Position Overview 

The Director of Special Populations is responsible for leading the strategic vision, implementation, and continuous improvement of inclusive academic, intervention, compliance, and student support systems for multilingual learners and students with disabilities across KIPP St. Louis.  This leader ensures compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations while driving inclusive, high-impact programming that increases student achievement, access, and equity outcomes.

This leader collaborates with school leaders and coaches special populations team members to ensure high-quality service delivery, effective intervention practices, and rigorous, student-centered supports that improve achievement and long-term student success in the least restrictive environment.

Who we are:

KIPP St. Louis is a part of a national network of free, open-enrollment, public charter schools offering a choice to families and children in St. Louis city. As the largest charter school system in the city, we are driven and committed to our mission and vision.

Mission: Together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world.

Vision: Every child grows up free to create the future they want for themselves and their communities.

KIPP St. Louis currently educates over 2,000 students and boasts hundreds of alumni. Today, our St. Louis network consists of three elementary schools, two middle schools, and a high school. 

What makes KIPP St. Louis unique?

We believe that our educators are proving what's possible in urban education each and every day, by inspiring students, and helping them discover the joy of learning. KIPP schools support our educators to help students achieve academic excellence, building the skills and confidence they need to succeed.  

Together, we are raising the bar for every student, every day.

Position type: Full time, exempt, 12 Month    

Reporting & Collaboration​

• Direct Manager: VP of Academics & Instruction 

• Direct Reports: Assistant Manager of Special Education

• Supports:

  • Manager of Special Education

  • Special Education Coordinators

  • ESOL Teachers

  • Related Service Providers

  • Paraprofessionals

  • Additional Special Populations Team Members

• Key Collaborators: 

  • School Leaders

  • Academic Team

  • Student Services Team

  • School Psychologists

  • Operations Team

  • Families and Community Partners

  • Compliance and State Agencies

Autonomy & Decision Making:​

• The Director of Special Populations exercises significant independent judgment in the implementation, oversight, and continuous improvement of special populations programming across the network. This role independently leads compliance systems, staffing recommendations, programmatic improvements, instructional supports, and strategic planning aligned to organizational priorities and legal requirements.

• The Director is expected to proactively identify challenges, recommend solutions, and influence network-wide practices that improve outcomes for multilingual learners and students with disabilities.

Inputs: What will I be doing in my day to day work?

Program Leadership & Compliance Oversight:

• Lead the strategic design, implementation, and continuous improvement of special populations systems to ensure strong academic outcomes, equitable access, and high-quality service delivery for multilingual learners and students with disabilities across KIPP St. Louis.

• Ensure full compliance with IDEA, Section 504, Title III, Child Find, FAPE, LRE, and all federal, state, and local requirements related to special education and multilingual learner programming.

• Oversee the identification, evaluation, placement, accommodations, progress monitoring, and delivery of services to ensure students receive rigorous, standards-aligned instruction and appropriate supports in the least restrictive environment.

• Develop and monitor network-wide systems for MTSS alignment, intervention effectiveness, inclusion practices, and specialized instructional supports to improve student achievement and access to grade-level learning.

• Lead internal compliance audits, data reviews, and quality assurance processes to ensure timely completion of IEPs, evaluations, manifestation determinations, ACCESS testing, transition planning, and all required documentation.

• Serve as the LEA representative during IEP meetings, hearings, and compliance-related proceedings while proactively mitigating compliance risks and supporting strong family partnership practices.

• Monitor and strengthen student information systems, compliance platforms, and service tracking systems to ensure accurate reporting, documentation integrity, and data-driven decision making across schools.

Instructional & Programmatic Excellence:

• Lead the development and execution of rigorous, inclusive instructional models that ensure multilingual learners and students with disabilities consistently access grade-level content, high-quality instruction, and meaningful intervention supports.

• Partner with school leaders, instructional leaders, and regional academic teams to strengthen Tier I instruction, MTSS implementation, intervention systems, and inclusive practices across all schools.

• Coach leaders and educators on differentiated instruction, specially designed instruction, accommodations, co-teaching, progress monitoring, and data-driven intervention planning to improve student outcomes.

• Develop systems to monitor the effectiveness of service delivery, intervention implementation, and instructional supports through walkthroughs, data analysis, student work review, and progress monitoring cycles.

• Analyze academic, behavioral, language acquisition, and intervention data to identify trends, gaps, and root causes, and lead responsive action planning to accelerate achievement for special populations.

• Ensure accommodations, modifications, and intervention supports maintain instructional rigor and align to grade-level standards, curriculum expectations, and organizational priorities.

Strategic Leadership:

• Lead the development of network-wide inclusion and intervention models aligned to rigorous Tier I instruction. 

• Ensure accommodations and modifications preserve grade-level rigor and access to core content.

• Partner with academic leaders to align curriculum, assessments, intervention systems, and progress monitoring practices for special populations.

• Develop systems for monitoring the effectiveness of specialized instruction through walkthroughs, data analysis, and coaching cycles.

• Support schools in implementing MTSS systems aligned to academic and behavioral intervention frameworks.

• Lead calibration around high-quality specially designed instruction and multilingual learner supports. 

Outcomes: What will I be evaluated on?

