Director of Special Programs, East Valley School District, 1.0 FTE

Job Title: Special Programs Director, East Valley School District, 1.0 FTE


Reports to: Superintendent or Designee


Work Schedule: 8.0 hours per day, 260 days per year


Salary: $155,317.00 - $180,055.00 depending on placement.


Contract: District Non-Represented

Position is open until filled; initial application review will begin on June 3, 2026. Please apply by the end of the day on June 2, 2026 for first consideration.

The Director of Special Programs will continue to support our strong existing systems, deeply committed staff, and our strong culture grounded in advocacy, inclusion, collaboration, and student-centered decision-making.


East Valley is seeking a leader who will:

• Listen before acting
• Learn the systems already in place
• Build relationships and trust
• Support and advocate for students and staff
• Strengthen and refine existing programs
• Address sustainability and workload concerns thoughtfully

East Valley's strong focus to maintaining a student-first mindset Special Programs Director will:

• Do what is best for students, even when difficult
• Maintain high expectations for all learners
• Continue inclusive practices and equitable access
• Support students with high and complex needs
• Preserve strong ML and Special Education advocacy

East Valley's Director as a relational leader is of great importance who:

• Is visible in schools and classrooms
• Knows staff, students, and programs personally
• Listens before making changes
• Builds trust through consistency and transparency
• Responds quickly and follows through
• Supports staff during difficult situations

The current direction of Special Programs in East Valley values:

• Existing inclusive practices
• Current DI and ML programming
• Collaborative systems
• MTSS structures
• Cohesive district practices
• Student-centered decision-making models

East Valley is seeking a director with strong technical expertise who can confidently guide and balance:

• IDEA and 504 compliance
• Washington State eligibility changes
• MTSS implementation
• Inclusion practices
• IEP systems
• Specialized programming
• Professional development
• Legal and instructional expertise
• Systems thinking and organization
• Ethical and compassionate decision-making
• Strategic leadership and communication

The Director of Special Programs will be successful by:

Listening First

• Seeking to understand before implementing change
• Learning the history and strengths of the district
• Listening to teachers, therapists, psychologists, ML staff, and administrators

Being Visible and Present

• Spending time in schools and classrooms
• Observing programs firsthand
• Meeting staff, students, and families
• Understanding the realities of day-to-day work

Building Trust and Relationships

• Establishing rapport with teams
• Communicating clearly and consistently
• Supporting staff during challenges
• Valuing staff expertise and voice

Supporting Existing Work

• Continuing current momentum
• Respecting existing systems and programming
• Aligning work with the district vision and Strategic Plan
• Avoiding unnecessary disruption

Demonstrating Student-Centered Leadership

• Keeping student needs at the center of decisions
• Supporting inclusive practices
• Advocating for equitable services and supports

Job Summary:


Under the direction of the Superintendent, the Director coordinates, supervises and evaluates special education programs and staff and works with general education, support staff, building administrators and parents to develop appropriate programs for special education students who receive services in PK-22. The position also supervises all District May direct other programs designed to expand access for at-risk learners. This position requires knowledge of Special Education and Early Childhood procedures and regulations, Multilingual education, and the ability to assume responsibility and work effectively under pressure while maintaining confidentiality, and the demonstration of strong interpersonal skills.

Essential Job Functions:


This list of essential job functions is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary. Depending upon individual assignment, the employee may perform all or a combination of several of the following duties:

