Elementary School Special Education Coordinator

About Leaders In Our Neighborhood Charter School:

Leaders In Our Neighborhood (LION) Charter School’s mission is to develop the character of each student. We unite students, families, and staff in helping each individual achieve their best academically, and in sports, the arts, and service to the community. We believe that passion for learning, self-discovery, leadership, and social conscience are the foundation for success in college and fulfillment in life.

We believe that all children, regardless of their neighborhood, race, or income, are gifted with special talents to offer the world, and that school is a place for students to develop the skills and mindsets needed to become their best selves. Furthermore, we assert that human beings are more complex than annual data points, and that the fulfillment of a person’s life correlates not simply to test scores, but even more so to their relationships with others and the content of their character. With our family partnership and character approach model, we focus on helping students develop their character and the skills they need for life through rigorous academics, self-discovery, and family involvement.

Position Summary:

LION Charter School seeks a Special Education Coordinator to lead special education services at our elementary school. The Coordinator makes sure every student with an IEP or 504 plan receives the services and instruction they are entitled to, keeps the school in compliance with federal, state and NYC requirements, and coaches teachers to deliver strong inclusive instruction. This is a full-time, on-site role for the 2026–27 school year, reporting to the Elementary School Principal.

Core Responsibilities & Essential Duties (included but not limited to):

• Maintain accurate elementary IEP and Section 504 rosters within established schoolwide tracking systems, including services, accommodations, annual review dates, reevaluation dates, and outstanding action items.
• Review incoming students’ available IEP and Section 504 records through established enrollment procedures; coordinate with admissions and the Special Education Director to identify missing documentation and prepare for implementation.
• Coordinate school preparation for and participation in CSE meetings, including gathering teacher and provider input, reviewing required documentation, supporting family participation, and tracking follow-up actions.
• Review teacher and provider-prepared present levels, proposed IEP goals, and goal progress reports for completion, clarity, and alignment with student needs and supporting data; provide feedback in collaboration with the Special Education Director.
• Maintain accurate, current, and audit-ready documentation in SESIS and LION’s internal tracking systems; provide student-level information needed for reporting to the Special Education Director and data team.
• Build the service schedule for ICT, SETSS, ENL, and related services, and confirm every mandated session happens and is logged.
• Coordinate Behavior Intervention Plans, MTSS/RTI referrals and ENL supports for multilingual learners with IEPs
• Serve as the primary elementary contact for routine IEP and Section 504 coordination and family questions; facilitate communication with teachers, providers, the Special Education Director, and CSE as appropriate
• Partner with the Principal and Special Education Director to identify elementary program needs, inform scheduling and staffing decisions, and review implementation, compliance concerns, and student progress within schoolwide special education procedures
• Provide day-to-day implementation support to special education teachers and paraprofessionals and coordinate with related service providers; communicate concerns to the appropriate supervisor and Special Education Director
• Support whole school systems such as arrival, dismissal, lunch and recess.

Required Qualifications & Skills:

• Bachelor's degree
• NYS certification in Students with Disabilities (or eligibility to obtain it)
• 2+ years teaching students with disabilities, ideally in an urban elementary school
• Working knowledge of IDEA, Section 504, NYS Part 200 and NYC CSE processes, including writing IEPs
• Strong organization and follow-through on deadlines, schedules and records
• Clear, warm communication with families, teachers and service providers

Preferred Experience:

• Master's degree in Special Education or a related field
• Experience coordinating special education services or coaching teachers, ideally in a charter school
• Experience with SESIS and the Special Education Per Pupil Invoice
• Bilingual in English and Spanish

All compensation is aligned with our LION pay scale. Salary is commensurate with experience, education, and certification (Teacher positions only). While the posted range reflects the anticipated compensation, the exact compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors, including qualifications and internal equity.

Disclaimer: This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the position. The organization reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other responsibilities as necessary at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with organizational needs.