Assistant Superintendent of Special Education Programs - Austin Independent School District, Au

Position Description for Austin Independent School District – Assistant Superintendent of Special Education Programs

The Austin Independent School District, Austin, Texas is seeking a highly qualified Assistant Superintendent of Special Education Programs to lead the district and support its mission of ensuring success for all students.

McPherson & Jacobson, L.L.C., Executive Recruitment and Development are engaged as consultants in a search for outstanding candidates. They will assist the school district in identifying and screening the candidates.

Enrollment: 73,000 students

Location: Austin, Texas

Salary: Regionally competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

This position requires bold leadership and experience in supporting and transforming system-wide initiatives in support of the improvement of student outcomes, system-wide practices, and effective program implementation. The incumbent must possess a strong foundation that is current on instructional and system leadership techniques and programs throughout the state and nation, incorporating findings, best practices, and recommendations into the local organization, particularly on behalf of students receiving special education services or 504 supports.

Incumbent must have thorough knowledge of the Texas Education Code’s educational requirements; thorough understanding of curriculum and instruction;
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the legal framework for special education supports; and other student-related services. Further, the incumbent must demonstrate committed and innovative leadership and experiences in transforming such knowledge into scalable system improvements and initiatives leading to high-quality inclusive educational programs and experiences for students with disabilities.

This position requires the incumbent to have the ability to use computer technology to identify patterns, strengths, and growth areas and transfer those findings and patterns into actionable metrics and improvement planning. The incumbent should also possess exceptional problem-solving and consensus-building expertise to support critical, strategic planning and initiative implementation in alignment with the District’s needs by refining, augmenting, and/or strengthening actions and practices in areas such as the AISD Strategic Plan for Special Education, overall campus and departmental processes/expectations, and the Texas Education Agency’s Agreed Order with AISD.

Incumbents must exhibit outstanding organizational abilities and must be able to demonstrate excellent oral, written communication, and human relations skills. The ability to delegate responsibilities effectively and successfully lead a team of professionals is of critical importance.

This position requires knowledge of content, pedagogy, and cross-functional best practices in state and national standards for grades K-12, specifically in support of recommendations for students receiving high-quality services and support through general education with special education services. Incumbents must model personal responsibility and possess a sustained focus on implementing and continuously improving programs with strong student outcomes. The employee in this position must be able to read, write, and speak/communicate in English in order to receive and to provide work-related information in a timely manner to other employees, supervisors, principals, school personnel, volunteers and when appropriate, visitors and students.

A Master’s degree from an accredited college or university with an emphasis in curriculum, instruction, and/or educational leadership is required. A Doctorate degree is highly preferred. A minimum of three (3) years of supervisory experience is required. A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience at the campus level and in central administration is required. Experience at the executive District level supervising principals and/or a Districtwide department(s) is required.

A valid Texas Special Education certification is preferred. Fluency in…