Area Program Manager, Special Education (assigned to support the Special Education Proactive Behavior Initiative)

San Diego Unified School District; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 139,000 - 181,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

District health benefits

Job summary

San Diego Unified School District is seeking an Area Program Manager, Special Education to lead delivery of services for assigned programs and sites. This role emphasizes educational equity, collaboration, and strong relationships with educators, families, and community partners.

Ideal candidates bring systems thinking, instructional leadership, and the ability to translate data into practical supports, while coaching staff to build capacity and improve outcomes for students with disabilities.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in special education or related field.
• Four (4) years of leadership experience in delivery of special education services.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and monitor procedures, methods, development and implementation of special education services for students and families.
• Provide direction to school sites and staff in support of equity and access in general education and specialized settings.
• Ensure compliance with policies and procedures for assessment, identification, certification, placement of students with IEPs.
• Coordinate and consult with administrators, educators, paraprofessionals, caregivers, and partners on needs of students with IEPs.

Skills

Leadership

Data-driven decision making

Coaching

Collaborative leadership

Education

Master's degree in special education or related field

Job description

Area Program Manager, Special Education (assigned to support the Special Education Proactive Behavior Initiative)

San Diego Unified School District Eugene Brucker Education Center - San Diego, California Open in Google Maps.

Job Details

Job ID: 5944763
Application Deadline: Oct 11, 2026 11:59 PM (Pacific Standard Time)
Re-Posted: Sep 30, 2026 7:00 AM (UTC)

Starting Date: Immediately

Job Description

This opportunity is open to all interested candidates.

OVERVIEW:

San Diego Unified School District, the second largest district in California and one of the top largest urban school districts in the United States, is looking for leaders who care deeply for students, inspire passion in their coworkers through collaborative leadership, and are committed to the communities in which they serve. The District seeks leaders who are committed to educational equity and work to create access and opportunity for our students furthest from education justice. Successful candidates must demonstrate their skill as an instructional leader, a firm understanding of school operations, as well as the capacity to build strong relationships with all partners within a school community.

DIVERSITY STATEMENT:

Because each person is born with inherent worth and dignity, and because equitable access and opportunity are essential to a just, educated society, San Diego Unified employee commitments include being respectful of differences and diverse perspectives, and being accountable for one’s actions and the resulting impact.

BASIC FUNCTION:

The Area Program Manager, Special Education (assigned to support the Special Education Proactive Behavior Initiative) will plan, organize, and manage delivery of special education services for assigned special education programs and/or school sites; conduct research, analyze data, and prepare statistical reports to support and implement best practices; ensure compliance with state and federal mandates; provide ongoing direction and guidance to school sites for implementation and continuation of special education programs and services, as well as leadership, direction, and supervision of assigned personnel.

The ideal candidate is a systems-oriented, collaborative, and experienced educational leader who understands that effective behavior support begins with strong relationships, engaging instruction, inclusive practices, and well-designed school systems. This individual is skilled at using data to understand both student and system needs and can translate that information into practical supports for educators and school teams. The candidate will be an effective coach and supervisor who builds the capacity of others, communicates with empathy and clarity, and can balance strategic district priorities with the day-to-day realities of school sites.

POSITION SPECIFICS:

Working Location: 4100 Normal Ave. San Diego, CA 92103

Work schedule: 12 months /248days per year

The position is paid on the AASD Certificated SupervisorsSalary Schedule , Salary Plan 0708, Grade 030.

Qualifies for District Paid health and wellness benefits for employee and dependents

Experience with MTSS, proactive behavior supports, restorative practices, special education, instructional practices, and adult learning/coaching is desired, but not required.

Examples of Duties:

