2025-26 Special Education Coordinator

This position will report to the Chief of Schools and will involve consulting and collaborating with staff, parents, and agencies for the purpose of ensuring appropriate delivery of services and adherence to due process.

The Special Education Coordinator will serve as the lead of the Special Education teams. As a leader, the Coordinator works with, coaches, and trains other teachers and support staff in identifying, developing, and applying assessment and instructional intervention strategies designed to improve student learning in specific areas. The Coordinator shares in the responsibility for student safety and appropriate collaboration and attention to each student’s readiness to learn including needed guidance, discipline, and welfare. This is a full-time, exempt, non-year-round position.

Under the supervision of administration the ideal candidate will support student outcomes in the following ways:

• Support school teams in managing a significant caseload of special education students, and the implementation of their IEP  plans in inclusion and pull-out settings as needed.
• Serve as a liaison between Special Education consultants/service providers and school teams.
• Represent Westbrook Academy at SELPA meetings and trainings, and share information with leadership and school teams. 
• Ensure that our schools are in compliance with all local and Federal laws and regulations relating to students with IEPs/504 plans and students referred to special education.  
• Oversee services provided by contractual personnel, to ensure that all services are of high quality, provided in the LRE, and are aligned with students’ IEPs/504 plans. 
• Support  members of the Sped team in effectively communicating to parents and guardians the special education process including process for referrals, evaluations, annual IEPs/504 plans, and re-evaluations as well as parental rights granted by IDEA.  
• Provide support to the team in facilitating IEP meetings using a strengths based and family centered approach.
• Coordinate with the Special Education team to ensure that all documents are completed in a timely manner (according to state, local, and school policies and procedures) prior to the meeting. 
• Ensure that the schools maintain student files (paper and electronic) according to the standards set forth by our SELPA.
• Coordinate training and technical assistance to case managers, teachers, related service providers and support service professionals on all aspects of case management.
• Review IEPs to ensure that they are developmentally appropriate, curriculum/standards -based, strength based, and relevant to individual students.  
• Contribute to the development and planning of 6-12 programs and initiatives to improve the special education program; integrate new developments, best practices and current research.
• Maintain a high level of knowledge regarding developing special education issues such as changes in federal and local special education policy.  
• Support teams in increasing parent engagement for families of special needs students.
• Monitor the tracking of services through SEIS to ensure compliance.
• Support the planning and implementation of special education initiatives, including research findings and best practices to provide teachers and students with the resources they need to be successful.
• Conduct psychological assessments as needed
• Other duties as assigned

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS
Education and Experience

• BA required; MA/MS degree preferred
• Required valid PPS or Education Specialist credential 
• Required minimum five years of successful full-time public school certificated service
• Required two years of experience at a middle or senior high school in a large urban city
• Experience in planning, designing and implementing professional development and the ability to make formal, public presentations to various stakeholders with strong oral and written communication skills 
• Preferred experience with start-up schools and charter networks
• Experience in crisis prevention and intervention preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

• Exceptional relationship building skills and the ability to communicate clearly to multiple stakeholders
• Knowledge of instructional needs of all students not achieving at grade level
• Ability to work effectively with all racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, linguistic, and disability groups 
• Knowledge and experience of PowerSchool and SEIS
• Knowledge of Federal and State education laws and Russell Westbrook Why Not? Academy requirements applicable to the enrollment and attendance of special education students 
• A strong belief that all students can succeed
• A do-whatever-it takes attitude including a willingness to work occasionally on the weekend or in the evening
• Passionate about improving public education to help all children reach their dreams
• An exceptional ability to respond well to feedback and implement it immediately
• A strong ethical base and self-awareness
• Bilingual Spanish preferred 
• Sensitivity to, and understanding of, the unique differences and needs of disabled students and their parents. 
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to create and maintain accurate records
• Demonstrated success working with students from educationally underserved areas.
• Commitment to LA Promise Fund mission and Core Values of Integrity, Accountability, Collaboration, Professionalism, Excellence, Diversity and Equity
• Must clear a LiveScan criminal background check
• Must clear a TB Risk Assessment
• Must complete Mandated Reporter training
• COVID-19 Vaccination (recommended)

COMPENSATION

Salary commensurate with qualifications, experience, and education.