SEZP Associate Principal for Special Education

Location: School-based (1 or more locations)

Full Time Start Date: Rolling

Salary: $94,000+, commensurate with experience

About the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership:

While Massachusetts is consistently ranked as one of the top states for education results in the country, we have one of the highest and most persistent opportunity gaps. The Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership (SEZP) - established in 2015 as a collaboration between Springfield Public Schools (SPS), the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and the Springfield Education Association (SEA) – seeks to improve the longitudinal life outcomes of the more than 5,000 students in our 16 middle and high schools.

As a “zone” of schools within the city of Springfield, SEZP’s approach draws on a deep and embedded partnership with the school district and local teachers’ union, while harnessing the flexibility and innovation found in autonomous school models. As a result, each school within SEZP is accorded significant school-based autonomies - in curriculum, talent, calendar, schedule, and budget – while being held accountable for realizing achievement gains for historically marginalized students. In all of our work, SEZP is in pursuit of equity and anti-racism acknowledging the systemic oppression our students and families encounter daily and working to disrupt these provision gaps urgently and courageously.

Job Details

The Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership (SEZP) is committed to building anti-racist schools by ensuring the work of equity is fully inclusive of our students with disabilities and their families across all schools. Ensuring maximum equity and high expectations will drive change from within our schools by positioning leaders, special educators, MTSS teams, families, and students as experts, advocates, visionaries, and activists in anti-racism, equity, and empowerment. The SEZP calls upon skilled and passionate educators to support the development and evolution of systems, supports, oversight, and monitoring of Specialized Services. 

The Associate Principal for Special Education - under the direction of SEZP’s Chief of Student Support & Services and the guidance of the Building Principal - will assist with the organization and management of all Special Education processes, including the processing of referrals, scheduling of IEP meetings, annual reviews, and any other activities related to IEP and Special Education services. Responsibilities include developing/monitoring service models to meet the needs of students with disabilities, ensuring due process to parents, coordinating and ensuring compliance with Section 504 plans, and providing guidance/support services to school staff as they design and implement processes to be in compliance with federal and state special education laws and regulations. 

Essential Responsibilities:

• Acts as liaison between teachers, administrators, parents, community agencies, and private schools
• Promptly responds to parent questions and concerns
• Monitors the implementation of individualized education programs (IEPs) for students with disabilities through observation, maintenance of compliance logs, and monitoring of annual reviews and reevaluations
• Participates in the selection, supervision, observation, and evaluation of teachers, substitute teachers, related service providers, and other staff in designated programs as directed
• Performs related duties as assigned by the Chief of Student Support & Services and the Building Principal 

Areas of Accountability:

• Use of data to advise and assist in the implementation of effective instructional program models and compliance indicators in schools
• Collaboration with all members of the SEZP Team, district partners, Principals, and other partners to ensure seamless services for students with disabilities and students at risk of being identified as a student with a disability
• Assisting in the implementation of effective training for Special Education teachers, as measured by key performance indicators
• Assisting in ensuring high-quality IEPs and compliance with federal/state regulations and SEZP guidelines
• Coordinates and conducts the IEP process
• Assists in professional learning communities and SEZP Special Education leadership teams designed to support the quality and compliance initiatives of the SEZP
• Provide job-embedded professional development that facilitates change in instructional practices of special education and general education teachers that will enable educators to diagnose student’s needs more analytically; plan more productively, and teach more effectively
• Assisting building administration with behavior intervention and monitoring discipline of students with disabilities and students at risk of being identified as a student with a disability

Position Qualifications

• At least five (5) years appropriate teaching and administrative experience preferred
• Experience monitoring and evaluating progress and response to treatments/services for students with disabilities and significant provision gaps preferred
• Appropriate educator license (e.g. Principal / Assistant Principal, Special Education Administrator) from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education preferred
• Experience as an active anti-racist or advocate for equity preferred
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred
• Bachelor’s degree required

If you meet some of the qualifications above, we encourage you to apply or reach out for more information. We know that historically marginalized groups – including people of color, women, people from working class backgrounds, and people who identify as LGBTQ – are less likely to apply unless and until they meet every requirement for a job. Therefore, we strongly encourage applications from educators with these identities or who are members of other marginalized communities. 

We encourage you to reach out to Kisha Morgan at kmorgan@springfieldempowerment.org if you have questions about the role or your qualifications. We are happy to help you feel ready to apply!

Benefits

Selection as the Associate Principal for Special Education recognizes an individual for their outstanding vision, leadership capacity, and commitment to anti-racist school communities. The salary range will be between $94,000 - $121,000, commensurate with experience. 

Application Process

The positions will be filled on a rolling basis and applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. Please contact Kisha (kmorgan@springfieldempowerment.org) or SEZP@springfieldempowerment.org with any questions.

Nondiscrimination Statement

The Springfield Public Schools does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, age, disability or military service or marital status. The Springfield Public Schools does not discriminate in admission to, access or treatment in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation, disability or homelessness.

Title IX Notice of Nondiscrimination

Springfield Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex in admission, administration of its educational programs or activities or employment. Springfield Public Schools is required by Title IX and its implementing regulations at 34 C.F.R. Part 106 not to discrimination on the basis of sex in admission, administration of its educational programs or activities or employment. The Senior Administrator of Human Resources, Kathleen O’Sullivan, Springfield Public Schools, 1550 Main St. Springfield MA, 011103, 413-787-7100, ext. 55428, has been designated as the employee responsible for coordinating Springfield Public Schools efforts to comply with and carry out its responsibilities under Title IX. Inquiries concerning the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations at 34 C.F.R. Part 106 to Springfield Public Schools may be referred to Kathleen O’Sullivan or to U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 400 Maryland Ave., SW Washington, DC 20202-1100, telephone 800-421-3481.