Houston Independent School District
Director 1 Special Education - Unit
Houston Independent School District, Houston, Texas, United States, 77246
Location: Hattie Mae White
Department: Special Ed - Unit N3- Dir A
Area:North
Contract Months:12
Salary Range: $130,000.00 - $155,000.00
Academic Year: 25-26
JOB SUMMARY
The Director 1 Special Education - Unit provides strong support and leadership in the oversight and daily management of special education plans and processes at the unit/campus level, with a clear focus on driving positive student outcomes within a high-performance culture. Collaborates closely with Unit Coordinator 2, Coordinator 1, and Manager to design and implement effective systems that ensure high-quality service delivery. Oversees monthly ARD compliance monitoring, professional development planning, federal and state compliance indicators, and student staffing ratio recommendations. Contributes to the development of long-range compliance strategies and prepares reports for Executive Directors, Division Chiefs, and central office leadership. Ensures the strategic alignment and availability of personnel, resources, high-leverage instructional and behavioral practices, and professional development to meet the needs of students with disabilities. Leads efforts to manage resources effectively and foster a culture of accountability, equity, and continuous improvement in support of student achievement.
Houston ISD Employee Value Proposition
MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Monitor the Special Education program on assigned campuses to ensure compliance with state and federal guidelines. 2. Maintain current knowledge of state and federal law and best practices for support programs. 3. Support long and short-range plans in relation to assigned campus responsibilities 4 Facilitate meetings that may frequently involve a range of issues for the purpose of evaluating situations, identifying appropriate actions, developing recommendations and/or implementing desired program changes. 5. Manage assigned programs and/or services for the purpose of achieving outcomes in relation to program objectives, and ensuring conformance with legal, and unit requirements. 6. Provide oversight for the appropriate use of campus special education staff, as applicable. 7. Supervise appropriate delivery of both special education instruction and related services as stipulated in IEP's, as applicable. 8. Ensure services provided by contractual personnel are of high quality. 9. Provide professional development and technical assistance to case managers, teachers, related service providers and support service professionals on all aspects of case management including use of computer systems for the special education process, goal writing, progress reports, annual reviews and parent communication. 10. Supervise Child Find efforts on assigned campuses.
MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES CONTINUED
11. Support in the coordination of evaluation team members and service providers efforts with other Special Education and District departments and programs. 12. Support in the coordination of contracted evaluations with private providers, as appropriate. 13. Ensure evaluations and ARD Committee meetings adhere to state and federal timelines. 14. Participate in review of campus personnel, as appropriate. 15. Complete and monitor data reports to provide accurate information regarding all assigned programs. 16. Audit campus compliance with compiling, maintaining, and filing all required physical and computerized reports, records, and other documents. Monitor accuracy of PEIMS data for all assigned programs. 17. Work cooperatively with Campus Administrators to implement and refine Response to Intervention, Student Support Team and the Special Education process, maintaining services in accordance with programmatic and regulatory requirements. 18. Enhance job skills by participating with staff development programs, as assigned. 19. Appraisal of staff as assigned. 20. Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
EDUCATION
Master's Degree in Special Education, Educational Leadership, or a related field preferred
WORK EXPERIENCE • ARD facilitation experience required • 3-5 Years of experience teaching in the area of special education or dyslexia • Campus/district leadership experience
SKILL AND/OR REQUIRED LICENSING/CERTIFICATION • Valid Texas Special Education certification • Preferred: Principal Certification • Communication Skills: Employees must have the ability to manage meeting facilitation and communicate with colleagues, students and parents regarding IEP services and support. • Technology: Employee must utilize electronic system for creating IEPs. • Knowledgeable of federal, state, local laws and regulations • Knowledge of assessment and programming of students with disabilities. • Knowledgeable of learning differences, interventions and behavior requirements of students with disabilities. • Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills • Maintain emotional control under stress • Bilingual Skills: Preferred - Spanish
LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic oversight for department and/or a major division or for the entire district. Regularly provides project management, team leadership, and supervises staff. Using in-depth knowledge of multiple disciplines, identifies and evaluates high-impact issues, and provides strategy and direction to department.
