. This includes phasing in and phasing out programs, and the development, implementation and maintenance of ongoing student assignment and placement data reports, including but not limited to:

• annual seat projections
• annual program “pathways” development for transitional grades 
• monthly program and seat capacity analysis
• a daily student assignment and placement tracking system

In addition, the Director will also work with the district’s data resources to provide analysis of relevant program trends using district, school, and/or student level data to make strategic recommendations to support OSE decision making such as in planning for the increase of inclusive opportunities, and the placement of substantially separate programs.  The Director will also use a variety of data driven analytical methodologies to develop “what-if” scenarios for informing policy decisions for OSE and the district to address student assignment, placement, program and special education service delivery.

The Director will work closely with the Executive Director, the Assistant Directors for Special Education, the Data Analyst, and other positions as necessary. 

Duties:

• Develop, manage and maintain OSE student assignment and placement system.
• Work closely with the OSE Executive Director and Assistant Directors to support student placement and to ensure that students are placed in a timely manner.
• Alert the Assistant Superintendent and the Planning and Analysis Team when there is insufficient capacity to meet demand and brainstorm ways to solve the issue.
• Analyze and interpret a variety of student assignment data sources, and communicate results to OSE staff.
• Work collaboratively and closely with OSE, ODA, Operations, Finance and other district departments.
• Perform other duties as needed.

Qualifications - Required:

1. Master’s degree in relevant field or equivalent work experience with a Bachelor’s degree.
2. Five years experience in related field including data manipulation, analysis, and interpretation.
3. Excellent analytical and data interpretation skills.
4. Ability to manipulate and retrieve data from large relational databases.
5. Fluency with Excel.
6. Excellent written and oral communication and interpersonal skills.
7. Ability to interpret data into easily understandable formats
8. Ability to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously, while maintaining a detail-oriented focus.
9. Ability to work effectively and comfortably in a team-oriented environment both within the department and across departments.

Qualifications - Preferred:

1. Experience in public schools, preferably in a large urban setting.
2. Experience in special education.
3. Expertise in SQL.

Terms: Managerial, C53.

The Boston Public Schools, in accordance with its nondiscrimination policies, does not discriminate in its programs, facilities, or employment or educational opportunities on the basis of race, color, age, criminal record (inquiries only), disability, homelessness, sex/gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, genetics or military status, and does not tolerate any form of retaliation, or bias-based intimidation, threat or harassment that demeans individuals’ dignity or interferes with their ability to learn or work.