Special Education Coordinator (SY 25-26)

Who We Are

District of Columbia International School (DCI) is a public charter school serving over 1600 racially and economically diverse students in grades 6-12 from across the District of Columbia. We aim to provide our students with a world-class education that empowers them to follow their passions and change the world. DCI’s education centers on an International Baccalaureate curriculum, advanced language learning in Chinese, Spanish, and French, and a culture focused on student agency supported by 1:1 technology.

Position Overview: DCI is hiring a full-time Special Education Coordinator. The Special Education Coordinator is responsible for assisting school leadership in special education compliance and coordinating with School Counselors, Psychologists and the Director of Student Support to ensure the delivery of services to students with exceptional learning needs at DCI. 

Salary Range:  $69,966 - $116,323 (Starting salary is determined by education and years of relevant experience) 

Qualifications: 

• A Master's Degree in Special Education is preferred (Bachelor's Degree and deep knowledge of special education required).


• Previous experience as an effective special education teacher and/or learning support teacher is required.


• Previous experience in special education case management is required.


• Must have demonstrated commitment to equity and continuous improvement.


• Must possess strong analytical, planning, and problem-solving skills, and plan, implement and monitor work independently as a leader and as part of a team.


• Must have experience in backward planning and professional development and/or coaching.


• Must have excellent oral and written communication skills, and superior interpersonal skills to be able to build strong working relationships with teachers, school leaders, students and families, and other key stakeholders. 


• Previous experience as a teacher leader or supervisor of special education teachers is preferred. 


• Knowledge and experience with differentiating and scaffolding instruction for students with IEPs required.


• Experience with 1:1 technology preferred


• Experience teaching or leading in an IB setting is preferred. 

Essential Attributes:

The Special Education Coordinator will work closely with the school leadership team and special education teaching team in the development and improvement of our special education program to ensure special education bilingual students are successful in our IB for all, language immersion 6-12 school. The Special Education Coordinator is responsible for co-developing, along with the Student Support team and leaders, DCI’s special education programming and strategic plan with clear objectives and an annual work plan. The work will be focused in six areas:

• Supervising and Coaching the Special Education Teachers

• Regularly meet with the special education team to implement strategic plan, learn collaboratively, and problem solve.


• Supervise special education teachers to ensure consistency and quality of special education instruction and services.


• Coach special education teachers based on coaching objectives and research-based practices.

• Curriculum and Instruction

• Coordinate the revision and systematization of curriculum for special education classes, in partnership with the Student Support team and the Director of Student Support


• Systematize, support, and monitor special education co-teaching partnerships and ensure best practices, in partnership with the Student Support team and the Director of Student Support.


• Research and procurement of instructional materials/platforms that support special education instruction.

• Case Management

• Coordinate and supervise special education case management, including the development of IEPs and 504 plans for students, preparation for and facilitation of IEP meetings.


• Ensure compliance with federal and local disability law, monitoring student progress, in partnership with the Student Support team and the Director of Student Support.


• Communicate and partner with families to ensure seamlessness of service delivery and to problem-solve when issues arise.


• Ensure asset-based approach to case management, including building on students’ strength and ensuring student voice and choices are included.

• Data, Assessment and Compliance

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  • Support and monitor the use of special education accommodations in testing and during instruction, in partnership with the Student Support team and the Director of Student Support.
  
  
  • Work closely with DCI Data and Assessment Coordinator to plan and supervise standardized testing for special education students, in partnership with the Student Support team and the Director of Student Support.
  
  
  • Analyze and utilize data formative, summative, standardized assessment data to improve instruction, co-teaching, case management, interventions, and professional development.
  
  
  • Keep current on all OSSE and federal disability regulations and initiatives, and ensure DCI complies with all regulations, in partnership with the student support team and the Director of Student Support.
  
  
  
  

• Professional Development and Coaching 

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  • Deliver school-wide and department-specific professional development on special education strategies, in collaboration with the Student Support team, other instructional leaders, and external partners.
  
  
  • Advise teachers on modifying/accommodating curriculum for special education students.
  
  
  
  

• Communication and Partnerships 

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  • Partner with leaders and teachers to ensure special education students are successfully included in all aspects of DCI programming and initiatives (IB for all, field trips, scheduling formation and revision, testing, etc) and the school can achieve its IB for all vision with this community of students.
  
  
  • Partner with related service providers to ensure student services are successfully implemented, in partnership with the Student Support team and the Director of Student Support.
  
  
  
  

Faculty and Staff Development/Benefits: DCI is committed to the principles of servant leadership and to providing faculty and staff with the resources and training they need to provide an excellent education experience for every student and family. 

• We have a benefits package that includes health and disability insurance and paid leave.  


• We offer teachers daily planning time, professional development, and reasonable class sizes.


• Teachers and staff have the appropriate technology and support to do their work.

DC International School is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse faculty and staff committed to teaching and working in a multicultural and multilingual environment.