About the Senior Director of Special Services Role: Our Senior Director of Special Services will lead our compliance, instructional approach, strategy, and district partnership work for students receiving Special Education, 504, Gifted and Talented, and Mental Health services region-wide with the goal of developing a top quality and transformative academic program for all students. The Senior Director of Special Services will set the instructional vision as well as accountability structures, manage critical compliance areas and build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders related to services to students receiving special services at KIPP Colorado Public Schools. This role will have the unique opportunity to ensure high-quality, compliant instruction and services at the systems level that will contribute to the overall impact of KIPP Colorado. This full-time position is a part of our Home Office Team and is a key member of KIPP Colorado’s leadership team. This role reports to the Managing Director of Academics and Teacher Development.

About KIPP: Together with families and communities, KIPP creates joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world. KIPP is a national network of tuition-free, public charter schools open to all students. There are 255 college-preparatory KIPP schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia, serving more than 100,000 students. Nationally, KIPP students are graduating four-year colleges at three times the national average for low-income students. 

Who we are: KIPP Colorado Public Schools is a network of six free college-preparatory public charter schools open to all students. Our 350-person staff educates 2,600 students from ECE to 12th grade. At KIPP Colorado, we partner with our KIPPsters, educators, families and communities to ensure that we are all united around the goal of a choice-filled future for our KIPPsters. Our KIPP Forward Team supports our 1,000+ high school Alumni as they create their own paths. Our core values of excellence, belonging, belief, advocacy and courage are central to who we are and how we operate at all levels of our organization.

What we do: We believe in the unique gifts and brilliance of every student. We believe in setting a high bar for joy and academic excellence to ensure the infinite possibilities our students have before them become a reality. We aspire to create and reinforce a culture of achievement, belonging and support. We know that every student is different and we personalize learning based on a student's needs, skills, and interests.

Professional Responsibilities 

• Believe deeply in the mission, values, and Race, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (RIDE) commitments of KIPP Colorado Schools and that all children can and will learn 
• Assume personal responsibility for student achievement 
• Read, internalize, and adhere to the KIPP Colorado Policies and Procedures manual and guidelines
• Provide an active presence, strategic supervision, and intentional monitoring to ensure student safety and engagement in rigorous learning (regardless of my role and its proximity to students)
• Take ownership for the development of your craft and engage actively in coaching sessions (meet 1-2 times every 1 or 2 weeks (depending on need and role) with a manager, receive coaching, implement all provided feedback, engage in active practice, etc.)
• Commit to being prepared. Such as: internalizing and preparing for lessons, preparing for O3s/coaching, preparing for meetings, coaching, PD, reading and internalizing written communication, etc. 
• Meet professional obligations including and not limited to meeting deadlines and honoring schedules 
• Consistently leverage existing professional tools, including but not limited to Google Suite (google documents, etc.) and Microsoft Suite (including but not limited to your KIPP Colorado email, Teams chat / meetings, Teams phone, and Microsoft Outlook calendar) 
• Maintain strong attendance each day and be on time to all responsibilities
• Collaborate with colleagues and seek feedback in the spirit of continuous improvement 
• Reflect on professional practices to meet individual professional development goals 
• Actively participate in professional development, grade level, and department meetings
• Actively engage and implement in all school-wide and Org wide professional development
• Serve as a positive, contributing member of a grade team or functional team, collaborating with colleagues to tackle common challenges and implement org and grade-wide initiatives
• Share candid, solutions-oriented feedback with peers and leadership on a regular basis, assuring that feedback is shared directly with the intended recipient. Ensure that feedback is focused on improving outcomes and experiences for students
• Assist with both student and staff recruitment and engagement- including events, home visits, calls home, and other determined and related requirements
• Know that your role, professional development, org wide meetings, etc. may require you to travel around Denver to other KIPP Campuses, our Home Office, or other KIPP or PD events 
• Assist with other duties as assigned (such as but not limited to, lunch duty, arrival/dismissal duty, bathroom duty, hallway duty, school support duties, etc.) 

State & Federal Compliance

• Work in close collaboration with Denver Public Schools to ensure ECE-12 staff and student compliance with state and federal guidelines, such as the Exceptional Children's Educational Act (ECEA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
• Conduct new teacher training for Individual Education Plan (IEP) writing and monitoring
• Inform school-based special education staff and administrators of the timelines for IEP development, prior written notice (PWN), evaluation timelines, reevaluations, case conferences, and progress monitoring
• Conduct monthly IEP audits to ensure compliance with federal, state and KIPP’s special education policies and procedures
• Manage KIPP’s special education database
• Prepare and send monthly compliance updates to school-based special education leads to flag compliance issues (i.e. evaluation timelines, PWN, move-in conferences, etc.)
• Oversee the collection and reporting of progress on IEP goals through data-based progress reports to parents consistent with the schedule identified on the student’s IEP
• Work with school-based staff to determine compliance related professional development and training needs

Management & Culture Leadership 

• Serve as a systems-level leader of the KIPP Leadership team
• Proactively work to build a shared culture of equity, joy and trust across all teams
• Model cross-cultural agility and a commitment to anti-racism and anti-ableism
• A deep belief that all students can learn and achieve, regardless of disability"
• Partner with the Chief Academic Officer, Academic Leadership Team, and campuses to establish and refine a compliant, effective, and equitable regional Special Services program and instruction-enabling systems
• Manage the K-12 Manager of Mental Health
• Cultivate and manage relationships with senior regional leaders and other critical stakeholders, especially Head of Schools, school leaders and teachers

