Job Description

Job Description

Title: Special Education Manager (Grades 5-12) 

Division: Middle & Upper Schools

Reports To: Principal 

Status: Full-time, Exempt 

Supervises: SPED Teachers, Aides, and Service Providers as Assigned

Salary: $100,000 - $110,000 & MWA Benefits

Summary
The Special Education Manager (SPED Manager) oversees the delivery and implementation of Special Education services for MWA students with IEPs or 504 Plans. Working closely with the Principal and school leaders, the SPED Manager ensures that IEP and 504 Plan goals are met and exceeded. The Manager is responsible for managing staff, coordinating services, ensuring compliance, and driving improvements in instructional practices for students with disabilities.

Essential Functions
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Program Leadership & Staff Management

• Supervise and evaluate special education teachers, paraprofessionals, and related service providers while fostering a collaborative team environment focused on student success and professional growth. Provide regular coaching, observation feedback, and professional development opportunities.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive special education program that aligns with state and federal requirements while meeting individual student needs. Lead the implementation of evidence-based practices and monitor program effectiveness through data analysis.
• Build capacity among general education teachers through targeted training and support in differentiation strategies, accommodations, and modifications to ensure successful inclusion of students with disabilities in mainstream classrooms.

IEP/504 Process & Compliance Management

• Oversee the entire IEP and 504 process including referrals, evaluations, meetings, and documentation while ensuring all timelines and procedural requirements are met according to state and federal regulations. Maintain accurate and complete special education records.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the school, families, and external service providers to coordinate comprehensive support services and facilitate effective communication regarding student progress and needs.
• Lead IEP team and Student Study Team (SST) meetings with professionalism and cultural sensitivity, ensuring meaningful parent participation and collaborative decision-making focused on student success.
• Maintain and keep up-to-date online records on SEIS (Special Education Information System) and make sure all ensure confidentiality and compliance with privacy regulations while facilitating appropriate information sharing among staff.

Student Support & Instructional Leadership

• Monitor the academic progress and social-emotional development of students with disabilities through regular data analysis, classroom observations, and consultation with teachers. Adjust support services and interventions as needed.
• Design and implement behavior intervention plans and crisis response protocols while providing guidance to staff on positive behavior support strategies and de-escalation techniques.
• Collaborate with the school leadership team to analyze achievement data, identify gaps, and develop strategic initiatives to improve outcomes for students with disabilities across all academic areas.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Cultivate and maintain a positive and respectful workplace. Supervise and evaluate the performance of assigned staff; plan, coordinate and arrange for appropriate training of staff; recommend transfers, assignment reassignments, termination and disciplinary actions; interview candidates.
• If/when working with independent contractors, set clear expectations, schedule regular updates, and provide feedback.

Mission Alignment

• Demonstrate knowledge and support of Making Waves Academy’s mission, core values, standards, competencies, and code of conduct outlined in the Employee Handbook.
• Participate in the school community – attending school competitions, performances, assemblies, and extracurricular activities. Some evening work and a few Saturdays may be required for parent meetings or staff training sessions.

Work Environment

• This job operates in an office and school environment and routinely uses standard office equipment.
• Some travel required for MWA related events, such as workshops or conferences.

Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be regularly required to move around campus, stand, sit, talk, hear, reach, stoop, kneel, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer, phone, and keyboard.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision requirements due to computer work.
• Light to moderate lifting may be required.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Special Education, or a related field and 5+ years of related experience with at least 2 years in a leadership or management role.  Master’s degree in Special Education, Educational Leadership preferred.
• Proven ability to manage Special Education services, ensuring efficient and effective delivery. Skilled in monitoring program compliance and handling legal documentation and reporting. Strong understanding of federal and state regulations regarding Special Education, including IDEA, Section 504, and related policies.
• Expertise in developing and implementing instructional strategies for students with IEPs/504 Plans. In-depth knowledge of best practices for teaching students with disabilities.
• Experience in providing feedback to staff and fostering a collaborative work environment. Experience in managing staff development, including providing professional development opportunities for faculty.

Skills and Abilities

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage, motivate, and support a team of SPED staff and related professionals.

• Ability to monitor and assess the effectiveness of instructional strategies and modify them to meet individual student needs.

• Ability to ensure compliance with IEP timelines, accommodations, and assessments.

• Ability to track, analyze, and report on student progress, instructional effectiveness, and SPED program outcomes. Ability to make data-driven decisions and implement solutions that improve student outcomes.

• Strong communication skills, including the ability to engage with faculty, parents, students, and external providers. Proficiency in Spanish desired, but not required.
• Ability to facilitate and lead IEP meetings, ensuring collaboration between all stakeholders. Ability to manage and resolve conflicts involving students, parents, faculty, and external service providers.

• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to address challenges in a timely and effective manner. Ability to adapt to changing regulations, student needs, and educational environments.

• Comfortable with managing multiple priorities and adjusting strategies to ensure success.

• Ability to adapt and align on school-related initiatives. Ability and willingness to uphold and reinforce school policies and procedures when addressing students and families.
• Comfortable learning and using the digital tools MWA uses, and willing to try out new technologies and work tools.

Licenses or Certificates  

• Employment eligibility will include fingerprints/Live Scan, tuberculosis (TB) screening, and other employment clearance.
• Educational Specialist Teaching and CLEAR CA Teaching Credentials.

Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Reasonable Accommodation
Consistent with its obligations under the law, MWA will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.

Equal Employment Opportunity Is Our Policy

Making Waves Academy is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the School to afford equal employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to their perceived or identified: race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and hairstyle, including but not limited to braids, locks, and twists); color; gender, (including gender identity, gender expression, and transgender identity, whether or not the employee is transitioning or has transitioned); sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and medical conditions related to such); religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices); marital/registered domestic partner status; age (forty (40) and over); national origin or ancestry (including native language spoken and possession of a driver’s license issued to persons unable to prove their presence in the U.S. is authorized by federal law); physical or mental disability (including HIV and AIDS); medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics); taking of a leave of absence pursuant to the Family Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”), Pregnancy Disability Leave (“PDL”) law, Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), California Family Rights Act (“CFRA”), the Fair Employment and Housing Act (“FEHA”), or laws related to domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking laws; genetic information; sexual orientation; military and veteran status; or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy extends to all job applicants and employees and to all aspects of the employment relationship, including the hiring of new employees and the training, transfer, promotion, discipline, termination, compensation and benefits of existing employees. For a full copy of our non-discrimination policy, visit:

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