Associate Director- Special Education

Position Overview

The Meliora School seeks a knowledgeable, organized, and collaborative Associate Director- Special Education to provide specialized instruction and support the implementation of a compliant, effective special education program.

The Associate Director of Specialized Services is a full-time leadership position responsible for supporting the oversight, coordination, and implementation of specialized services at The Meliora School. Working collaboratively with the Director of Specialized Services, Learning Guides, families, and related service providers, the Associate Director will support program operations, ensure compliance with federal and state regulations, monitor required timelines, and promote the effective implementation of individualized supports and services for learners. The role also includes providing guidance to staff, supporting continuous program improvement, and strengthening systems that promote equitable access and learner success.

Candidates must have at least 3–5 years of progressively responsible experience in special education, including experience in program coordination, IEP oversight, compliance monitoring, staff support, and service delivery management. Prior experience in a special education leadership or administrative role is strongly preferred.

The ideal candidate demonstrates strong leadership, sound judgment, organizational effectiveness, and a comprehensive understanding of federal and state special education requirements. This individual will work collaboratively with the Director of Specialized Services to oversee daily program operations, strengthen compliance systems, support staff development, and ensure the consistent implementation of individualized services. At The Meliora School, the Associate Director will play a key role in advancing inclusive practices, promoting learner success, and maintaining high standards of program quality and accountability.

Specially Designed Instruction

The Special Education Coordinator will:

• Plan and deliver specially designed instruction aligned with learners’ IEP goals and identified needs.
• Provide instruction through co-teaching, small groups, individual support, and other service arrangements specified in learners’ IEPs.
• Adapt instructional methods, materials, pacing, and supports while maintaining access to grade-level content.
• Teach academic, organizational, executive functioning, and self-advocacy skills based on individual needs.
• Collaborate with Learning Guides to plan accessible lessons and implement accommodations and modifications.
• Use explicit instruction, modeling, guided practice, scaffolding, and frequent feedback.
• Support learners in applying skills across classrooms and increasingly managing their own learning.
• Implement behavioral supports and intervention plans in collaboration with appropriate staff.

IEP Coordination and Compliance Support

The coordinator will:

• Maintain a tracking system for annual IEP reviews, reevaluations, evaluations, progress reports, and other required deadlines.
• Coordinate meeting schedules, invitations, required participants, and preparation of relevant documents.
• Support the development of individualized IEPs with clear present levels, measurable goals, services, accommodations, and progress-monitoring procedures.
• Review documents for completeness, accuracy, and consistency before finalization.
• Support required processes for notices, consent, procedural safeguards, and documentation under the direction of the Director of Specialized Services.
• Maintain organized, confidential special education records in school-designated systems.
• Support review of incoming records and coordination of services for transferring learners.
• Track outstanding documents and follow up with staff and providers to support timely completion.
• Identify potential compliance concerns promptly and bring them to the Director of Specialized Services for resolution.
• Assist with internal file reviews, monitoring requests, corrective actions, and preparation of reporting information.

IEP Implementation and Service Monitoring

The coordinator will:

• Ensure staff have access to the information needed to implement each learner’s IEP while maintaining confidentiality.
• Help Learning Guides understand accommodations, modifications, service arrangements, and relevant instructional supports.
• Maintain service schedules and support accurate documentation of services delivered.
• Review service records and communicate missed services or scheduling concerns to the Director of Specialized Services.
• Coordinate with related service providers to support scheduling, communication, and documentation.
• Monitor whether classroom supports are implemented consistently and help resolve barriers.
• Support appropriate assessment accommodations and coordinate with school testing staff.
• Help maintain continuity of support during staff absences, schedule changes, and learner transitions.

Progress Monitoring and Assessment

The coordinator will:

• Establish practical systems for collecting data on IEP goals.
• Gather baseline information and monitor progress using appropriate measures.
• Maintain accurate instructional records, work samples, and progress-monitoring data.
• Prepare clear progress reports according to each learner’s IEP reporting schedule.
• Analyze data with staff to identify effective strategies and areas requiring adjustment.
• Contribute observations and instructional evidence to evaluation and reevaluation processes.
• Help teams distinguish between accommodations, modifications, interventions, and specially designed instruction.
• Support timely team review when learners are not making expected progress.

Collaboration and Staff Support

The coordinator will:

• Meet regularly with the Director of Specialized Services to review instructional priorities, service delivery, deadlines, and concerns.
• Collaborate with Learning Guides to plan instruction and review learner progress.
• Model practical strategies for differentiation, accessible instruction, executive functioning, and positive behavioral support.
• Provide staff with clear tools such as accommodation summaries, data-collection templates, and implementation checklists.
• Support onboarding of staff who serve learners with disabilities.
• Collaborate with multilingual learner staff and other specialists to address overlapping needs.
• Participate in learner support meetings and contribute relevant data without substituting intervention processes for required special education procedures.

Family Partnership and Learner Advocacy

The coordinator will:

• Communicate proactively and respectfully with families about progress, services, meetings, and next steps.
• Help families understand instructional goals and opportunities to support learning.
• Ensure family input is documented and considered in team discussions.
• Prepare learners to participate meaningfully in their IEP meetings as developmentally appropriate.
• Teach learners to understand their strengths, describe needed supports, and practice self-advocacy.
• Support transitions between grades and preparation for high school.
• Elevate family concerns promptly and collaborate with leadership on follow-through.

Mastery-Based Learning and Inclusion

The coordinator will:

• Connect specialized instruction to Meliora’s mastery-based and personalized learning model.
• Help learners set goals, monitor progress, reflect on feedback, and demonstrate learning in accessible ways.
• Collaborate with staff to provide meaningful access to projects, exhibitions, assessments, and school activities.
• Support appropriate scaffolds while developing learner independence and access to challenging content.
• Promote a school culture grounded in belonging, dignity, high expectations, and individualized support.

School Community Responsibilities

The coordinator will:

• Serve as an advisor, as assigned, supporting learner organization, goal-setting, reflection, and social-emotional growth.
• Participate in professional learning, family conferences, staff meetings, and school events.
• Maintain professional confidentiality and accurate, timely documentation.
• Fulfill assigned supervision duties consistent with teaching and coordination responsibilities.
• Contribute to Meliora’s commitment to always pursue better.

Required Qualifications

• MastersMasteres degree in special education or a related field.
• Valid Georgia special education teaching certification appropriate to the assignment, or eligibility to obtain it before employment begins.
• 3-5 years of experience in a special education coordinator role, including responsibility for IEP oversight, compliance monitoring, and service coordination.
• Experience providing specially designed instruction to learners with disabilities.
• Experience developing and implementing IEPs, monitoring goals, and maintaining special education documentation.
• Working knowledge of IDEA, applicable Georgia special education requirements, and confidentiality obligations.
• Ability to manage multiple timelines, records, meetings, and instructional responsibilities.
• Ability to use learner data to guide instruction and support team decisions.
• Strong written communication, collaboration, organization, and follow-through.
• Commitment to inclusive practices, learner independence, and family partnership.
• Ability to meet applicable employment and background-check requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in special education or a related field.
• Experience supporting special education compliance in a Georgia public school.
• Experience teaching middle school learners and supporting transitions to high school.
• Experience with co-teaching, executive functioning instruction, and positive behavioral supports.
• Familiarity with Infinite Campus and electronic IEP management systems.
• Experience preparing for file reviews, monitoring, or audits.
• Experience in a personalized or mastery-based learning environment.

Compensation

Salary: Compensation: Commensurate with experience.