Director of Special Education

Sweetser; Saco (ME); On-site; USD 81,000 - 96,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus

Competitive benefits

Job summary

Sweetser in Maine is seeking a Special Education Director to guide the educational program for students on the Saco campus. You will lead a team of educators, clinicians, and specialists to implement IEPs, develop trauma-informed practices, and ensure safety and strong student outcomes.

The role requires collaboration with families, districts, and organizational leadership to maintain compliance with state and federal requirements and to foster a positive school culture focused on learning and

Qualifications

• Master's degree in education or closely related field.
• Licensed/certified administrator in Maine strongly preferred.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams in special education.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for overall educational programs and high-quality teaching.
• Oversee implementation of IEPs, accommodations, and behavioral supports.
• Collaborate with clinicians, school psychologists, and sending districts.

Skills

Leadership

IEP coordination

Staff development

Crisis management

Education

Master's degree in Education

Admin Certification 030/035 preferred

Job description

Becoming part of the Sweetser family means you can make a difference in the lives of Maine children, adults, and families every day. As a nationally recognized and accredited leader, we offer competitive salaries, a wide range of benefits and the opportunity to join a passionate team of more than 700 employees.

Director of Special Education

Job Code: 13484

Location: Saco 04072

Department: Education Program

FT/PT Status: Full Time

Summary:

$10,000 Sign-On Bonus!

Rate: $80,516-$95,596 based on experience

Schedule - Monday - Friday

Join an amazing team of special educators at Sweetser.We are looking for a Special Education Director that is passionate about teaching, leading and being part of a positive community. Our team includes special education teachers, ed techs, clinicians, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, psychology, and nursing services. Our campus offers a rich opportunity for a proven educational leader to guide our academic and experiential programs on the Saco campus. We have a full working farm, media program, culinary program, and both a wood and auto shop. There are few settings where a special educator can impact the lives of students through so many learning opportunities. If you want to make a difference in the lives of Maine children then consider Sweetser School.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provides leadership for the overall educational programs and establishes clear expectations for high-quality teaching and learning.
• Promotes instructional practices responsive to students with significant emotional, behavioral, developmental, and behavioral health needs.
• Supports effective implementation of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), accommodations, instructional interventions, and behavioral supports.
• Monitors student academic progress, engagement, attendance, behavioral outcomes, and other measures of student success.
• Partners closely with special education staff, clinicians, school psychologists, related-service providers, and sending school districts as needed.
• Promotes successful transition planning and reintegration to less restrictive educational settings.
• Ensures that educational, clinical, behavioral, and milieu services operate as an integrated therapeutic model.
• Works collaboratively with clinical leadership to support trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate, and evidence-informed approaches.
• Ensures treatment recommendations, behavior support strategies, and educational interventions are coordinated across disciplines.
• Promotes student voice, dignity, strengths, and individualized approaches to care and education.
• Supports effective crisis prevention, de-escalation, safety planning, and post-incident review practices.
• Establishes a school culture characterized by safety, consistency, accountability, belonging, respect, boundaries, and high expectations for both students and staff.
• Maintains clear roles, decision-making authority, communication pathways, and expectations across multidisciplinary teams.
• Provides visible and accessible leadership within classrooms and throughout the school environments.
• Promotes collaborative problem-solving while maintaining appropriate leadership accountability and decision-making.
• Models professional boundaries, respectful communication, ethical decision-making, and trauma-informed leadership.
• Addresses performance, culture, communication, and operational concerns promptly and consistently.
• Collaborate with organizational clinical, quality, risk, compliance, and executive leadership regarding significant safety or quality concerns.
• Ensure program operations comply with applicable federal and Maine requirements governing special education, student rights, therapeutic services, licensing/approval, confidentiality, mandated reporting, and health and safety.
• Participate as a member of organizational leadership and contribute to broader children's services and organizational initiatives.
• Ensure staff receive appropriate orientation, training, supervision, and ongoing professional development.
• Foster interdisciplinary teamwork while maintaining clear professional roles and responsibilities.
• Ensure communication with families and external partners is timely, respectful, and transparent within applicable confidentiality requirements
• Partner with Human Resources and organizational leadership regarding recruitment, retention, performance management, employee development, and corrective action.
• Resolves teacher/parent/student conflicts by collecting and analyzing information and mediating or arbitrating discussions.

EDUCATION

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in education, special education, educational leadership, school psychology, social work, counseling, behavioral health, or a closely related field.
• Maine Department of Education Administrator 030 or Assistant Administrator 035 certification, or eligibility for certification, strongly preferred.

Alternative Clinical Pathway

Candidates who do not possess an educational administrator credential may be considered when they bring significant school-based leadership experience and hold an appropriate professional credential, such as:

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW);
• School Psychologist credential/certification; or
• Another advanced clinical or behavioral health credential relevant to the population served.

Candidates coming through a clinical pathway must demonstrate a strong understanding of educational environments and the ability to effectively partner with appropriately credentialed educational leadership to ensure educational and special education requirements are met.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED

• Maine Department of Education Administrator 030 or Assistant Administrator 035 certification, or eligibility for certification, strongly preferred.
• Valid Maine Certification in Director of Special Education
• Maine Certification in Building 040 or Assistant Building Administration 045 preferred.
• Maintain a valid state driver’s license.

EXPERIENCE

• Significant experience working in special education, therapeutic schools, day treatment, alternative education, children’s behavioral health, or a comparable setting.
• Demonstrated leadership experience overseeing multidisciplinary teams and complex student needs.