Director of Intensive Supports (26-27)

Director of Intensive Supports

Mission:

The National Director of Intensive Supports will oversee and design Special Education Intensive Programming for IDEA Public Schools to ensure maximum student achievement for our students with intensive individual student plans.  The National Director of Intensive Supports will directly manage National Special Education Instructional employees.  She will train, develop and coach on model regional special programs personnel across state of Texas including Midland according to priority. She will build collaborative business partnerships between national support personnel and all regional special programs directors and coaches to ensure IDEA’s special education instructional model is being implemented.  Additionally, she will create, develop and create systems of accountability for intensive support programs such as special education transition, 18+ programming, K-12 intensive support classroom initiatives across the organization. 

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position supervises one National Special Education Coach focused on the RISE and 18+ Programs. 

Location:

This is a full-time position based in Texas, with preference given to candidates who live in Austin, El Paso, Houston, Permian Basin (Midland/Odessa), Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, and Tarrant County (Fort Worth), or who are willing to relocate.

Travel Expectations:    

Up to 25% at the busiest times of the year outside of region travel and 25-50% within region travel 

What You’ll Do – Accountabilities

Essential Duties:

• Design and implement a comprehensive district-wide framework for RISE (self-contained K–12) and 18+ programs, ensuring alignment with academic, social-emotional, and post-secondary readiness goals.
• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the VP of Special Programs, Managing Director of Special Education, and other organizational leaders — shaping vision, strategy, and alignment across departments 
• Directly manage and coach the National Special Education Coach overseeing RISE and 18+ programs; develop regional special programs directors and coaches through modeling, feedback, and professional development 
• Lead the curriculum design, development, and implementation of RISE and 18+ programs to build TEKS-aligned instruction focused on foundational academics, independent living, and post-secondary readiness 
• Create and maintain systems of accountability for intensive support programs (transition, vocational, and post-secondary), ensuring alignment to IDEA’s instructional model and consistent quality across regions 
• Prepare and contribute to reports, proposals, and presentations on Special Education outcomes and initiatives to inform leadership and guide continuous improvement 
• Build partnerships with post-secondary and vocational organizations to expand transition pathways and real-world opportunities for students with significant disabilities 

Additional Duties and Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with National Departments to strategize, develop products, create implementation processes, and design trainings for senior leaders, campus leaders, and teachers across the organization
• Communicate effectively with internal and external audiences regarding instructional progress, program priorities, resources, and training requirements
• Prepare and contribute to reports, proposals, briefings, and responses related to Special Education functional or organizational data
• Content coach and develop Regional Special Programs directors and coaches of high priority, ensuring alignment with the on-model Special Education instructional curriculum, strategies, and procedures
• Coordinate and interact with leaders within the VP of Special Programs’ management line — including Managing Directors/Directors and compliance roles — serving as a trusted advisor and sounding board
• Serve as a liaison between national support personnel and regional special programs staff to ensure consistent implementation of IDEA’s instructional model
• Support professional development through coaching cycles and training sessions aligned with IDEA’s coaching model.
• Participate in cross-functional initiatives that enhance special education transition, 18+ programming, and K–12 intensive support systems.

Knowledge and Skills – Competencies

• Make Strategic Decisions: This team member embodies IDEA’s mission and values in decision-making, balancing bold vision with ethical and operational rigor. They establish governance frameworks that ensure consistency and accountability organization-wide, while applying systems thinking to break down silos and drive data-informed continuous improvement.

• Manage Work and Teams: This team member leads cross-functional coordination to align efforts with strategic goals, optimizing resource use and minimizing silos. They build accountability frameworks, monitor key performance indicators to guide adjustments, and mentor emerging leaders, while implementing scalable systems that enhance efficiency and team effectiveness. 

• Grow Self and Others: This team member identifies development needs across multiple groups and integrates them into broader strategic plans. They create structures that support ongoing growth, engage in succession planning, and continuously refine development strategies based on outcomes and data. Through this work, they foster a culture where continuous learning is a core part of daily work and leadership. 

• Build a Culture of Trust:  This team member exemplifies IDEA’s values and ethical standards through integrity, transparency, and responsible stewardship. By openly sharing decision rationale and fostering curiosity and inclusion, they build trust across the organization and create a culture where diverse perspectives are valued. 

• Communicate Deliberately: This team member sets and upholds communication standards across the organization, ensuring clarity and trust, especially during times of change or crisis. They lead major initiatives with strategic, context-rich messaging, proactively shaping narratives that address challenges, foster resilience, and align stakeholder perception with organizational impact. 

Additional Skills:

Knowledge of:

• IDEA 2004 laws and regulations- Job requires a high level of understanding of Special Education laws and regulations
• Section 504 laws and regulations- Job requires a high level of understanding of Section 504 laws and regulations
• Graduation Requirements- job requires a high level of understanding of graduation requirements for students in special education
• Instructional coaching knowledge-to coach regional staff through coaching cycles to increase the impact of their influence during campus visits and creation of professional development aligned to our coaching model.

Demonstrates:

• Emotional Intelligence- Job requires a high level of emotional intelligence for interacting with the VP and colleagues
• Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical
• Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities, challenges, and share opinions and direction without hesitation
• Stress Tolerance — Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations
• Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations
• Achievement/Effort — Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks
• Independence — Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done
• Self-Control — Job requires maintaining composure and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in difficult situations
• Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks
• Dependability/Consistency- Job requires timely delivery on all commitments.
• Anticipatory- Job requires thinking ahead and preparing for likely next steps or outcomes
• Proven experience translating data and metrics to action
• Demonstrable experience managing high-profile projects
• Robust written and verbal communication portfolio
• Must have demonstrated experience in strategy, analysis, project management, and interacting/influencing leaders 

Required experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• EC-12 Special Education Teacher Certification
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in Special Education
• Technology: High level of proficiency with Office 365 suite
  
   

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree preferred 

Physical Requirements:

• Sitting for extended periods of time
• Lifting items weighing 20 lbs. or less
• Sedentary office environment
• Occasional exposure to outside elements 

What We Offer:

Compensation & Benefits:

Salaries for people entering this role typically fall between $98,200 and $115,900, commensurate with relevant experience and qualifications and in alignment with internal equity. This role is also eligible for performance pay based on organizational performance and goal attainment.

Additionally, we offer medical, dental, and vision plans, disability, life insurance, parenting benefits, flexible spending account options, generous vacation time, referral bonuses, professional development, and a 403(b) plan. You can find more information about our benefits at https://ideapublicschools.org/careers/benefits/.

* IDEA may offer a relocation stipend to defray the cost of moving for this role, if applicable.

Application process:

Submit your application online through Jobvite. Please note that applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Learn more about IDEA 

At IDEA the Staff Experience Team uses our Core Values to promote human connection and a culture of integrity, respect, and belonging for all Team and Family members.  Learn more about our Commitment to Core Values here: https://ideapublicschools.org/our-story/#core-values