Job Summary:
This building-based administrative role is responsible for strengthening instructional quality, ensuring special education compliance, supervising designated staff, and advancing inclusive practices across general and special education settings. This role operates under the supervision of the Director of Special Services to ensure full compliance with DESE regulations
The SSA serves as a critical bridge between compliance and instruction, ensuring that students with disabilities receive rigorous, equitable, and legally compliant educational programming aligned to grade-level standards.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Special Education Compliance & Program Oversight
- Monitor and ensure compliance with all federal and Massachusetts special education regulations.
Oversee IEP timelines, evaluation processes, and service delivery fidelity. - Chair or support IEP meetings under the direction of the Director of Special Services.
- Ensure high-quality IEP development, goal writing, and progress monitoring practices.
- Support accurate documentation and implementation of accommodations and specially designed instruction (SDI).
- Collaborate with the Director of Special Services to maintain district-wide compliance integrity.
Instructional Leadership & Inclusive Practices
- Conduct instructional walkthroughs and observations in general education, special education, and co-taught classrooms.
- Provide coaching and feedback to strengthen differentiation, SDI, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and co-teaching practices.
- Collaborate with school-based teams to support alignment of special education services within the MTSS framework across Tier 1–3 instruction.
- Collaborate with curriculum leaders to ensure students with disabilities have access to grade-level standards.
- Analyze student data to inform instructional decision-making and program improvements.
Staff Supervision & Evaluation
- Serve as Secondary Evaluator for special education teachers in collaboration with primary evaluators.
- Serve as Primary Evaluator for behavior and learning support paraprofessionals.
- Conduct formal and informal observations aligned to Massachusetts Educator Evaluation regulations.
- Provide actionable feedback, coaching, and professional growth support.
- Ensure fidelity of implementation of instructional and behavioral support plans.
Behavior & Learning Support Oversight
- Supervise and structure deployment of behavior and learning support paraprofessionals.
- Collaborate with behavioral specialists to ensure alignment of IEPs, BIPs, and classroom practices.
- Support professional development related to behavior intervention and inclusive classroom management.
Family & Community Engagement
- Serve as administrative lead for the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC).
- Coordinate SEPAC meetings, agendas, and communication.
- Strengthen family engagement and transparency around special education programming.
- Partner with families to support student growth and inclusive school culture.
School Leadership Collaboration
- Serve as an active member of the school’s Special Education leadership team.
- Support school improvement planning related to inclusive practices and student achievement.
- Provide insight into staffing, scheduling, and program development to enhance service delivery.
Education:
- Master’s degree in Special Education, Educational Leadership, or related field required.
- Massachusetts DESE licensure in Special Education required.
- Massachusetts Administrator licensure preferred or willingness to pursue licensure.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in special education.
- Demonstrated experience in instructional coaching and staff supervision.
- Strong knowledge of Massachusetts special education regulations and educator evaluation systems.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with administrators, teachers, families, and community partners.