Assistant Superintendent of Special Populations

Posting number: 27504

Department: Superintendent's Office

Job classification: Assistant Superintendent of Special Pops

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Administration

Summary

The Assistant Superintendent of Special Populations is a cabinet-level executive leader who reports directly to the Superintendent and provides strategic vision, leadership, and oversight for the District's programs and services that support the academic success, well-being, and equitable outcomes of students with specialized learning needs. This position leads the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of a comprehensive system of support that ensures high-quality, culturally responsive, and legally compliant services across Special Education, Multilingual Learner Services, Highly Capable Services, Native American Education, Career and Technical Education (CTE), and Early Learning/Pre-K programs. As a member of the Superintendent's Cabinet, the Assistant Superintendent collaborates across all divisions to align services with the District's strategic priorities, foster inclusive educational practices, strengthen partnerships with families and communities, and ensure that every student has equitable access to rigorous learning opportunities, the supports they need to thrive, and pathways for future success.

Examples of duties

25%  District, School and Family Engagement:

• Serves as a representative of the Superintendent, on various internal and community boards and committees. 
• Attends or chairs a variety of meetings as appropriate. 
• Represents the District in collaborative partnerships and taskforces with the City, County, and human service agencies.
• Collaborates with other District departments to resolve student issues related to placement transfer, discipline, complaint, appeals, investigations, and litigation.
• Develops integrated service delivery models and expanded outreach to students and families.
• Coordinates with community agencies, schools, Enrollment Planning, Admissions and other District departments to ensure that student needs are appropriately assessed and that services meet student needs.
• Works with other District administrators to coordinate summer school and other special programs and services.
• Negotiates building sites and room space, hires and assigns staff, coordinates transportation and child nutrition support.
• Responds to staff and parent questions and concerns regarding special education services.
• In conjunction with the district Legal department, facilitates responses and action plans related to Due Process and Citizen Complaints.
• Serves as an articulate, informed spokesperson for the District at both formal and informal speaking engagements and in the development of written documents describing District program services.
• Provides leadership in maximizing utilization of all resources to achieve high quality learning and working environments.
• Develops and oversees efforts to increase opportunities for family and community partnerships and involvement.
• Ensures appropriate communication with parents regarding the education of their children with special needs.
• Meets regularly with the Seattle Education PTSA and Special Education Advocacy and Advisory Committee parent groups as well as other stakeholders as needed.

20%  Central Office Leadership:

• Works collaboratively with all District administrative offices to ensure compliance with applicable employment laws, District procedures and processes, and federal and state requirements governing areas of assignment. 
• Maintains familiarity with educational trends, research and best practices in special programs, as well as general education. 
• Works cooperatively within the Student Support Services on implementation of Washington State reform mandates, including collaboration across the K-12 general education and special programs.
• Informs policy, shapes procedures related to policy and strategic direction.
• Analyzes and prioritizes the needs of schools to inform the practice and supports of central office in service of schools on emerging trends and issues.
• Facilitates, coordinates and collaborates with central office departments to ensure success for all SPS initiatives and implementation of school-based operations.
• Works with the Superintendent and other system leaders to implement the district’s strategic plan, its intent and metrics. 
• Collaborates with the Superintendent, Student Services, Teaching and Learning, and Human Resources, in support of the improvement of instruction at all schools and implement sound strategies across cont