WORK COMPLEXITY/INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT
Work is non-standardized and widely varied, involving many complex and significant variables including significant time spent planning, evaluating complex solutions and issues, and negotiating outcomes. Strong analytic ability and inductive thinking are frequently required to devise new approaches to situations where previously accepted solutions have proven inadequate. Position regularly makes recommendations to management on areas of significance to the division. Supervision received typically consists of providing periodic coaching, advice and feedback.
BUDGET AUTHORITY
Advises on budget development for department.
PROBLEM SOLVING
Decisions are made with greater freedom and discretion, including recommendations that are subject to approval on matters that may affect multiple departments across HISD. Job is frequently expected to recommend new solutions to problems, to improve existing methods/procedures/services and generate new ideas. May also review decisions made by other individuals on more routine matters.
IMPACT OF DECISIONS
IMPACT OF DECISIONS Decisions have considerable impact to multiple divisions or the organization causing risks or improvements to relationships, significant efficiencies or delays in operations, and/or significant financial gains or expenses. Errors are serious and difficult to discover, normally involve decisions not subject to detailed review and will result in excessive costs and/or significant project delays.
COMMUNICATION/INTERACTIONS
Negotiate and influence - interprets department strategies and services, resolves conflicts, influences outcomes on matters of significance for the division, conducts final negotiations and coordinates approvals/decision making below the executive level. Interactions include schools, non-school departments, central office, senior, and executive management.
CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS
Leads others in the resolution of highly sensitive and confidential issues on behalf of the department. Acts as a trusted advisor, and becomes involved in the customer's decision making process including presenting alternatives and information and applying persuasion and negotiation skills in the resolution of problems. Monitors customer service standards.
WORKING/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Work is normally performed in a typical interior work environment which does not subject the employee to any hazardous or unpleasant elements. Ability to carry and/or lift less than 15 pounds.
Houston Independent School District is an equal opportunity employer.
Department: Special Ed - Unit N3- Dir A
Area:North
Contract Months:12
Salary Range: $130,000.00 - $155,000.00
Academic Year: 25-26
JOB SUMMARY
The Director 1 Special Education - Unit provides strong support and leadership in the oversight and daily management of special education plans and processes at the unit/campus level, with a clear focus on driving positive student outcomes within a high-performance culture. Collaborates closely with Unit Coordinator 2, Coordinator 1, and Manager to design and implement effective systems that ensure high-quality service delivery. Oversees monthly ARD compliance monitoring, professional development planning, federal and state compliance indicators, and student staffing ratio recommendations. Contributes to the development of long-range compliance strategies and prepares reports for Executive Directors, Division Chiefs, and central office leadership. Ensures the strategic alignment and availability of personnel, resources, high-leverage instructional and behavioral practices, and professional development to meet the needs of students with disabilities. Leads efforts to manage resources effectively and foster a culture of accountability, equity, and continuous improvement in support of student achievement.
Houston ISD Employee Value Proposition
MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Monitor the Special Education program on assigned campuses to ensure compliance with state and federal guidelines. 2. Maintain current knowledge of state and federal law and best practices for support programs. 3. Support long and short-range plans in relation to assigned campus responsibilities 4 Facilitate meetings that may frequently involve a range of issues for the purpose of evaluating situations, identifying appropriate actions, developing recommendations and/or implementing desired program changes. 5. Manage assigned programs and/or services for the purpose of achieving outcomes in relation to program objectives, and ensuring conformance with legal, and unit requirements. 6. Provide oversight for the appropriate use of campus special education staff, as applicable. 7. Supervise appropriate delivery of both special education instruction and related services as stipulated in IEP's, as applicable. 8. Ensure services provided by contractual personnel are of high quality. 9. Provide professional development and technical assistance to case managers, teachers, related service providers and support service professionals on all aspects of case management including use of computer systems for the special education process, goal writing, progress reports, annual reviews and parent communication. 10. Supervise Child Find efforts on assigned campuses.
MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES CONTINUED
11. Support in the coordination of evaluation team members and service providers efforts with other Special Education and District departments and programs. 12. Support in the coordination of contracted evaluations with private providers, as appropriate. 13. Ensure evaluations and ARD Committee meetings adhere to state and federal timelines. 14. Participate in review of campus personnel, as appropriate. 15. Complete and monitor data reports to provide accurate information regarding all assigned programs. 16. Audit campus compliance with compiling, maintaining, and filing all required physical and computerized reports, records, and other documents. Monitor accuracy of PEIMS data for all assigned programs. 17. Work cooperatively with Campus Administrators to implement and refine Response to Intervention, Student Support Team and the Special Education process, maintaining services in accordance with programmatic and regulatory requirements. 18. Enhance job skills by participating with staff development programs, as assigned. 19. Appraisal of staff as assigned. 20. Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
EDUCATION
Master's Degree in Special Education, Educational Leadership, or a related field preferred
WORK EXPERIENCE • ARD facilitation experience required • 3-5 Years of experience teaching in the area of special education or dyslexia • Campus/district leadership experience
SKILL AND/OR REQUIRED LICENSING/CERTIFICATION • Valid Texas Special Education certification • Preferred: Principal Certification • Communication Skills: Employees must have the ability to manage meeting facilitation and communicate with colleagues, students and parents regarding IEP services and support. • Technology: Employee must utilize electronic system for creating IEPs. • Knowledgeable of federal, state, local laws and regulations • Knowledge of assessment and programming of students with disabilities. • Knowledgeable of learning differences, interventions and behavior requirements of students with disabilities. • Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills • Maintain emotional control under stress • Bilingual Skills: Preferred - Spanish
LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic oversight for department and/or a major division or for the entire district. Regularly provides project management, team leadership, and supervises staff. Using in-depth knowledge of multiple disciplines, identifies and evaluates high-impact issues, and provides strategy and direction to department.
WORK COMPLEXITY/INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT
Work is non-standardized and widely varied, involving many complex and significant variables including significant time spent planning, evaluating complex solutions and issues, and negotiating outcomes. Strong analytic ability and inductive thinking are frequently required to devise new approaches to situations where previously accepted solutions have proven inadequate. Position regularly makes recommendations to management on areas of significance to the division. Supervision received typically consists of providing periodic coaching, advice and feedback.
BUDGET AUTHORITY
Advises on budget development for department.
PROBLEM SOLVING
Decisions are made with greater freedom and discretion, including recommendations that are subject to approval on matters that may affect multiple departments across HISD. Job is frequently expected to recommend new solutions to problems, to improve existing methods/procedures/services and generate new ideas. May also review decisions made by other individuals on more routine matters.
IMPACT OF DECISIONS
IMPACT OF DECISIONS Decisions have considerable impact to multiple divisions or the organization causing risks or improvements to relationships, significant efficiencies or delays in operations, and/or significant financial gains or expenses. Errors are serious and difficult to discover, normally involve decisions not subject to detailed review and will result in excessive costs and/or significant project delays.
COMMUNICATION/INTERACTIONS
Negotiate and influence - interprets department strategies and services, resolves conflicts, influences outcomes on matters of significance for the division, conducts final negotiations and coordinates approvals/decision making below the executive level. Interactions include schools, non-school departments, central office, senior, and executive management.
CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS
Leads others in the resolution of highly sensitive and confidential issues on behalf of the department. Acts as a trusted advisor, and becomes involved in the customer's decision making process including presenting alternatives and information and applying persuasion and negotiation skills in the resolution of problems. Monitors customer service standards.
WORKING/ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
Work is normally performed in a typical interior work environment which does not subject the employee to any hazardous or unpleasant elements. Ability to carry and/or lift less than 15 pounds.
Houston Independent School District is an equal opportunity employer.