Program Director/Special Education Principal

We are seeking a visionary, clinical-first P rogram Director / Special Education Principal to pioneer and manage our high-acuity special education pilot program. In this role, you will transition our flagship separate day school settings and embedded district classrooms into elite centers of excellence. You will lead a multidisciplinary team of educators, Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), and therapists to bridge the gap between highly restrictive environments and neighborhood school reintegration.

Core Responsibilities Programmatic and Operational Oversight

• You will m anage the daily operations, overall budget, and contractual executions of a standalone 22,000 sq. ft. therapeutic hub or localized satellite school sites. District and LEA Liaison
• You will s erve as the primary administrative point of contact and bridge for the School District of Philadelphia (SDP) central office, Special Education Liaisons, and case managers. Regulatory Compliance
• You will m aintain a bulletproof legal compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Pennsylvania Code Chapter 14 regulations, ensuring zero timeline failures on IEPs and re-evaluations. Clinical-Instructional Leadership
• You will c onduct routine instructional walkthroughs and coordinate with on-site BCBAs and school psychologists to implement Data-Based Individualization (DBI) and progress tracking. Staff Supervision and Development
• You will d irectly supervise, vet, and retain a high-performing multidisciplinary platoon of special education teachers, registered behavior technicians (RBTs), and speech/OT/PT specialists. Stakeholder Collaboration
• You will c oordinate interagency treatment pathways with Philadelphia Community Behavioral Health (CBH), child welfare systems (DHS), and the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR). Position Qualifications Required Certification
• Must hold a valid Pennsylvania Principal K-12 certificate or an active PDE Administrative I/II certification. Leadership Experience
• A m inimum of 10+ years of documented, successful leadership within high-acuity Special Education programs, with a heavy emphasis on Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) step-down transitions. Expertise
• Deep working knowledge of Pennsylvania special education statutes, data-driven visual tracking tools (such as Infinite Campus, Central. Reach, and EasyIEP), and the Standards Aligned System (SAS). Interpersonal Mastery
• Exceptional communication skills optimized for multi-stakeholder navigation, interest-based parent mediation, and presenting analytical growth trajectories to senior district executives. Mandatory Security and Compliance Filters Before entering a classroom space or interacting with a district student, you must pass our zero-variance, clear-to-work background check verification suite: Act 34
• Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History Record Check Act 151
• Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance Act 114
• Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal History Check Act 168
• Sexual Misconduct/Abuse Disclosure Releases from all past employers Act 126
• Mandated Reporter Training Certificate completion Salary $80,000 - $100,000 per year