Director of Secondary Special Education

Administrative - Professional-Technical - Director Job Number 2000016817 Start Date Open Date 03/06/2026 Closing Date DIRECTOR OF SECONDARY SPECIAL EDUCATIONSUMMARY DESCRIPTION the Director of Elementary Special Education serves as the administrator responsible for the instructional leadership and management of special education services for students 6th grade through age 22. The Director oversees special education services such as low incidence programs, behavior programs, related services, special education transitional services for students 18-22, and professional development. The Director ensures compliance with all applicable laws, including Federal laws, IDEA, Nevada Revised Statutes and Nevada Administrative Code, as well as district policies and regulations related to special education. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIESProgram Leadership Uses data and stakeholder input to design effective programs and leads innovative approaches to meet diverse student needs in the least restrictive environment. Provides expertise in academic and behavioral supports and collaborates across departments to ensure curriculum access for students with disabilities. Partners with the Director of Elementary Special Education to interpret and implement federal and state special education laws and regulations. Oversees services and programs for students ages 18-22, partnering with community agencies to strengthen transition supports. Collaborates with Human Resources to build and sustain a diverse, skilled special education workforce through targeted recruitment and retention initiatives, when assigned. Staff Professional Development Oversees development and implementation of professional development plans ensuring staff understand state and federal special education laws. Directs professional learning on research-based instructional and curriculum practices, including co-teaching, to support students in the least restrictive environment. Supervises and evaluates assigned staff Oversees Special Education Coordinators, Related Services staff as assigned, MS/HS programming, Transition Academy, and Special Education Summer School supports. Collaborates with Chief Academic Officers, Area Superintendents, and other Academic Directors to design and deliver professional learning plans. Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Provides instructional leadership by guiding implementation of evidence-based practices, monitoring instructional quality for students with disabilities, and supporting school leaders in improving outcomes. Oversees review and updates of secondary special education curriculum and instructional materials. Collaborates with Academic Departments to develop and revise curriculum for students with learning and behavioral disabilities. Oversees training, implementation, and data collection for Nevada Alternative Assessments at the secondary level. Ensure appropriate accommodations for students on district finals, state or federal assessments. Optimizes related service supports by evaluating eligibility systems, staffing, caseloads, and strengthening provider capacity within the IEP process. Collaboration & Alignment Collaborates with school sites when necessary to resolve challenges related to identification, placement, progress, and related issues which require communication between the school and families in special education programs. May attend IEP meetings as determined by need. Builds and maintains collaborative relationships with stakeholders in order to meet the needs and goals of students, families, and the WCSD. Serves on pertinent committees and coordinates activities with district departments, divisions, schools and other agencies. Accountability & Continuous Improvement Facilitates planning and writing of mandated state and federal reporting requirements related to special education. Oversees the gathering and analysis of special education student projections for secondary schools. Monitors and evaluates compliance systems and documentation processes. Collaborates with the Director of Elementary Special Education to develop and administer an equitable system for the allocation and coordination of special education staff. Applies understanding of budget and its specific applications for special education Leverages resources in support of program goals and student needs Collaborates with Business and Finance Department to review financial projections and expenditures. Oversees the development and updating of written procedures, policies, and forms for the WCSD Special Education Department. Stewardship, Compliance, & Policy Implementation Provides technical guidance to support Legal Counsel, Academic leadership, and school staff on special education laws and district procedures. Coordinates due process hearings, mediations, and state complaints at secondary schools. processes to help parents understand their rights under special education law. Leads the development of resolution plans for Parent/District disputes in secondary schools. May perform additional duties as assigned. When assigned to supervise Special Education Operations: Oversees NDE-required special education submissions, including IDEA Local Plan reports, student counts, behavior data, NV Access reporting, and staffing reports. Assists with the certified and ESP allocation process and 1:1 allocation processes. Ensures all Infinite campus and Special Education BIG reports are validated and accurate Ensures that the nightly data files from Edplan are validated and accurate Oversees special education budgets, including judgement and settlement budgets. Oversees yearly process for Independent Contract Agreements Ensures that providers are logging for Medicaid services. Oversees RMTS/MAC process and daily validations, doctor authorization, denials and resubmitting for back sweeps and Medicaid consents. Oversees the Medicaid system in Edplan to ensure that system is working as expected in collaboration with the Director of Student Enrollment and Records. When assigned to supervise Special Education Compliance Staff: Oversees restraint reports processes submitted by schools. Provides support when restraint reports are submitted to NDE. Oversees implementation of Resolution agreements, state complaints outcomes, compensatory education tracking and implementation. Oversees Independent Educational Evaluation requests and dissemination of reports when completed. Oversees Independent Contract Agreements for IEE providers. Oversees the