Job Class: 0350 Certificated Director

Salary Range: $134,939 - $183,656/annually

Length of Appointment: July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026

Calendar: Full Time / Full Year

Who We Are

The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) is the seventh largest school district in California, serving more than 50,000 students who speak more than 44 documented languages across 130 schools in the city of San Francisco every year. We aim for every student who attends SFUSD schools to discover his or her spark, along with a strong sense of self and purpose, and that all students graduate from high school ready for college and career, and equipped with the skills, capacities and dispositions outlined in SFUSD’s Graduate Profile. Every day in our quest to achieve this mission we provide each and every student the quality instruction and equitable support required to thrive in the 21^st century.

What It Means to Work Here

The SFUSD community is unified by our Core Values:

● Student-centered: We put students’ needs first

● Fearless: We persist through challenges

● United: We celebrate and build on each other’s strengths

● Social Justice: We stand with those most vulnerable in our community

● Diversity-driven: We respect and seek to understand each person

We are also inspired by Vision, Values and Guardrails which captures our aspirations and vision for the future of public education in San Francisco. Alongside the District’s strategic plan. SFUSD is reimagining how public education will change over the next decade to meet the dynamic future of San Francisco. As a CORE district, SFUSD is also a leader in critical systems change for more comprehensive school accountability and innovations that help strengthen the instructional core, which is the foundation of our strategic plan and Vision 2025.

Who We Want

We want talented people from diverse backgrounds and experiences, who are inspired by our mission, steeped in equity, and who are motivated to unleash our children’s potential. We want people who are strong collaborators, skilled communicators, and problem solvers who are comfortable in a community of continuous learning.

As the Director of Special Education you will report to the Assistant Superintendent of Special Education and be a district leader in SFUSD to guide the delivery of special education services to students, birth to 22 years of age, and you will help lead our key initiatives to do this well. In SFUSD our special education delivery model is anchored in the design of equitable, effective and innovative practices to support student learning within inclusive settings. The Director will work directly with the Supervisors, Program Administrators and Content Specialists of Special Education Services to develop, implement and evaluate related services for San Francisco Unified School District and County students with Individual Educational Programs (IEPs).

Essential Duties

The duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to the job code/class and are not intended to be an inclusive or exhaustive list.

As the Director, you will:

● Collaborate closely with the Assistant Superintendent and Directors to design, coordinate, and continuously improve high-quality special education services tailored to meet diverse student needs

● Develop procedures and SELPA policies to insure adherence to state and federal laws and regulations concerning the education and rights for students with disabilities and their families

● Collaborate with district leaders, Community Advisory Committee (CAC), community partners and networks that promote and support inclusive education, differentiated teaching and learning experiences

● Make recommendations for accountability and evaluation systems for content specialists, psychologists, special education teachers, instructional aides other related services providers

● Support site-level staff and supervisors in analyzing educational benefit data, managing mediation and dispute resolution processes, and preparing for due process hearings when necessary

● Exhibit the skills to collaborate with and achieve actionable results through others

● Co-lead the creation and implementation of ongoing, equity-centered training programs for both certificated and classified staff, focused on legal compliance and best instructional practices

● Build strong and sustainable relationships and the capability to interact within all levels of the organization and within the community

● Partner with Human Resources in the recruitment, screening, selection, and retention of exceptional special education personnel to meet the needs of students districtwide

● Lead, supervise, evaluate and guide Special Education teams by building capacity and holding staff accountable towards meeting division short and long-term goals

The strongest candidates will have:

● Knowledge of San Francisco’s public schools/urban public schools and a passionate belief in SFUSD’s commitment to instructional leadership as a lever toward delivering on the SFUSD Graduate Profile

● A strong record of managing organizational change and initiating key innovations

● Demonstrated knowledge of special education laws and policies

● Strong analytic and systems thinking necessary to interpret data to inform goals and strategy, as well as build infrastructure where none exists

● Ability to work effectively across multiple functions and roles within a complex organization

● A proven record of effectively planning, organizing and using resources to take action and achieve goals

● Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build effective working relationships with senior level district staff and colleagues

● Success leading effective teams and individuals

● Experience and success with effective written and verbal communication, facilitation and presentations to large groups and a variety of audiences (e.g., staff meetings, executive briefings, public board meetings, memos)

● Ability to work effectively in difficult situations that involve confidential and sensitive matters

● Strong computer skills including GSuite and Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)

Minimum Qualifications

· Valid California Administrative Credential or eligibility for a California Administrative Credential

· Three (3) years of successful site or central office leadership experience and experience leading and supervising teams

· Knowledge and working experience within related service domains

What We Offer

SFUSD offers a competitive salary of $134,939 - $183,656/annually commensurate with experience in a similar position. This position is a one-year contract which may be renewed on an annual basis. We offer a comprehensive benefits plan including dental and vision plans, a defined benefit pension plan, disability, life insurance, flexible spending account options and vacation time. We also offer an inclusive and equity-centered environment where we encourage staff to bring their whole selves to work.

How to Apply

● Visit www.careers.sfusd.edu and create a new account to begin your application.

● Visit careers.sf.gov and begin the application process.

● You will be prompted to electronically attach a letter of interest, resume, list of professional references

and any applicable credentials or licenses

● Our Human Resources team will then review your entire application to determine your eligibility status

and contact you directly should you move forward in the process

Verification

Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at http://sfdhr.org/how-verify-education-requirements.

Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification from this and future job opportunities with the San Francisco Unified School District.

Non-Discrimination Policy

San Francisco Unified School District programs, activities, and practices shall be free from unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying based on actual or perceived race, color, ancestry, national origin, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital or parental status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or gender expression; or on the basis of a person’s association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. This policy extends to San Francisco County Office of Education, including community school programs and activities.

For more information about the District's non-discrimination policy, please review Board Policy 4030

Certificated Director, Related Services: Special Education Department (0350)