• Oversight, coordination, support, and management of special programs for students Pre K- 22.
• Maintain positive working relations and communication with children and families of diverse population, socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds.
• Establishes collaborative professional relationships with principals, program directors and staff to coordinate MTSS systems of support in partnership with Teaching and Learning, ensuring that specialized instruction needs are met, including the use of assistive technologies.
• Implement systems for ongoing examination of summative and formative assessment measures, along with demographic, perception, and program data, to inform continuous improvement planning.
• Develops plan for and implements data collection and analysis of program effectiveness to provide regular program evaluative feedback with suggested plans for amelioration of any targeted areas of concern to Superintendent or designee.
• Compiles data from a variety of sources in accordance with district, state, and federal guidelines and regulations to create appropriate communications, reports, memoranda, resolutions, agreements, letters, and other written material for appropriate staff and stakeholders.
• Provides resources and services to customize data reports at the program, school and classroom level in order to inform continuous improvement planning and actionable intervention support.
• Regularly visits schools and other departments and develops consistent use of protocols that contribute to improved teaching and resource and curriculum alignment to ensure high quality learning for all students.
• Conduct performance evaluations of certificated and classified staff including development of plans of improvement or recommendations of disciplinary action or termination; provide or assure training as needed.
• Develop the program budget, policies and procedures which ensure that the district is in compliance with state and federal requirements, e.g. identification, assessment, placement and provision of services; plan for short- and long-term program needs.
• Prepare reports as required by district, OSPI and other agencies, including writing and monitoring IDEA grant and Safety Net applications.
• Identify and communicate staffing requirements of special education programs for certificated and classified staff based on student enrollment; recruit and recommend the selection and assignment of special education program staff.
• Monitor and communicate the importance of system-wide alignment of programs and practices with the district's policies and vision as well as federal and state requirements.
• Ensure transportation services are effectively delivered to students with special needs through partnership with the transportation department.
• Assist with management of the special education Extended School Year (ESY).
• Serve as a resource to parents of special needs students on topics such as Special Services program standards, requirements, and guidelines.
• Manage the alternative assessment and district assessments for special education students.
• Coordinate 504 accommodation process for applicable students in regular education.
• Serve as the Section 504 Coordinator for East Valley School District.
• Evaluate OT/PT and school psychologists.
• Meet and collaborate with parents, staff, and outside agencies using problem-solving methods to ensure that individual student programs are implemented appropriately.
• Engage in positive mutually beneficial contacts with local, state, and federal agencies and other civic and educational organizations to promote the vision of the district.
• Serve as a member of the District's leadership team, performing related duties consistent with the scope and intent of the position as assigned.
• Maintains complex and confidential electronic and physical files and records in accordance with the appropriate records retention timelines.
• Actively pursue training to increase professional competencies.
• Lead the evaluation and selection of out of district student placements when needed.
• Use technology for communication, presentations, training, and workshops.
• Effectively a MTSS approach and communicate with parents to ensure a positive learning environment.
• Participate in special projects as assigned and perform related duties and key responsibilities consistent with the scope and intent of the position.
• Maintain consistent presence at assigned worksite and regular work hours.
• Professionally interact with students, staff, and public.
• Comply with all district policies and procedures.
• Perform related duties as assigned.
• Provide leadership and support for Special Education within the Department of Teaching and Learning
• Collaborate with Executive Team and School Leadership teams to accelerate inclusive classroom practices that elevate positive development and learning for each student.
• Show leadership in the district to increase equitable student participation and performance in rigorous core instruction aligned with profile of a graduate goals
• Work within the department of special education and across departments to strengthen special education services and inclusionary practices.
• Provide instructional leadership and strategic planning to support district-wide implementation of Inclusionary Practices, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and Multi- Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) toward improved outcomes for students with and without disabilities.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders and partners, including students and families, to solicit and utilize feedback, and effectively communicate activities, resources, and results, with a priority of partnering with historically undervalued communities and individuals.
• Assist in recruitment and retention of highly qualified staff for special education programs.
• Developing staff, including guidance and coaching, monitoring of progress, growing of skills and knowledge, and addressing performance that exceeds expectations or does not meet expectations, and providing ongoing feedback.

Desired Skills:

• Ability to work independently, take initiative, organize projects and details, and make decisions efficiently.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in a pleasant, tactful and professional manner.
• Ability to research, analyze, and interpret data, rules and regulations, codes, statutes, and laws.
• Ability to exercise independent decision-making abilities, organize and manage multiple time sensitive tasks, and facilitate resolution of difficult and/or delicate parent, staff and community issues.
• Experience and ability to successfully manage the change process focused on organizational improvement, coherence and compliance with district, state, and federal requirements.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and sensitivity toward individuals and groups from all racial, ethnic, socio-economic, gender, disability and lifestyle backgrounds.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and cooperatively with other district administrators and program specialists to meet student needs.
• Skill in working with and providing guidance to district administrators and staff in alignment to the district values, vision and goals.
• Skill in developing, supervising, and evaluating staff.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Valid Washington State Administrator certificate.
• Valid Washington State teaching or ESA certificate.
• Master's degree from an accredited college or university with an emphasis in special education and educational leadership.
• Three (3) years of successful administrative experience in special education, either at the building or district level.
• Five (5) years of successful teaching/ESA experience in public schools and effective work with school age students with special needs.
• Prior experience coaching and training adult learners.
• Experience with evaluating both certificated and classified staff.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to function as a team player.
• Successful Washington State Patrol and Federal Bureau of Investigation Fingerprint Clearance.
• Valid Washington State driver's license or evidence of mobility.
• Proof of Immunization (if born 1/1/57 or later).
• I-9 Employment Eligibility in compliance with the Immigrations Reform and Control Act.
• Completion of all district-required training within thirty (30) calendar days from hire date.

Work Environment:


The work environment characteristics described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. This is an office job. The employee is confined to a work area; required to have precise control of fingers and hand movements; experiences constant interruptions and inflexible deadlines; must be able to work at a computer monitor for prolonged periods; and must be able to crouch, crawl, bend, kneel, and lift/move objects such as files, boxes, etc. The employee is required to deal with distraught and/or angry persons and is exposed to infectious diseases carried by children. The noise level in the work environment is acceptable to this particular environment and can vary depending upon daily activity but will remain within acceptable ranges.

Evaluation:


The Special Services Director will be evaluated periodically by the Superintendent or designee pursuant to the currently established district procedures and evaluation criteria. The process shall include an evaluation of the employee's performance of the above essential job functions.

Classification History:


Job description developed: May 2022


Job description updates: May 2026

East Valley School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination; Title IX Compliance Coordinator: Jane Stencel, Phone: View phone number on click.appcast.io, View email address on click.appcast.io; ADA/Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator: Jane Stencel, Phone: View phone number on click.appcast.io, View email address on click.appcast.io; Section 504 Coordinator: Heather Awbery, Phone: View phone number on click.appcast.io, View email address on click.appcast.io; Gender-Inclusive Schools Coordinator: Brian Talbott, Phone: View phone number on click.appcast.io, View email address on click.appcast.io, 3830 N. Sullivan Rd, Bldg. 1, Spokane Valley, WA 99216.