Systems Leadership

• Manage the design and implementation of complex projects, strategies, change leadership, and training for regional leaders, school leaders, teachers, and other stakeholders to support strong instruction and ensure progress towards ambitious goals that improve outcomes for students at scale in ECE-12 Special Services
• Manage K-12 academic assessment tools, data systems, and progress monitoring for our exceptional learners, including data analysis and reporting
• Liaise with DPS and external partners (including consultants), as needed
• Track progress towards goals and make strategic decisions regarding collaboration and support or campuses, including vetting contractors, coordinating strategic planning needs, and collaboration between campuses and Home Office as it relates to Special Education, Section 504, Gifted and Talented, Mental Health Services, MTSS, and overall support for exceptional learners
• Design and refine tools and resources in real-time to respond to campus and student needs, in support of academic and instructional goals
• Communicate progress to a variety of regional, school, and community stakeholders

Instructional Expertise and Agility

• Exhibit a passion and understanding of the education landscape and communities, direct experience in Denver is a plus
• Employ research-based instructional strategies and content approaches for supporting exceptional learners, aligned with rigorous standards for students, teachers, school leaders, and district staff and how the different elements of the standards (the research, the shifts, the standards, etc.) work together
• Demonstrate an ability to create quality evaluations and IEPs that identify root cause and then create clear plans for Specially Designed Instruction that are evidenced in the IEP and followed through in an instruction
• Ensure academic systems are coherent and support rigorous instruction for all students
• Translate your academic expertise, including strong public presentation skills, ability to assess and adjust to the learning needs of your audience, and ability to communicate complex information to a variety of audiences, including teachers, school leaders, and district staff

Role Level Specifics, Scope of Work, and Level of Responsibility

• For more about how you’ll lead at this level, please visit the KIPP Colorado Role Levels Matrix (this is an internal document, only)

About the skills and qualifications you will bring to this role:

• Bachelor's Degree (required)
• At least 7-8 years of relevant experience (required)
• 3+ years of experience managing a team (preferred) 
• A full understanding and Commitment to an Exceptional Student Experience (more about that HERE) (required) 
• Deep knowledge of Special Education, Section 504, Gifted and Talented, and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) compliance and instruction, with teaching experience and a proven track record of raising student achievement for exceptional learners
• Proven success coaching other leaders and teachers, campus leadership experience (as an Instructional Leader or Principal and/or at the district/system level) required
• Strong familiarity and expertise with College and Career-Ready standards, such as the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), including:
• Expertise in the Science of Reading
• Experience as a lead practitioner in a school system that has adopted the CCSS and/or a deep conceptual understanding of the instructional shifts in ELA and Math, with demonstrated success in addressing the needs of students with disabilities within the standards and a cohesive approach to access to grade-level instruction and filling foundational gaps for students
• Previous experience developing and facilitating adult learning/training
• Adept at thinking strategically, translating plans into action, and exhibiting excellent judgment
• Detail oriented with exceptionally strong follow-up and follow-through skills
• Unquestioned integrity and commitment to KIPP Colorado’s mission and values, including a strong commitment to the belief that all children can learn and deserve access to an excellent public education
• Naturally and readily assumes responsibility to fix problems and create improvements
• Ability to quickly and effectively build relationships with, motivate, and engage a diverse group of stakeholders
• Skilled at analyzing, interpreting, and using data to collaborate, identify best practices and areas for improvement, and drive results

Employee retention and satisfaction is imperative for KIPP Colorado. We seek to provide competitive compensation and benefits including the following:

• Competitive Market Salary: Starting salary for this role begins at $117,300 and is commensurate with experience
  • Please submit a comprehensive resume to assure all your experience is accounted for! Tip: We don't care if your resume is more than one page, we are eager to see and compensate you for all of your experience and accomplishments
• Excellent Healthcare Plan: 100% of employee-only monthly premium paid by KIPP Colorado and options for family enrollment and coverage, through United Healthcare

• Time Off !!!: More than 6 weeks of annual vacation and Paid Time Off (PTO) 
  • Based on hire date, employees are eligible for up to 8 days of Paid Time Off (PTO) 
  • All employees receive summer break through an organization-wide closure, based on work location and position
  • Access to parental and medical leave: includes 6 weeks paid and 6 weeks unpaid for a total of 12 weeks (after your first year)

• Career Trajectory: Access to opportunity to move up, across schools, and grow your career during weekly coaching sessions to refine your craft

• Mental Health Care: Immediate and ongoing access to mental health support through our Employee Assistance Program

• Technology & Access: Equipment provided: laptop & phone 

• Retirement Planning: Participation in the Colorado PERA retirement program, including a PERA 401k option
• Move to Join Us: Relocation reimbursement (when applicable)
• Additional Pay: Most schools offer various stipend opportunities
• Other Insurance Options: 
  • Wellness reimbursement
  • Voluntary employee, spousal, and child life insurance
  • Voluntary long term disability insurance
  • Voluntary short term disability insurance
  • Optional Basic Life and AD&D Insurance

• Additional Information: For more information, you can view our benefits FAQ here

 
KIPP Colorado Schools is dedicated to equal employment opportunities and fair labor practices. KIPP Colorado Schools, KIPP Denver Collegiate High School, KIPP Northeast Denver Middle School, KIPP Northeast Elementary, KIPP Northeast Denver Leadership Academy, KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy and KIPP Sunshine Peak Elementary provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals based on job-related qualifications, and the ability to perform a job without regard to race, color, gender, gender identity, gender expression, religious creed, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, legally protected medical condition, veteran status, sexual orientation, or on any other basis made unlawful by federal, state or local laws. It is our policy to maintain a non-discriminatory environment free from intimidation, harassment or bias based upon these grounds.