Support Specialist, Special Education

Cleveland Metropolitan School District; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 44,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

None

Job summary

Cleveland Metropolitan School District is seeking a high-level administrative support specialist to manage enrollments, records, transportation coordination, and clerical tasks for instructional services. This role supports the Director of Instructional Services and program managers and requires experience with CMSD systems.

The position is non-exempt, reports to the Director, Special Education Compliance, and offers a salary band of $43,782 to $61,294.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of senior-level administrative support experience.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks with minimal supervision.
• Strong communication and customer relations skills.

Responsibilities

• Handle enrollments, transfers and withdrawals for students with disabilities.
• Process records requests and coordinate transportation for students with disabilities.
• Provide clerical support to the Director of Instructional Services and Program Managers.
• Maintain EMIS data and assist with data systems (IEPPlus, PowerSchool).

Job description

Position Type:Administration and ProfessionalsDate Posted:2026-08-28Location:Administration or As AssignedABOUT CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICTThe Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) is Ohio's third-largest public school system, serving more than 35,000 students. CMSD strives to ensure that every child receives a high-quality education, regardless of the provider. To that end, CMSD lets families choose which District schools their children attend, with options that include STEM, the arts, single-gender education, International Baccalaureate, Montessori, and early college. Our schools have autonomy over human and financial resources in exchange for accountability for performance. The principal has primary responsibility and accountability for establishing their school as a high-quality, high-expectation academic center focusing on personalized instruction, professional support for teachers, and school-wide practices that lead to measurable results. CMSD ensures that students have access to technology and training to prepare them for the future. The District provides a free laptop or tablet for every student and connects every family that needs internet access. Graduating seniors leave commencement with not only a diploma but also a laptop. In our pursuit of a more fair, just, and good system of education, we strive to ensure that all of our learners, both scholars and educators, to be challenged with academically and intellectually complex tasks that are worthy of their efforts and provide them opportunities to demonstrate their best work.BUILDING BRIGHTER FUTURESThe Cleveland Board of Education adopted the Building Brighter Futures (BBF) initiative on December 9, 2025. Building Brighter Futures is a strategic and data-driven plan shaped by more than a year of community engagement, information analysis, and thoughtful deliberation. The goal of this plan is to strengthen enrollment and ensure scholars attend a newer school building that offers more educational opportunities, including algebra in the eighth grade, more sports and extracurricular activities, and college credits and college and career pathways in high school. BBF is ensuring academic excellence so every CMSD scholar can thrive.THE OPPORTUNITY:Location: Administration or As AssignedReports to: Director, Special Education ComplianceFLSA Status: Non-ExemptSalary Band: 3Compensation: $ 43,782.00 - $ 61,294.00We are seeking a support specialist to provide high-level administrative support by handling information requests and performing a variety of functions, including enrollment, processing records and legal documents, writing correspondence, receiving visitors, arranging transportation, scheduling meetings, and providing clerical support.DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:Work with parents to complete enrollments, transfers, and withdrawals for students with disabilitiesRespond to records requestsCoordinate transportation for students with disabilities through the transportation deptProcess SSI requestsProvide clerical support (day-to-day, submitting purchase orders, processing paperwork, etc.) for Director of Instructional Services and Program ManagersEnrollment - Work with parents to complete enrollments, transfers, and withdrawals for students with disabilitiesMaintains the back end of the IEPPlus and PowerSchool Special Programs databasesTrain and assist staff utilizing the front end of the systemsDistrict point of contact for the special education data systems (IEPPlus and PowerSchool Special Programs)Collaborate with special education stakeholders to ensure accurate creation and completion of special education documentsAssist with EMIS reporting components required for students with disabilitiesCollaborate with outside districts and separate facilities providing services for CMSD students.Complete enrollment for CMSD students educated outside of the district (foster placements, court placements, etc.)Maintain special education EMIS data for CMSD students educated outside of the districtMaintain state reporting data for students with disabilitiesAssign Parent SurrogatesAble to handle basic correspondence without supervision, including memos, letters, and electronic transmissions to internal employees and external customersResponsible for organizing and supporting the day-to-day activities to ensure efficient office operationsScreens and handles incoming and outgoing electronic communicationsMaintains the confidentiality of information that could immediately negatively impact the district, performance, or perceived value if shared beyond its intended audience.Assists with updating division information on CMSD website as neededOperates a variety of office equipmentImplements District and/or Board of Education policies and proceduresPerforms all other duties as assignedQUALIFICATIONS:3+ years’ experience in a position of support for administrators at senior level or higherHigh school diploma or GED required; Bachelor’s degree preferredDetailed knowledge of CMSD organization, organizational procedures, and personnel preferredA personal sense of accountability around the ultimate success of CMSD transformationEntrepreneurial energy and focus on the ultimate goals of CMSDAbility to perform multifaceted tasks concurrently with minimum supervisionAbility to maintain a professional manner when interacting with Cleveland Metropolitan School District staff, external colleagues and the publicDemonstrated proficiency and experience using Microsoft applications, including Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint; ability to manage Access databases (mailing lists) and prepare and edit basic PowerPoint presentations.Excellent decision-making skills to respond to high-pressure situationsDemonstrated time management skills to plan, manage, and coordinateAbility to work well under pressureExhibits good customer relations skills in answering phones, screening, and responding to inquiries and requests from district officials, parents, students, media, and other external customersWorking Conditions/Physical Demands:The characteristics listed below represent the work environment typically encountered while performing the essential duties of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.Expected moving, walking, and standing consistent with an office environment and occasionally lifting up to 15 poundsWhile performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and armsThe employee is frequently required to talk and/or hear.Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focusWhile performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to a normal office environmentLocal travel may be required for training/meetingsNOTE: The above stated duties are intended to outline those functions typically performed by individuals assigned to this classification. This description of duties is not intended to be all-inclusive or to limit the discretionary authority of management to assign other tasks of similar nature or level of responsibility.EducationTo ApplyPlease submit your resume and application using Workday, our online human capital management system. Please note that an offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of an FBI/BCI background check and drug screen.EEO StatementWe believe that equity and inclusion at CMSD is an essential call to action, a catalyst to ensure value and appreciation among all our employees, so we may be fair and welcoming now and in the future. CMSD provides equal opportunities for employment, retention and advancement of all personnel by administering all terms and conditions of employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, national origin, sex, disability or genetic information, age, citizenship status, military status, sexual orientation or expression, socio-economic status, title, other dimensions of identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.The District’s Policy Prohibiting Discrimination, Discriminatory Harassment, and Sexual Harassment and the District’s Title IX grievance procedures, including information on how to report or file a complaint of discrimination, how to report or file a formal complaint of sexual harassment, and how the District will respond, may be accessed on the District’s Civil Rights Notices webpage, available at ClevelandMetroSchools.org/domain/105. The District’s Title IX Coordinator / Director of Equal Employment Opportunity may be reached at:1111 Superior Avenue East, Suite 1800Cleveland, Ohio 44114(216)[e-mail]