Special Education Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Who We Are

KIPP SoCal Public Schools is a nonprofit organization that operates 20 tuition-free, open-enrollment charter public schools, within 17 Local Education Agencies (LEA), educating more than 10,000 students and supporting 8,300 alumni to and through college and beyond. Our award winning schools are part of the national KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) network, dedicated to meeting the needs of all learners and providing the social, emotional and academic support for success in high school, college, and life.

Mission

Together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose—college, career and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and create a more just world.

What We Do

At KIPP SoCal we build trusting relationships that are strengthened by high expectations and collaboration alongside laughter and joy. We set ambitious goals and hold each other accountable for students achieving their greatest potential. We work together with each other and in partnership with families and communities in the active pursuit of a more equitable world. We do the right thing, even when it's not always comfortable standing up and speaking out against anti-blackness, racism, oppression, and injustice. We persevere through obstacles and treat failure as an opportunity to learn and grow.

Job Overview

The Special Education Specialist provides direct, school-facing support to ensure strong implementation of special education programming, instructional practices, and compliance systems across a portfolio of schools. This role works closely with the Associate Director of Special Education to support schools through coaching, problem-solving, implementation support, and day-to-day follow-through.

Please note: This is not a teaching position. 

The Specialist succeeds when schools experience responsive, consistent support that strengthens execution, improves coordination, and helps ensure students with disabilities receive high-quality, aligned services and instruction.

You are a highly organized and student-centered educator or support professional who enjoys working closely with schools to strengthen implementation, solve problems, and support teachers and leaders in real time. You are responsive, collaborative, and comfortable balancing compliance, instructional support, and day-to-day operational follow-through.

You thrive in school environments, build strong relationships quickly, and are energized by helping turn systems and expectations into strong day-to-day practice for students with disabilities.

School-Based Support & Coaching

• Provide direct support to school-based SPED Team Chairs, Resource & Inclusion Teachers, SDP teachers, and school leaders across a portfolio of schools
• Support implementation of instructional practices, IEP systems, accommodations, and service delivery expectations
• Assist schools in addressing day-to-day operational and student support challenges
• Maintain consistent presence in schools to build relationships and support implementation quality

Instruction & Program Implementation

• Support schools in implementing inclusion-focused instructional models and aligned service delivery practices
• Reinforce organizational expectations around IEP quality, instructional alignment, and student support coordination
• Assist with rollout of SPED tools, resources, systems, and initiatives across schools
• Support onboarding and training efforts for school-based SPED staff

Compliance & Monitoring

• Support monitoring of compliance timelines, documentation, service delivery, and implementation expectations
• Assist schools in maintaining organized and compliant SPED systems
• Identify implementation concerns and escalate issues to the Associate Director as needed
• Support follow-up and action planning connected to identified compliance or instructional concerns

Cross-Functional Coordination & Problem Solving

• Partner with portfolio and regional team members to ensure coordinated support across schools
• Support communication and follow-through between schools and the regional SPED team
• Assist with data collection, progress monitoring, and implementation tracking connected to portfolio priorities
• Contribute to ongoing problem solving and continuous improvement efforts across the portfolio

• Schools within the portfolio experience responsive, coordinated, and solutions-oriented SPED partnership, as evidenced by timely follow-through, clear communication, aligned implementation support, and positive feedback from school leaders and SPED staff regarding responsiveness and collaboration.
• IEP compliance, service delivery, and SPED implementation expectations are consistently maintained across assigned schools through organized systems, timely monitoring of compliance requirements, and proactive identification, escalation, and resolution of implementation concerns.
• Resource & Inclusion Teachers and SPED Team Chairs demonstrate increasing effectiveness in implementing instructional accommodations, aligned student supports, inclusion-focused practices, and progress monitoring systems that support student access and learning and achievement of individualized IEP goals.
• Portfolio implementation is coordinated, organized, and operationally strong, as evidenced by consistent tracking and follow-through of implementation priorities, accurate maintenance of data and reporting systems, and strong coordination between schools, portfolio staff, and central support teams.
• Strong relationship-building and coaching skills with ability to support teachers and school-based staff
• Understanding of special education instructional practices, IEP implementation, and compliance systems

Ability to balance responsiveness, organization, and follow-through across multiple schools and priorities

• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to proactively identify and address implementation challenges
• Ability to work collaboratively across school, portfolio, and regional teams to support coherent implementation

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher learning is required; Master’s degree with emphasis in special education highly preferred
• Valid California credential for Preliminary or Clear Education Specialist (Mild/Moderate with Autism Authorization, Moderate/Severe, Mild to Moderate Support Needs or Extensive Support Needs) credential required
• Minimum of 4 years of highly effective teaching and case management experience demonstrating a strong track record of student performance gains for with students with special needs
• Leadership and coaching experience required (e.g. providing instructional coaching, hiring, and directly managing and evaluating adults)
• Knowledge of LAUSD special education policy and Welligent preferred

• KIPP SoCal Public Schools offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience in a similar position. The salary range for this position is $81,576 to $122,364. New hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint of $101,970 depending on qualifications, internal equity, and the budget allocated for this role.
• 100% of healthcare premium costs covered by employer, dependents added at 50% of the cost
• Employer-paid life insurance
• 401(k) plan with up to 6% match by KIPP SoCal
• Voluntary Benefits (Pet Insurance, Supplemental Life, Accident, Short Term Disability, etc.)
• Generous time off program includes 22 holidays, sick leave and vacation
• Other great benefits (Flexible spending account, EAP, etc.)

KIPP SoCal Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation/gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

KIPP SoCal strives to ensure that our careers website is accessible to all, including individuals with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, please contact us. You can find our contact information on our website, Information will be sent to a talent acquisition representative who will provide assistance to ensure appropriate consideration in the hiring process.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.