(3) Area Director for Special Education Services (Current Gadsden ISD Employees Only)

(3) Area Director for Special Education Services (Current Gadsden ISD Employees Only)

Salary

$131,132.00 - $131,159.00 Annually

Location

Sunland Park, New Mexico

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

202301711

Department

ACADEMIC SERVICES

Opening Date

06/12/2026

FLSA

Exempt

• Description
• Benefits

Due to the high volume of reference surveys being sent out and some issues we've encountered with the process, we have updated our application requirements. The application will now require three professional reference letters, all dated within the last 12 months.

If you are a current district employee, please ensure that one of the reference letters is from your current supervisor.

Thank you for your understanding.

Debido al alto volumen de referencia encuestas que se están enviando y algunos problemas que hemos encontrado en el proceso, hemos actualizado nuestros requisitos. La solicitud ahora requerirá tres cartas de referencia profesional, todas las cartas deben de tener una fecha en los ultimos 12 meses.

Si usted es un empleado actual del distrito, por favor asegúrese de que una de las cartas de referencia provenga de su supervisor actual.

Gracias por su comprensión.

Job Description

The Director for Special Education Services provides leadership, coordination, oversight, and accountability for all special education programs, instructional services, compliance systems, ancillary services, homebound services, transition services, and supports for students with disabilities within an assigned high school feeder pattern. The Director serves as the primary special education leader for all schools within the assigned feeder pattern and is responsible for ensuring equitable access to high-quality instructional programs, related services, intervention systems, and inclusive learning environments in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations.

The Director is responsible for improving academic, behavioral, social-emotional, communication, and postsecondary outcomes for students with disabilities through the implementation of evidence-based practices, Multi-Layered Systems of Support (MLSS), and continuous program evaluation. The Director collaborates closely with school administrators, district leadership, staff, families, and community partners to ensure the effective delivery of comprehensive special education services throughout the assigned feeder pattern.

The position operates within a shared leadership model in which each Director maintains comprehensive responsibility for special education services within an assigned feeder pattern while also serving as the districtwide lead for designated programs, services, personnel groups, or operational functions. Directors collaborate to ensure consistency, equity, compliance, and continuity of special education services throughout the district.

In addition to feeder pattern responsibilities, each Director may be assigned districtwide leadership responsibility for specific special education programs, instructional initiatives, ancillary services, compliance functions, operational systems, or personnel groups. In this capacity, the Director provides leadership, supervision, coordination, program development, and continuous improvement across all feeder patterns.

Other duties may be assigned.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership and Program Administration

• Complies with the Code of Ethics of the Education Profession and upholds all district policies and state and federal regulations.
• Provides leadership, oversight, and accountability for all special education programs and services within the assigned feeder pattern.
• Serves as the primary district representative for special education matters within assigned schools.
• Develops and implements strategic goals aligned with district priorities and student outcome measures.
• Establishes measurable performance indicators to improve student achievement, compliance, and program effectiveness.
• Promotes a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Ensures consistent implementation of district special education procedures, protocols, and expectations across all schools within the assigned feeder pattern.
• Provides districtwide leadership and oversight for assigned special education programs, services, personnel groups, or operational functions.
• Develops and implements districtwide procedures, expectations, quality standards, and improvement plans for assigned program areas.
• Coordinates districtwide implementation, monitoring, and continuous improvement efforts for assigned areas of responsibility.
• Provides technical assistance, training, coaching, and guidance to staff throughout the district within assigned program areas.
• Collaborates with other Special Education Directors to establish and maintain districtwide consistency in compliance practices, instructional programming, service delivery models, staffing practices, and operational procedures.
• Participates in districtwide planning, decision-making, program development, and continuous improvement efforts related to special education services.
• Supports seamless transitions for students receiving special education services between elementary, middle, and high schools within the assigned feeder pattern.
• Builds strong relationships with stakeholders and promotes shared responsibility for student success.

Compliance and Legal Requirements

• Ensures compliance with IDEA, ADA, Section 504, New Mexico Public Education Department requirements, Medicaid requirements, and district policies.
• Oversees compliance systems related to evaluations, eligibility determinations, procedural safeguards, IEP development and implementation, and service delivery.
• Ensures compliance with all special education requirements within assigned schools and programs.
• Collaborates with other Special Education Directors to ensure consistent interpretation and implementation of federal, state, and district requirements across all feeder patterns.
• Conducts program audits, monitoring activities, and compliance reviews and develops corrective action plans when necessary.
• Participates in districtwide compliance monitoring, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Collaborates with district legal counsel and regulatory agencies regarding complaints, mediations, investigations, due process hearings, and compliance matters.
• Ensures data is accurate, complete, and validated in the district's student information system and compliant with state reporting requirements.
• Prepares and submits required state and federal reports as assigned.

Instructional Leadership

• Leads efforts to improve academic achievement and outcomes for students with disabilities.
• Oversees instructional programs serving students receiving special education services, including homebound instruction.
• Supports implementation of evidence-based instructional practices, accommodations, modifications, and specially designed instruction.
• Collaborates with district instructional leaders to align special education programs with district instructional priorities.
• Provides professional development and coaching to strengthen instructional practices.
• Supports inclusive practices and access to grade-level curriculum.

Multi-Layered Systems of Support (MLSS)

• Supports implementation of district intervention systems and student support structures.
• Collaborates with general education and special education teams to strengthen Tier II and Tier III interventions.
• Utilizes progress monitoring and student data to guide instructional and program decisions.
• Promotes early intervention and prevention practices.

Ancillary and Related Services

• Provides leadership and oversight for speech-language services, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychological services, nursing services, behavioral supports, and other related services.
• Ensures ancillary services are integrated into IEPs and support student achievement and independence.
• Monitors provider caseloads and service delivery models to ensure equitable access and effective service delivery.
• Oversees Medicaid documentation and reimbursement processes.
• Evaluates contracted providers and service effectiveness.

Student Outcomes and Program Evaluation

• Monitors academic achievement, attendance, behavior, graduation, transition, and postsecondary outcomes for students with disabilities.
• Establishes systems for collecting, analyzing, and utilizing student and program performance data.
• Conducts regular program evaluations and campus visits.
• Develops and implements improvement plans based on identified needs.
• Monitors feeder pattern performance trends and develops targeted improvement strategies.
• Collaborates with other Special Education Directors to compare outcomes, identify best practices, and improve districtwide performance.
• Uses data to guide continuous improvement and resource allocation.

Homebound Services

• Coordinates and monitors homebound instructional services.
• Collaborates with medical professionals, families, and schools to ensure continuity of learning.

Transition and Postsecondary Readiness

• Oversees transition services and workforce readiness programs.
• Coordinates Project SEARCH and other postsecondary initiatives.
• Collaborates with community organizations and agencies to expand opportunities for students with disabilities.
• Supports successful transitions to employment, postsecondary education, and independent living.

Family and Community Engagement

• Builds positive relationships with families and community partners.
• Serves as the primary escalation point for special education concerns within the assigned feeder pattern.
• Addresses concerns and complaints in a timely and professional manner.
• Communicates procedural safeguards and special education processes effectively.
• Serves as liaison with state agencies, advocacy groups, and community organizations.

Personnel Leadership

• Recruits, recommends for hire, supervises, develops, and retains highly qualified personnel.
• Provides coaching, mentoring, evaluation, and support to assigned staff.
• May directly supervise personnel assigned to districtwide special education programs, services, or operational functions regardless of feeder pattern assignment.
• Coordinates staffing, workload distribution, professional development, and performance expectations for personnel within assigned districtwide program areas.
• Collaborates with other Special Education Directors to ensure equitable deployment and utilization of personnel across the district.
• Addresses performance concerns through coaching and improvement plans.
• Promotes professional growth and continuous learning.

Budget and Resource Management

• Develops and manages assigned budgets.
• Develops and manages budgets associated with assigned districtwide programs and services.
• Allocates resources strategically to maximize student outcomes and ensure equitable service delivery.
• Monitors expenditures and contracts to ensure fiscal responsibility.
• Identifies funding opportunities and ensures effective use of available resources.

Collaboration

• Collaborates with district leadership, school administrators, and support departments to ensure coordinated service delivery throughout the assigned feeder pattern.
• Works closely with principals and leadership teams at assigned schools to improve outcomes for students with disabilities.
• Serves as an active member of the District Special Education Leadership Team.
• Collaborates regularly with other Special Education Directors to ensure consistency in instructional practices, compliance procedures, staffing models, service delivery systems, and operational processes across the district.
• Participates in cross-feeder planning, calibration, professional learning, and problem-solving activities.
• Collaborates with academic services, bilingual education, student support services, human resources, finance, and other departments to improve outcomes for students with disabilities.
• Supports implementation of district strategic priorities and initiatives.

Other Duties

• Performs other duties as assigned by the Chief Academic Officer.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Supervises and evaluates personnel assigned to schools within the Directors feeder pattern and personnel assigned to districtwide special education programs or functions for which the Director has leadership responsibility.

Each Director may be assigned districtwide responsibility for specific program areas, services, compliance functions, instructional initiatives, ancillary services, transition programs, operational systems, or personnel groups and shall provide leadership, supervision, coordination, and continuous improvement for those areas across all feeder patterns.

Supervisory responsibilities may include:

• Special Education Instructional Specialists
• Instructional Coaches
• Diagnosticians
• Compliance Coordinators
• Speech-Language Pathologists
• Occupational Therapists
• Physical Therapists
• Psychologists
• Behavioral Specialists
• Social Workers
• Project SEARCH staff
• Homebound staff
• Contracted Providers
• Other assigned personnel

Qualifications

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Masters Degree in Special Education, Educational Administration, or related field.
• Minimum two (2) years of central office experience or five (5) years campus experience.
• Experience supervising personnel and managing programs.
• Experience analyzing student performance and program effectiveness data.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• New Mexico Special Education certification and license.
• Additional certifications related to special education or specialized programs preferred.
• Bilingual Endorsement or TESOL endorsement preferred.

We offer a complete benefits package through ALFAC, Allstate and NMPSIA to full-time employees including health care, dental, vision, long-term and short-term disability, life insurance, retirement, deferred compensation plans, flexible spending accounts, holidays, and general leave.

To learn more details, visit our benefits page.

Employer Gadsden Independent School District (NM)