Special Education Specialist

Kipp Inc; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 79,200 - 118,800; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% healthcare premium costs covered

401(k) plan with up to 6% match

Generous time off program

Employer-paid life insurance

Job summary

KIPP SoCal Public Schools is seeking a Special Education Specialist to provide school-facing support for special education programming and compliance across multiple schools. You will work closely with school leaders to implement effective instructional practices and ensure high-quality services for students with disabilities.

The ideal candidate will have experience working directly with school teams, strong problem-solving abilities, and a commitment to fostering positive relationships in an educational environment.

This role offers a competitive salary with comprehensive benefits including healthcare, retirement plans, and generous time off.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution required.
• Master’s degree in special education highly preferred.
• Valid California credential for Education Specialist required.
• Minimum of 4 years of teaching and case management experience.
• Leadership and coaching experience required.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct support to school-based SPED teams.
• Assist schools in addressing operational and student support challenges.
• Support monitoring of compliance for special education.
• Partner with teams for coordinated support across schools.
• Support onboarding and training efforts for SPED staff.

Skills

Organizational skills

Student-centered approach

Problem-solving skills

Collaboration

Relationship-building

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master’s degree in special education

California Education Specialist credential

Tools

IEP systems

SPED tools and resources

Welligent

Job description

Job Overview

The Special Education Specialist provides direct, school-facing support to ensure strong implementation of special education programming, instructional practices, and compliance systems across a portfolio of schools. This role works closely with the Associate Director of Special Education to support schools through coaching, problem-solving, implementation support, and day-to-day follow-through. The Specialist succeeds when schools experience responsive, consistent support that strengthens execution, improves coordination, and helps ensure students with disabilities receive high-quality, aligned services and instruction.

You Should Apply If

You are a highly organized and student-centered educator or support professional who enjoys working closely with schools to strengthen implementation, solve problems, and support teachers and leaders in real time. You are responsive, collaborative, and comfortable balancing compliance, instructional support, and day-to-day operational follow-through.

You thrive in school environments, build strong relationships quickly, and are energized by helping turn systems and expectations into strong day-to-day practice for students with disabilities.

Key Responsibilities

School-Based Support & Coaching

• Provide direct support to school-based SPED Team Chairs, Resource & Inclusion Teachers, SDP teachers, and school leaders across a portfolio of schools
• Support implementation of instructional practices, IEP systems, accommodations, and service delivery expectations
• Assist schools in addressing day-to-day operational and student support challenges
• Maintain consistent presence in schools to build relationships and support implementation quality

Instruction & Program Implementation

• Support schools in implementing inclusion-focused instructional models and aligned service delivery practices
• Reinforce organizational expectations around IEP quality, instructional alignment, and student support coordination
• Assist with rollout of SPED tools, resources, systems, and initiatives across schools
• Support onboarding and training efforts for school-based SPED staff

Compliance & Monitoring

• Support monitoring of compliance timelines, documentation, service delivery, and implementation expectations
• Assist schools in maintaining organized and compliant SPED systems
• Identify implementation concerns and elevate issues to the Associate Director as needed
• Support follow-up and action planning connected to identified compliance or instructional concerns

Cross-Functional Coordination & Problem Solving

• Partner with portfolio and regional team members to ensure coordinated support across schools
• Support communication and follow-through between schools and the regional SPED team
• Assist with data collection, progress monitoring, and implementation tracking connected to portfolio priorities
• Contribute to ongoing problem solving and continuous improvement efforts across the portfolio

Desired Outcomes and Role Specific Competencies

• Schools within the portfolio experience responsive, coordinated, and solutions-oriented SPED partnership, as evidenced by timely follow-through, clear communication, aligned implementation support, and positive feedback from school leaders and SPED staff regarding responsiveness and collaboration.
• IEP compliance, service delivery, and SPED implementation expectations are consistently maintained across assigned schools through organized systems, timely monitoring of compliance requirements, and proactive identification, escalation, and resolution of implementation concerns.
• Resource & Inclusion Teachers and SPED Team Chairs demonstrate increasing effectiveness in implementing instructional accommodations, aligned student supports, inclusion-focused practices, and progress monitoring systems that support student access and learning and achievement of individualized IEP goals.
• Portfolio implementation is coordinated, organized, and operationally strong, as evidenced by consistent tracking and follow-through of implementation priorities, accurate maintenance of data and reporting systems, and strong coordination between schools, portfolio staff, and central support teams.
• Strong relationship-building and coaching skills with ability to support teachers and school-based staff
• Understanding of special education instructional practices, IEP implementation, and compliance systems

Ability to balance responsiveness, organization, and follow-through across multiple schools and priorities

• Strong problem‑solving skills and ability to proactively identify and address implementation challenges
• Ability to work collaboratively across school, portfolio, and regional teams to support coherent implementation

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher learning is required; Master’s degree with emphasis in special education highly preferred
• Valid California credential for Preliminary or Clear Education Specialist (Mild/Moderate with Autism Authorization, Moderate/Severe, Mild to Moderate Support Needs or Extensive Support Needs) credential
• Minimum of 4 years of highly effective teaching and case management experience demonstrating a strong track record of student performance gains for students with special needs
• Leadership and coaching experience required (e.g. providing instructional coaching, hiring, and directly managing and evaluating adults)
• Knowledge of LAUSD special education policy and Welligent preferred

Compensation

• KIPP SoCal Public Schools offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience in a similar position. The salary range for this position is $79,200 to $118,800. New hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint of $99,000 depending on qualifications, internal equity, and the budget allocated for this role.
• 100% of healthcare premium costs covered by employer, dependents added at 50% of the cost
• Employer‑paid life insurance
• 401(k) plan with up to 6% match by KIPP SoCal
• Voluntary Benefits (Pet Insurance, Supplemental Life, Accident, Short Term Disability, etc.)
• Generous time off program includes 22 holidays, sick leave and vacation
• Other great benefits (Flexible spending account, EAP, etc.)

KIPP SoCal Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation/gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

KIPP SoCal strives to ensure that our careers website is accessible to all, including individuals with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, please contact us. You can find our contact information on our website, http://www.kippsocal.org/. Information will be sent to a talent acquisition representative who will provide assistance to ensure appropriate consideration in the hiring process.