Program Director Special Education Principal
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Overview
Job Description
We are seeking a visionary, clinical-first Program Director / Special Education Principal to pioneer and manage our high-acuity special education pilot program. In this role, you will transition our flagship separate day school settings and embedded district classrooms into elite centers of excellence.
You will lead a multidisciplinary team of educators, Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), and therapists to bridge the gap between highly restrictive environments and neighborhood school reintegration.
Core Responsibilities
Programmatic and Operational Oversight- You will manage the daily operations, overall budget, and contractual executions of a standalone 22,000 sq. ft. therapeutic hub or localized satellite school sites.
District and LEA Liaison- You will serve as the primary administrative point of contact and bridge for the School District of Philadelphia (SDP) central office, Special Education Liaisons, and case managers.
Regulatory Compliance- You will maintain a bulletproof legal compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Pennsylvania Code Chapter 14 regulations, ensuring zero timeline failures on IEPs and re-evaluations.
Clinical-Instructional Leadership- You will conduct routine instructional walkthroughs and coordinate with on-site BCBAs and school psychologists to implement Data-Based Individualization (DBI) and progress tracking.
Staff Supervision and Development- You will directly supervise, vet, and retain a high-performing multidisciplinary platoon of special education teachers, registered behavior technicians (RBTs), and speech/OT/PT specialists.
Stakeholder Collaboration- You will coordinate interagency treatment pathways with Philadelphia Community Behavioral Health (CBH), child welfare systems (DHS), and the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR).
Position Qualifications
Required Certification - Must hold a valid Pennsylvania Principal K-12 certificate or an active PDE Administrative I/II certification.
Leadership Experience- A minimum of 10+ years of documented, successful leadership within high-acuity Special Education programs, with a heavy emphasis on Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) step-down transitions.
Expertise - Deep working knowledge of Pennsylvania special education statutes, data-driven visual tracking tools (such as Infinite Campus, CentralReach, and EasyIEP), and the Standards Aligned System (SAS).
Interpersonal Mastery - Exceptional communication skills optimized for multi-stakeholder navigation, interest-based parent mediation, and presenting analytical growth trajectories to senior district executives.
Mandatory Security and Compliance Filters
Before entering a classroom space or interacting with a district student, you must pass our zero-variance, clear-to-work background check verification suite:
- Act 34 - Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History Record Check
- Act 151 - Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance
- Act 114 - Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal History Check
- Act 168 - Sexual Misconduct/Abuse Disclosure Releases from all past employers
- Act 126 - Mandated Reporter Training Certificate completion
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