District's file monitoring process, including ensuring that the Access Database and BIG file monitoring report is accurate and sent to principals upon completion. Oversees the District's state file monitoring, including gathering of special education files, development of the Corrective Action Plan, and Implementation of the Corrective Action Plan. Oversees Procedure Manual updates to ensure that the special education procedures are in compliance with Nevada Administrative Code and IDEA. QUALIFICATIONS Any combination of education and experience that could likely provide the required knowledge and skills is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and skills would be: Education: Master's degree from an accredited college or university in education or related field with emphasis on preparation in special education; Master's degree in School Administration. Experience: Five (5) years of professional teaching experience in the areas of special education; and five (5) years in a supervisory or administrative capacity. Licenses/Certificates: Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid State of Nevada driver's license with a driving record acceptable to the District required. Possession of a valid State of Nevada teaching license with an endorsement in one or more areas of special education, or a license in a related field required. Possession of a valid Nevada Administrative License preferred. COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCE OF JOB DUTIES Knowledge of: Principles of effective management, staff supervision, and administration Special education federal and state laws, including procedural safeguards and FERPA regulations. Effective inclusion practices and Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) guidelines. Special education funding sources. Skill in: Working with people and supervising staff. Grant development and budget oversight. Mediation techniques. Meeting facilitation. Implementing staff professional development programs. Applying action research techniques. Ability to: Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. Conduct special education services, supervise personnel, and manage assigned responsibilities. WORK ENVIRONMENT / PHYSICAL DEMANDS The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Work Environment Exposure to weather: Occasionally Exposure to loud noises: Rarely Working in confined spaces: Rarely Working at heights: Never Working with hazardous materials: Never Physical Demands Lifting/Carrying: Rarely Standing/Walking: Occasionally Bending/Stooping: Rarely Reaching: Rarely Pushing/Pulling: Rarely Climbing: Rarely Fine motor skills: Rarely Definitions:? Never: The activity or condition does not occur.? Rarely: The activity or condition occurs less than 10% of the time.? Occasionally: The activity or condition occurs 10-30% of the time.? Frequently: The activity or condition occurs 30-60% of the time.? Continuously: The activity or condition occurs more than 60% of the time? THIS JOB SPECIFICATION SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED TO IMPLY THAT THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE THE EXCLUSIVE STANDARDS OF THE POSITION. INCUMBENTS MAY BE REQUIRED TO FOLLOW ANY OTHER INSTRUCTIONS, AND TO PERFORM ANY OTHER RELATED DUTIES AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THEIR SUPERVISOR. The Washoe County School District is committed to providing a safe and respectful learning and working environment for all students, staff, and visitors. The District prohibits bullying, cyber-bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, and/or discrimination based on an individual's actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, veterans or military status, marital status, disability or the presence of any sensory, physical or mental handicap in any of its educational programs/activities and employment, or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The District prohibits discrimination against any youth group listed in Title 36, as a patriotic society, (i.e. Boy Scouts of America) from access to public school facilities use. Equal Opportunity Employer Statement Washoe County School District is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. The Washoe County School District is committed to providing all applicants and employees equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, military status, or other characteristics protected by applicable law. Here at Washoe County School District, we are a diverse group of people who honor the differences that drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our students and employees. We believe that through a culture of inclusivity, we have the power to reflect on the community we serve. Site(s) Academics Internal Job Number 2025-26-P261345 Salary Grade 31 Salary: $108,457 (entry step) Salaries are subject to adjustment and may increase and decrease each fiscal year. Current Washoe County School District employees should contact the Human Resources Department for salary-related information. New employees hired by Washoe County School District are normally placed on the entry step of the grade of the position. View the salary schedules here. Additional Job Information Benefit packages are available for all employees, eligible employees who are regularly scheduled to work 27.5 hours per week or more receive full benefits of the District which include but are not limited to; No waiting period on Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance Employees may select an insurance plan wherein WCSD contributes 100% of insurance premiums. Sick Leave, Holiday Pay and Vacation Pay. Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). Contribution options will be explained in detail during the New Employee Orientation. Salary Increases Longevity Bonuses Guidance Resources And More - Visit our Benefits page for more information. Please be advised health insurance premiums are paid by employees at a prorated percent for those working less than full time. New employees will be fingerprinted upon hire and will have $58.50 deducted from their first paycheck to help defray the cost of fingerprinting. Fingerprint fees are subject to change. This job offer is conditional until a report is returned from the FBI and Nevada Department of Public Safety that meets the standards of WCSD for employment purposes Any applicant who would like to request a reasonable accommodation in any step of the selection process should contact Human Resources at (775) 348-0321.

Created: 2026-03-10