• Plan, organize, and monitor procedures, methods, development, and implementation of special education services to students and families for assigned special education programs and/or school sites. E
• Provide direction to school sites and assigned staff in support of equity and access in general education and specialized settings. E
• Ensure compliance with policies and procedures for administering services for assessment, identification, certification, establishment of priority, and placement of students with Individualized Education Programs. E
• Provide technical assistance and consult with administrators, educators, paraprofessionals, caregivers, and other educational partners concerning the needs for students with Individualized Education Programs; coordinate articulation and/or transfer of students with Individualized Education Programs. E
• Assist in coordination of site and/or centralized assessments for assigned special education programs and/or school sites and serve as an administrative designee for Individualized Education Program team meetings as appropriate. E
• Prepare documentary evidence and present the District's legal position at due process hearings and mediations. E
• Ensure maintenance of confidential, accurate and current records related to program requirements including assessment, placement, progress, attendance, hearings and mediations, Medi-Cal billing and nonpublic school billing in order to meet federal, State and District mandates and audits. E
• Maintain knowledge of federal and state mandates regarding special education student and caregiver rights and responsibilities, and interpret these and other legal issues as appropriate for District staff, educational partners, and community agencies; investigate and collaborate with site administrators in response to alleged complaints and violations related to special education program issues. E
• Monitor nonpublic school placement for compliance with appropriate legal requirements, state mandates and regulations, District policies and procedures, and standards for curriculum and graduation. E
• Assist in planning and developing budgets for assigned special education programs and/or special education services at school sites, determine allocation of positions and needs for personnel and facilities, monitor compliance with regulations and expenditures of a variety of fundingsources. E
• Implement procedures, coordinate reviews, and monitor reporting forms and reports to ensure compliance with state and federal laws and grants for assigned special education programs and/or sites. E
• Supervise and evaluate the performance of assigned staff. E
• Collaborate with community agencies; coordinate central intake for potential special education referrals from socialcommunityagencies. E
• Direct and coordinate area and central office staff in providing timely professional learning and coaching support to schools. E
• Plan, organize and implement programs and activities designed to develop assigned special education programs and/or special education services at school sites. E
• Assist in the development, implementation, and monitoring of program evaluation plans. E
• Perform related duties as assigned.

In addition to the job duties listed above, in support of the Special Education Proactive Behavior Initiative, the incumbent will be expected to:

• Lead and monitor the implementation of proactive, tiered behavior supports across assigned school sites, including Tier 1–2 systems, developmentally appropriate behavioral expectations, evidence-based interventions, and restorative practices aligned with district frameworks.
• Supervise, coach, and develop Behavior Support Specialists (BSS) by providing ongoing feedback, monitoring coaching and service delivery, reviewing data and documentation, and ensuring consistency and fidelity of proactive behavior support practices across assigned schools.
• Analyze student, classroom, and school-level data to identify behavioral, instructional, environmental, and systems-level trends; use data to guide problem-solving, determine areas of need, monitor progress, and support school teams in developing responsive interventions.
• Build the capacity of school teams through consultation, professional learning, and coaching, partnering with site leaders, teachers, behavior teams, and other staff to strengthen school and classroom systems, student engagement, instructional practices, positive behavior supports, co-regulation, and restorative approaches.
• Coordinate and communicate across district and school-based teams to ensure alignment of proactive behavior initiatives, including facilitating site behavior team meetings, collaborating with district partners and the Executive Director of Special Education, monitoring implementation across assigned sites, and identifying opportunities for continuous improvement.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience:

Any combination of training, experience and/or education equivalent to a Master's degree in special education or related field and four (4) years of leadership experience in delivery of special education services.

Licenses and Other Requirements:

Valid California Administrative Services Credential.

For questions regarding this job announcement, including priority consideration, please contact Human Resources Analyst Tina Cano at [e-mail].

For questions about your application, please email [e-mail].

San Diego Unified School District communicates information regarding the hiring process via email. Please be aware that the District is not responsible for messages blocked by your email service. In an effort to allow our emails through your personal spam filter, you can try to add the [e-mail] and [e-mail] to your safe senders list.

San Diego Unified School District is committed to equal opportunity for all individuals in education. District programs and activities shall be free from discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying by reason of the following actual or perceived characteristics: age, ancestry, color, mental or physical disability, ethnicity, ethnic group identification, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, immigration status, marital or parental status, medical condition, nationality, national origin, actual or perceived sex, sexual orientation, race, religion, or on the basis of a person's association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.

Title II Coordinator & Uniform Complaint Compliance Officer Eric Rico: [phone], [e-mail] / Title IX Coordinator Anna Ward: [phone], [e-mail] / 504 Coordinator Eri Nall: [phone], [e-mail]

Position Type: Full-Time

Salary: $139,470.51 to $180,754.27 Per Year

Job Requirements

• Citizenship, residency or work visa required

Contact Information

• San Diego Unified School District Human Resources
• 4100 Normal Street
• San Diego, California 92103
• Phone: [phone]
• Email: [e-mail]