Description
Director of Assessment, Accountability & Federal Programs
242 Day Contract, 24 vacation days
Hours a day: 8
Start Date: July 1, 2027
Salary: $113,991-$172,301 Depending on qualifications and experience.
This posting will close on May 22, 2026, 4:00 PM. The applicant will be responsible for a completed application arriving by the deadline.
Contact Information:
- Name: Eric Woodhouse
- Phone: 801-610-8453
- Email: ewoodhouse@alpinedistrict.org
- Name: Kari Shirk
- Phone: 801-610-8758
- Email: kshirk@alpinedistrict.org
Description:
The Director of Special Education provides districtwide leadership, vision, and direction for special education services and related programs. This position ensures the development, implementation, monitoring, and continuous improvement of effective, compliant, inclusive, and student-centered programming for students with disabilities in accordance with federal, state, and local requirements. The Director partners with families, schools, district departments, and community agencies to ensure students receive appropriate services, meaningful access to instruction, and support for long-term success.
Essential Functions:
- Provide leadership, supervision, and direction for the district special education department, related services, assigned staff, and service delivery systems.
- Ensure districtwide compliance with IDEA, FAPE, Child Find, Least Restrictive Environment, procedural safeguards, evaluation and eligibility timelines, IEP requirements, state rules, and district policies.
- Lead systems for referral, evaluation, eligibility determination, IEP development, IEP implementation, progress monitoring, reevaluation, documentation, and compliance review.
- Ensure a full continuum of special education services and placement options, including inclusive services, specialized programs, related services, preschool/Child Find, transition services, and Extended School Year as required.
- Partner with principals and school teams to strengthen inclusive practices, specially designed instruction, behavior supports, accommodation/modification implementation, and outcomes for students with disabilities.
- Support complex student cases, manifestation determinations, placement decisions, dispute resolution, mediation, state complaints, due process preparation, corrective action, and legal compliance in collaboration with district leadership and legal counsel.
- Supervise, evaluate, and develop assigned special education coordinators, program specialists, related service providers, teachers, paraprofessionals, and department support staff as assigned.
- Develop and monitor special education staffing allocations, budgets, IDEA funds, Medicaid-related processes, contracts, outside placements, and related service agreements in collaboration with Business Services.
- Plan and provide professional learning for administrators, teachers, related service providers, paraprofessionals, and staff on special education compliance, IEP implementation, inclusive practices, behavior supports, and effective instructional practices.
- Maintain accurate records, data systems, monitoring evidence, reports, and submissions required by the district and state/federal agencies.
- Collaborate with Transportation, Student Services, Teaching & Learning, Assessment, Human Resources, and Technology to coordinate services, staffing, accommodations, professional learning, and student supports.
- Foster clear, collaborative, and responsive communication with families, school teams, community partners, and district leaders.
- Prepare and present reports, updates, recommendations, and compliance information to district leadership, the Board of Education, schools, and families as assigned.
- Perform other duties as assigned to support the mission and strategic priorities of the district.
Qualifications:
Credentials, education, and experience
1. Master's degree or higher in Special Education, Educational Leadership, or related field required.
2. Appropriate administrator license authorizing service as an administrator/supervisor required.
3. Minimum of five years successful experience in special education teaching, coordination, or administration required.
4. In-depth knowledge of special education law, IDEA, FAPE, Child Find, Least Restrictive Environment, procedural safeguards, IEP development/implementation, evaluation procedures, related services, and inclusive practices.
5. Strong leadership, communication, collaboration, conflict-resolution, data-use, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
6. Ability to work effectively with families, students, educators, administrators, community agencies, legal counsel, and state/federal representatives.
7. Demonstrated ability to supervise staff, manage budgets, lead professional learning, and maintain accurate compliance systems.
Preferred Qualifications:
- District-level special education leadership experience in a comprehensive school system.
- Experience with program review, corrective action, legal dispute prevention/resolution, special education budgets, Medicaid, and contracted services.