Director of Special Education - Immediate Vacancy

Vista College Preparatory Inc; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401k match

PTO

Parental leave

Wellness Fridays

Job summary

Vista College Prep seeks a Director of Special Education to lead vision, strategy, and execution of SPED across campuses, ensuring exceptional instruction and services for students with disabilities. You will partner with principals, teachers, and families to drive outcomes and compliance.

You will build talent pipelines, monitor IEP/MET timelines, and implement data-driven improvements while aligning with IDEA, FAPE requirements and district initiatives.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in special education.
• Strong knowledge of IDEA, FAPE and timelines.
• Ability to build systems for compliance and data tracking.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and develop special education team members and contracted service providers.
• Provide targeted coaching, feedback, and professional development to strengthen instructional practice and service delivery.
• Build the capacity of general education teachers and campus leaders to support students with disabilities and implement IEPs.
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and accountability across the SPED team.
• Develop internal talent and leadership pipelines for long-term sustainability.
• Foster transparent communication with school and network leaders, families, and external stakeholders.

Skills

Team leadership

Coaching

IEP knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree

Arizona Special Education Teaching Certificate (K-8)

Job description

Why Vista?Vista College Prep empowers all children to aim higher and go further by providing them with access to a top quality education that prepares them for competitive high schools, colleges, and the world beyond. At Vista, we blend excellence, joy, community, and transparency to create a unique educational experience. We cultivate an environment where children love to learn together, teachers love teaching, and leaders love leading.As a team at Vista, we are deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusiveness. We are especially committed to attracting and developing individuals who share the life experiences of our students because we believe the best work we do is grounded in the realities and experiences of our students and families. We believe that diversity is crucial for effecting lasting change, is one of our greatest strengths, and is a critical element of reaching the full potential of our team and community. Join us!Role MissionThe Director of Special Education will lead the vision, strategy, and execution of special education programming across Vista College Prep's campuses, ensuring that students with disabilities receive exceptional instruction, effective services, and the support they need to achieve ambitious outcomes. The Director will ensure strong special education compliance while leading a broader commitment to student outcomes, instructional excellence, and continuous improvement. This role reports to the Chief People Officer.As Vista continues to strengthen and evolve its special education programming, the Director will play a central role in building sustainable systems, developing talented educators, and fostering strong partnerships with campus leaders, teachers, and families. We are seeking a collaborative, solutions-oriented leader who can navigate change thoughtfully, build trust across teams, and translate an ambitious vision into clear priorities and consistent execution.Your ImpactDevelop Talent & Build a High-Performing TeamLead, manage, and develop special education team members and contracted service providers, directly or through other team leaders.Provide targeted coaching, feedback, and professional development to strengthen instructional practice, case management, and service delivery.Build the capacity of general education teachers and campus leaders to effectively support students with disabilities and implement IEPs.Establish clear roles, responsibilities, performance expectations, and systems of accountability across the special education team.Develop internal talent and leadership pipelines that strengthen team effectiveness and long-term organizational sustainability.Strengthen Campus Partnerships & Family CollaborationServe as a trusted partner to Principals and campus teams, proactively collaborating to address student needs and strengthen special education services.Foster transparent, timely, and solutions-oriented communication with school and network leaders, teachers, families, and external stakeholders.Support teams in navigating complex student needs and challenging situations with sound judgment, empathy, and a commitment to shared problem-solving.Build systems and practices that strengthen family engagement and trust throughout the special education process.Build Sustainable Systems & Lead Continuous ImprovementTranslate Vista's vision for special education into clear priorities, actionable plans, and systems that support consistent execution across campuses.Develop proactive, reliable systems for tracking student services, IEP and MET timelines, documentation, progress monitoring, and compliance requirements.Use accurate, accessible data to identify trends, prioritize improvements, and inform decisions about student services, staffing, and programming.Lead change thoughtfully by engaging stakeholders, communicating transparently, and building shared ownership of improvements.Strengthen organizational structures, workflows, and decision-making processes to reduce reactive problem-solving and support sustainable operations.Lead Excellent Special Education Programming & Student OutcomesSet and execute a network-wide vision for special education that prioritizes student growth, achievement, inclusion, and access to rigorous instruction.Oversee the development, implementation, and evaluation of high-quality special education programming, including specially designed instruction, accommodations, modifications, and related services.Partner with campus leaders and teachers to ensure students with disabilities are meaningfully included in the academic program and experience high expectations and joyful learning.Use student achievement, progress monitoring, and service delivery data to evaluate program effectiveness and drive continuous improvement.Ensure Strong Compliance & Responsible StewardshipOversee the full special education process, including Child Find, evaluations, eligibility determinations, IEP development and implementation, annual reviews, and reevaluations.Ensure compliance with applicable federal and Arizona special education requirements, including IDEA, FAPE, procedural safeguards, and required timelines.Lead special education audits, monitoring, reporting, and corrective action planning, coordinating with external technical experts as needed.Oversee special education placements, related services, and complex student cases, partnering with school leaders and families to identify appropriate, student-centered solutions.Develop and manage special education staffing models, budgets, and external service partnerships aligned with student needs and organizational resources.Compensation: In recognition of our team members’ impact, Vista offers a comprehensive, flexible, and competitive compensation package to support the personal health, wellness, and finances of our staff and their families.Competitive base salaries reflective of our local market plus candidate experience and education levelRobust healthcare plans for full-time staff, with health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance plans at very low cost in monthly premiums and $0 copays, plus confidential, 24/7, no-cost mental health resources and a healthcare concierge service to support your overall experience using your plansRetirement benefits through a 401k with John Hancock and up to a 3% employer match12 days of PTO, parental leave, and a school calendar with paid holidays and Wellness Fridays built in strategically to support the sustainability of our workAll the tools needed to succeed, including all curricular materials, quality professional development, classroom supplies, laptop computers for staff and 1:1 devices for studentsOpportunities for leadership, growth, and advancement on our teamDeep commitment to Vista's mission and belief in the ability of all students, including students with disabilities, to achieve at high levels.Demonstrated ability to build trusting, collaborative relationships with educators, school leaders, families, and other stakeholders.Strong coaching and people leadership skills, including the ability to develop others through clear expectations, actionable feedback, and ongoing support.Experience developing or improving systems that strengthen organizational effectiveness, accountability, and student outcomes.Ability to lead through change with transparency, sound judgment, adaptability, and a solutions-oriented mindset.Strong understanding of effective special education instruction and programming, with familiarity with federal and Arizona special education compliance requirements.Excellent organizational, analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills, with a track record of translating complex priorities into consistent execution.Bachelor's degree required.Valid Arizona Special Education Teaching Certificate with appropriate K–8 certification or endorsement.Two or more years of relevant leadership experience preferred.Valid IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card.