Accountability & Outcomes for Students:

• Compliance with all federal, state, and local SPED/ELL requirements

• Increased proficiency and growth outcomes for students with disabilities and multilingual learners across internal and external assessments

• Reduction in disproportionality related to discipline, identification, and placement practices

• Increased inclusion rates and access to grade-level instruction

• Strong implementation of accommodations and specially designed instruction across classrooms

• Timely evaluation completion and compliance benchmarks met at or above state expectations

• Improved ACCESS growth and language acquisition outcomes for multilingual learners

• Effective MTSS implementation resulting in earlier intervention and stronger student outcomes 

Team Leadership & Development:

• Hire, coach, develop, and manage high-performing special populations staff across the network, including special education coordinators, multilingual learner staff, related service providers, and paraprofessionals.

• Lead ongoing professional development and coaching aligned to inclusive instructional practices, compliance systems, intervention effectiveness, MTSS implementation, and equitable service delivery for multilingual learners and students with disabilities.

• Build the capacity of school leaders and school-based teams to effectively implement special populations systems, analyze student data, monitor progress, and execute high-quality instructional and compliance practices.

• Facilitate regular data reviews, compliance meetings, and strategic planning cycles to ensure accountability, alignment, and continuous improvement across schools.

Family Partnership & Advocacy:

• Foster strong partnerships with families through proactive, culturally responsive communication and engagement practices that build trust, transparency, and collaboration.

• Ensure families have equitable access to information, services, and school supports through effective translation, interpretation, and language access systems.

• Support families in understanding SPED and multilingual learner processes, student rights, instructional supports, and available services to strengthen advocacy and student success.

• Partner with school teams and community organizations to remove barriers to access and ensure students and families receive coordinated, student-centered support services.

What skills should I already bring, i.e., what should I already have a track record around?

• Leading special populations programming that improves outcomes for multilingual learners and students with disabilities across schools or systems

• Designing and implementing inclusive instructional systems, intervention frameworks, and MTSS structures

• Coaching school leaders, instructional leaders, and specialized staff to improve instruction, compliance, and student outcomes

• Using academic, behavioral, and progress monitoring data to drive strategic decision making and continuous improvement

• Managing complex cross-functional systems while balancing compliance, instructional leadership, and operational execution

• Building strong relationships and leading change with urgency, equity, and student-centered decision making

What should I know a lot about already, i.e., what should I have expertise in?

• IDEA, Section 504, Title III, Child Find, FAPE, LRE, and state and federal compliance requirements

• Inclusive instructional practices, accommodations, specially designed instruction, co-teaching, and differentiated instruction

• Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), intervention planning, and progress monitoring systems

• Instructional strategies and language acquisition supports for multilingual learners and students with disabilities

• Compliance systems, evaluation processes, state reporting requirements, and special education procedures

• Student data analysis, intervention effectiveness, and culturally responsive educational practices

KIPP uses Indicators of Excellence (IOE) to codify what great looks like in daily work.  For this role, the IOEs include:

• Student-centered decision making

• Equity-driven leadership

• Strong systems thinking and execution

• Data-informed problem solving

• Effective adult coaching and development

• Cross-functional collaboration

• Clear and proactive communication

• Operational excellence and compliance stewardship

• Commitment to continuous improvement

What you bring to the table:

Required

• Bachelor’s degree required

• Special Education certification required

• Minimum of 3 years of progressive leadership or managerial experience

• Strong understanding of federal, state, and local SPED/ELL requirements

• Experience managing complex educational systems and compliance structures

• Commitment to educational equity and access for all students                                        

Preferred

• Master’s degree preferred

• Administrative certification preferred

• Diagnostician certification preferred

• Experience leading network-level or district-level programming

• Experience in urban education settings                                            

What we bring to the table:

KIPP St. Louis is committed to pay equity and to ensuring that we do not unintentionally perpetuate historic wage gaps that persist due to individual negotiations.  As a result, salaries are not negotiated.  We are transparent about salaries in our job postings so that candidates can make an informed decision before beginning the hiring process.  The salary range is $85-$120,000. This role is performance bonus eligible. 

We are a fast paced, energetic team and family with passionate people who are leading a movement and to cultivate their best working environment we provide the following:

• $0 deductible healthcare plan option, including medical, vision and dental. 

• Employer Paid Short Term Disability. 

• $50,000 life insurance policy at no cost to the employee. 

• Retirement plan through PSSRSSL with an employer match up to 14% and an optional 403b as a supplement to our pension program

• Employee Recognition: When we succeed together, we celebrate together with our annual gala award ceremony, holiday party, and more!

• Public Service student loan forgiveness program qualified employer. 

• Ongoing professional development.

Generous time off:

• Paid leave for illness, personal days, bereavement, jury duty, and military-related leave

• Paid parental leave for new families

• Paid holidays, as well as a one week Thanksgiving break, a two-week winter break, a week-long spring break

• Wellness days provided throughout the year

Hiring Timeline and Steps

The anticipated start date for the role is July 6, 2026. 

If you are interested in working at KIPP St. Louis, please visit our website to find out how to apply! 

www.kippstl.org/apply

Check out our KIPP St. Louis video to learn more about KIPP St. Louis Public Schools!

KIPP St. Louis is committed to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment for all our students, families, teachers, staff and community members. As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability.