Job Description
Job DescriptionAbout Freire Schools
Established in 1999, Freire Schools (www.freireschools.org) is a network of four charter schools across Philadelphia and Delaware whose mission is to prepare students from historically underserved communities for success in college and beyond. We're distinguished by our belief in every student who walks through our doors, our strong code of conduct and commitment to peace that ensures a safe environment for all, our sense of family throughout our community, and our joyous and engaged classrooms that focus on academic achievement. As evidence of our impact, in 2023 Stanford's Center for Research on Education Outcomes ranked Freire Schools in the top 15 in the country for academic gains out of 368 charter networks nationwide.
About the team
For this Director of Special Education position, you'll be working for our high school in center city Philadelphia called Freire Charter High School (9th-12th Grade): One of the first charter schools to open in Pennsylvania, Freire High School was founded in 1999 as the flagship Freire Schools campus. 100% of the Freire High School Class of 2024 were accepted to college and earned almost $8 million in scholarships and financial aid offers for college. Freire High School's rigorous, creative curriculum and comprehensive academic and emotional supports help our students thrive in high school, in college, and beyond.
Freire Charter High School (9-12): 2027 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
What you'll do
As the Director of Special Education, you'll lead Freire Charter High School's efforts to ensure that students with IEPs receive the high-quality services and support they need to succeed. You will manage and coach our special education team, oversee all special education compliance and programming, and partner with school leaders, teachers, and families to build an inclusive and supportive learning environment for all learners.
Responsibilities
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Ensure full compliance with all federal, state, and local special education laws and regulations.
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Oversee all aspects of the IEP process, including evaluations, IEP development, progress monitoring, and annual reviews.
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Supervise, support, and coach special education teachers and paraprofessionals.
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Work in collaboration with general education teachers to ensure accommodations, modifications, and co-teaching models are implemented with fidelity.
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Manage relationships with external providers and related service partners (e.g., speech, OT, PT, counseling).
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Facilitate professional development for staff on special education best practices, inclusive instruction, and legal compliance.
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Monitor student progress and data to ensure students with IEPs are making meaningful academic gains.
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Serve as a key member of the school leadership team and contribute to school wide planning and problem solving.
Who you are
You are a systems thinker who leads by example and brings clarity and consistency to complex work. You know how to coach and develop educators to deliver excellent instruction and services for students with IEPs. You believe deeply that our special education students deserve to be held to a high bar and are capable of achieving at high levels when given the right support. You're committed to ensuring that every student is prepared for college and life beyond high school. If you meet these requirements, you are encouraged to apply. The preferred qualifications are a bonus, not a requirement.
Minimum requirements
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Bachelor's degree in education or related field
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Valid Pennsylvania Special Education PK-12 Certification REQUIRED
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At least 3 years of experience working with students with disabilities
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Demonstrated understanding of PA special education law and compliance
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Experience writing, managing, and implementing IEPs
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Strong communication and organizational skills
Preferred qualifications
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Master's degree in Special Education, Educational Leadership, or a related field
Pay and benefits
We offer a competitive salary based on your experience and qualifications. Our benefits package includes health, dental, vision, and more. Pennsylvania employees are enrolled in Freire's 403(b) retirement plan which includes a 5% contribution from Freire.
Freire Schools is committed to maintaining a workplace environment that is free from all forms of discrimination and discriminatory harassment, in service of the policy goal to provide all persons equal access to all categories of employment regardless of a person's actual or perceived race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and expression), age, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, ethnic background, marital status, pregnancy or related conditions, disability, veteran/military status, or any other category protected by state or federal law.