Director of Special Education Instructional Quality & IEP Systems

Director of Special Education Instructional Quality & IEP Systems

Wage/Hour Status: Exempt

Reports to: Executive Director of Special Education

Pay Grade: AD 7

Dept./School: Academics and School Leadership

Initiated Date: Aug. 2026

Who We Are

La Joya Independent School District (ISD) is committed to excellence for students and our community. With a strong 100-year legacy in the Rio Grande Valley, our vision — Educational Excellence: The Right of Every Student — reflects our urgent focus on student outcomes.

Our work is rooted in five district priorities:

• Customer Service
• Trust & Transparency
• High-Quality Instruction
• Excellence in Leadership
• Integrity & Accountability

We are committed to ensuring every student has access to high-quality instruction in every classroom, including students receiving special education services.

Who We Are Looking For

We are seeking a strategic, mission-driven leader to serve as the Director of Special Education – Quality Instruction. This leader provides districtwide oversight to ensure students with disabilities have equitable access to rigorous, high-quality instruction across all instructional settings, including inclusion, co-teach, resource, life skills, and specialized programs.

The Director leads systems that monitor instructional fidelity, strengthen campus capacity, drive data-informed improvement cycles, and ensure alignment with district academic priorities and TEA/IDEA requirements.

The ideal candidate has a demonstrated track record of improving instructional quality and measurable student outcomes for students with disabilities at scale.

Major Duties & Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement a districtwide vision for high-quality special education instruction aligned to district academic priorities.
• Establish clear expectations for instructional rigor, IEP alignment, accommodations/modifications, and progress monitoring.
• Collaborate with the Office of Academics and Schools Office to ensure alignment between special education instructional initiatives and core curriculum frameworks.
• Use data, research-based practices, and continuous improvement cycles to drive measurable growth in student outcomes.
• Lead the development of systems that ensure instructional equity across campuses and programs.

2. Program Fidelity & Instructional Quality

• Monitor fidelity of implementation across instructional models (inclusion, co-teach, resource, self-contained, specialized programs).
• Oversee instructional audits, classroom walkthrough systems, and quality assurance protocols.
• Ensure alignment between IEP goals, grade-level standards, and daily instruction.
• Design and implement differentiated coaching systems for teachers and campus leaders.
• Identify instructional trends, bright spots, and areas for improvement across the district.

3. Campus & Network Support Systems

• Design structured campus support frameworks to strengthen differentiation and instructional delivery.
• Partner with campus leadership teams to develop targeted improvement plans based on student performance data (STAAR, MAP, TELPAS, progress monitoring).
• Coordinate professional learning and job-embedded coaching aligned to instructional gaps.
• Ensure campuses have access to technical assistance and problem-solving protocols for instructional quality challenges.
• Support implementation of multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) within special education frameworks.

4. Data, Accountability & Reporting

• Develop district metrics and dashboards to monitor instructional quality and student performance.
• Track growth indicators for students with disabilities across state and local assessments.
• Collaborate with Research & Accountability teams to build real-time monitoring tools.
• Provide executive-level summaries to support board goals and TEA accountability measures.
• Ensure accurate documentation and reporting aligned to IDEA and TEA requirements.

5. Team Leadership & Capacity Building

• Lead and supervise coordinators, specialists, and instructional support staff focused on quality instruction and program fidelity.
• Establish performance goals, conduct evaluations, and support professional growth planning.
• Build a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Design team structures, workflows, and communication systems to ensure high performance and service to campuses.

6. Policy, Compliance & Continuous Improvement

• Ensure alignment of instructional systems with IDEA, TEA regulations, and district policy.
• Partner with Compliance and Legal teams to address instructional noncompliance through corrective action plans.
• Anticipate regulatory changes and adjust systems proactively.
• Lead development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for instructional monitoring and campus support delivery.
• Contribute to districtwide post-monitoring corrective action efforts.

7. Other Duties as Assigned

Qualifications

Education/Certification

• Bachelor's degree required
• Master's degree preferred
• Valid Texas Special Education certification required
• Principal or Mid-Management certification preferred

Experience

• 5+ years of successful teaching or instructional leadership in Special Education
• Demonstrated experience leading instructional improvement initiatives
• Experience coaching campus leaders and teachers
• Experience analyzing and applying student performance data to improve outcomes

Special Knowledge & Skills

• Strong knowledge of IDEA, TEA regulations, and instructional compliance standards
• Expertise in instructional design, accommodations, modifications, and lesson alignment
• Experience conducting instructional audits and monitoring program fidelity
• Strong data analysis and project management skills
• Ability to influence and collaborate across diverse teams
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and educational data systems

Working Conditions

Work is performed in both office and campus environments. Frequent campus visits required.

May require light lifting (under 20 pounds). Frequent sitting, standing, walking, computer use, and presentations.

Position Working Days: 226 days