Regional Student Support Lead (PreK-12) - Specialized Student Services

Regional Student Support Lead

Forbes named Mesa Public Schools in their list of Best Employers in Arizona for multiple years. East Valley Tribune names Mesa Public Schools as Best Place to Work in East Valley for multiple years.

Employment Type: Full time

Base Salary: $70,947

Pay Grade: Certified I

Calendar: 10.75 month position, 238 workdays

Benefits: Sick leave, holidays, matched retirement through Arizona State Retirement System, health, life insurance

Performance Pay: Available annually

New Hire Salary with Experience and Education: STEP 1: Teacher base salary + $500 for each full-time year of certified or verified like experience. $65/hour of graduate level credits: BA +45 hours max, MA +60 hours max, $1000 for an advanced degree

Current Employee Salary: STEP 1: Current certified salary/teacher calendar OR Certified I, II or III +/- difference (see MEA working conditions)

New Hire/Current Employee: STEP 2: Add an additional $9,331

Job Summary

The Regional Student Support Lead supports the implementation of high-quality special education services within a designated PreK12 grade region. The role prioritizes leadership and compliance oversight at the high school level (approximately 75% focus) while providing targeted systems support for PreK8 schools within the same region (approximately 25% focus). This position ensures alignment with district policies, state and federal laws, and promotes effective, evidence-based instructional practices for students with disabilities across all grade bands.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a regional leader for special education services, with primary responsibility for supporting high school special education systems and practices.
• Collaborate with site and district leaders to implement a continuum of services aligned with IDEA, state statutes, and district expectations.
• Actively participate in regional leadership teams to promote cross-departmental alignment, collaborative problem-solving, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Coordinate high school special education caseloads, student schedules, and service models to ensure efficient service delivery and balanced staff workloads.
• Provide direct coaching and job-embedded support to special education teachers and support staff on effective instructional strategies, compliance, and IEP implementation.
• Monitor and support adherence to IEP compliance, including timelines, content accuracy, progress reports, METs, and transfer paperwork using compliance checklists.
• Support site teams in preparing for and participating in state and district monitoring or audits.
• Oversee accurate student counts for staffing allocations and reporting purposes.
• Collaborate with school registrars and leadership to align special education student schedules with the master schedule.
• Support the development and refinement of the master schedule to meet the needs of students receiving specialized services.
• Participate in and facilitate transition meetings between junior high and high school to ensure smooth student hand-offs, accurate course requests, and aligned services.
• Assist in planning and implementing programming that supports students moving from PreK through grade 12, with a focus on successful postsecondary transitions.
• Serve as the District Representative at IEP meetings, ensuring legal and procedural fidelity and effective family communication at the high school level.
• Facilitate and complete Manifestation Determination Reviews in alignment with district protocols and legal standards at the high school level.
• Coordinate and provide professional learning and site-based training for special education personnel, focusing on instructional quality, compliance, and effective student support practices.
• Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate special education instructional assistants and clerical support staff at the high school site.
• Collaborate with school and district assessment teams to coordinate state and district testing for students with disabilities, including alternate assessments and accommodations.
• Use data to inform instructional support, compliance monitoring, and staffing decisions.
• Provide consultative support to PreK8 schools in the region, ensuring consistent implementation of district procedures, instructional expectations, and early intervention systems.
• Offer technical assistance to elementary and junior high sites on compliance, instructional coaching, and transition support.
• Attend district- and site-level meetings and complete other responsibilities as assigned in alignment with Mesa Public Schools' goals and priorities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in education, special education, or a related field.
• Valid Arizona Department of Education teaching certificate and SEI endorsement or related certificate.
• Minimum of three years of successful classroom teaching or related experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Arizona Supervisor or Principal Certificate
• Experience in instructional leadership, coaching, and team collaboration
• Strong knowledge of IDEA, state/federal special education law, and compliance requirements

Skills & Competencies

• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and maintain attention to detail
• High reliability in meeting deadlines for IEPs, METs, evaluations, and student counts
• Demonstrated growth in instructional practice and compliance outcomes within assigned schools
• Proactive engagement with site administrators and staff to resolve issues and build capacity
• Regular documentation and reporting of site support activities and student outcome data
• Strong collaboration with regional and district leadership teams

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Primarily office-based with frequent district site visits.
• Occasional evening or weekend commitments.
• Fast-paced, high-stakes environment requiring adaptability and responsiveness.
• Ability to remain seated for extended periods.
• Frequent use of hands for typing and handling documents.
• Occasional standing, walking, bending, and reaching.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 10 pounds regularly and up to 25 pounds occasionally.
• Visual acuity for reading and computer work.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

Mesa Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding equal employment opportunity and anti-discrimination. The District strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex (including gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Applicants and employees may contact Human Resources to request reasonable accommodations needed to perform the essential functions of this position.