Head, Special Education Services (0995)

Education Services & School Operations

Job Class: 0995

Salary Range: $200,539.73 - 245,192.11/annually

Appointment Type: Contract

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.

The Head of Special Education Services leads the Special Education Department in San Francisco Unified School District, reports to the Deputy Superintendent of Education Services & School Operations, and is directly responsible for the development, support, monitoring, and delivery of special education services across the District. The Head of Special Education Services serves as a senior district leader and a key member of the Superintendent’s Cabinet. In addition, the Head of Special Education Services serves as the Director of the District Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA). With a focus on inclusion, this critical, highly visible position spearheads the District’s work to improve outcomes for children and youth who receive special education services.

We expect the Head of Special Education Services to:

Demonstrate a Leadership Mindset

Lead the Special Education Department and the SELPA with a vision for Special Education rooted in equity, access and inclusion, and focused on providing high quality educational programs and services for students with special needs and training and support for families and educators.
Champion a “one-team” culture across the district, promoting connections across divisions, and between central office and schools
Supervise, evaluate and guide staff in the Special Education Department, building capacity and holding staff accountable towards meeting short and long-term goals
Actively work to achieve the District’s vision and strategic priorities as outlined in the District’s vision and strategic plan, attending to alignment with State and Federal laws pertaining to Special Education

Manage to Results

Develop, prepare, and implement a multi-million dollar budget to ensure the Special Education Department is equipped to meet short and long-term divisional goals and use allocated resources in accordance with State and Federal regulations and aligned to District priorities
Create, decide, and promote policies and procedures that ensure student achievement in the least restrictive environment and prevent misidentification into Special Education
Coordinate special education services and programs in SFUSD, including development and implementation of our Local Plan
Monitor the achievement of students with disabilities and position the work of our teachers and leaders for optimal success to improve outcomes for children and youth with disabilities

Manages Relationships

Partner across the District to provide leadership in the alignment of curriculum and program development, help navigate District-wide implementation of state testing requirements to improve the quality of services that impact outcomes for all students
Ensure appropriate, targeted communication to stakeholders inside and outside of the District as it relates to the Special Education Department, with a special focus on parents and parent/community advocacy groups
Represent and advise the District in mediation, due process hearings, and investigations

The strongest candidates will have:

A successful and accomplished track record leading Special Education services in the public school system
Knowledge of San Francisco’s public schools
Experience with working General Education Students
Experience supervising and supporting School Leaders
Experience supervising large numbers of staff and effectively leading them with a sense of optimism and accountability
A history of collaborating across teams and engaging with families and community advocacy groups towards improving outcomes for students
Knowledge of Federal, State, and local law and policies regarding Special Education services
Ability to work effectively in emotionally charged and difficult situations that may involve confidential or sensitive matters
Experience in a multi-union environment
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including ability to convey complex information to a variety of audiences
A strong analytic, performance management, accountability, and systems-thinking orientation necessary to inform strategy development and execution.

Minimum Qualifications

Possession of a valid California Administrative Services Credential
Master’s Degree in Education Leadership or a related field; Doctoral Degree preferred
At least 5 years of experience in special education and site or central office administrative expertise in facilitating institutional change

What We Offer

SFUSD offers a competitive salary of $200,539.73 - 245,192.11 annually, commensurate with experience and a comprehensive benefits package including dental and vision plans, 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 http://www.sfusd.edu/jobs and create a new certificated administrative account to begin your application.
You will be prompted to electronically attach a letter of interest, resume, letters of recommendation, and administrative credentials/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.

San Francisco Unified School District is an equal employment opportunity employer committed to maintaining a non-discriminatory work environment. SFUSD does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.