Director of Special Populations

Position: Director of Special Populations

Supervisor: Assistant Principal

Start Date: July 2026

Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through June 30, 2026. However, the position may be closed prior to that date if a qualified candidate is hired.

The Opportunity:

We are seeking a Director of Special Populations with experience in early childhood education to lead the management, coordination, and implementation of special education services and English Learner support for our students at Global Citizens Public Charter School (Global Citizens PCS). Global Citizens PCS will be the first dual language immersion elementary school in Washington, DC, to offer language immersion in both Mandarin Chinese and Spanish pathways - exposing students to the top three languages spoken in the world. Paired with a focus on social justice and whole child wellness, Global Citizens PCS will equip children to become empathetic, globally competent, and socially-minded leaders who are prepared for a future we cannot yet imagine. This position offers an incredible opportunity to work in a collaborative environment focused on improving educational opportunities for all students, especially those who are most marginalized and undervalued.

Mission: The mission of Global Citizens PCS is to inspire and prepare the next generation of global citizens. We will do this by supporting students, ages 3-11, to reach their full academic and leadership potential in a nurturing learning environment. We will immerse them in the Mandarin and Spanish languages, promote the value of diversity, and equip them with the knowledge, skills, and mindsets they need to contribute to a better world.

Vision: We envision academic excellence, language acquisition, and authentic inclusion of a diverse student population. We will build a strong community of learners who are confident in their ability to communicate in the Chinese, Spanish, and English languages. Our children will use language to liberate and advocate for themselves and those most marginalized. All of our children will develop a sense of self and a sense of belonging, build empathy and emotional resilience, learn to understand and appreciate diverse perspectives, and challenge themselves to take action to improve the world.

Philosophy: We believe that all cultures have richness and value, deserve respect and consideration, and do not belong to a hierarchy. We are aware of white supremacy culture and the systemic oppression that exists – even in the current education system. At Global Citizens PCS, we will critically examine our biases and then actively work on counteracting these biases and disrupting the dominant narrative. We will continually examine our teaching and curricula to ensure we incorporate multiple perspectives from diverse cultural backgrounds and life experiences, including the experiences of our students, families, communities, and staff. We will create an environment in which all students will yearn for intercultural connections and see their benefits.

The core values live in our Global Citizens PCS educational model through four key pillars: Globally Competent Bilingualism, Academic Excellence, Social Justice, and Whole Child Wellness.

Director of Special Populations Job Description

The Director of Special Populations oversees compliance with all state and federal laws and regulations related to students with disabilities including, but not limited to, IDEA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, for Global Citizens PCS and for our Non-Public school partners. The Director of Special Populations also provides language development support to children speaking English as a second language as well as intervention support to children who need additional literacy support. The Director of Special Populations will report directly to the Assistant Principal.

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Compliance

Collaborate with Global Citizens PCS and Non-Public staff to prepare for all external audits and reviews related to academics and student services (i.e., Compliance Review), support the PMF performance process, manage all IDEA, ESSA, and PCSB requirements; and generally, support successful compliance and operations
Implement and monitor accountability measures to ensure all intensive interventions, specialized instruction services, and related services are implemented with fidelity to ensure compliance
Serve as Special Education POC, English Learner POC, and Transportation Coordinator for all OSSE related matters and data management systems
Attend IEP, Section 504, or other related meetings necessary for student assessment and/or compliance with federal and/or state law
Maintain calendar of the annual review, triennial review, 30-day review, and initial eligibility/IEP meetings to ensure timelines are met
Analyze the results of the Home Language Survey in order to determine which students to assess using the WIDA assessments; provide support to and monitor the progress of English Learners throughout the school year
Administer the beginning-of-year (BOY) and end-of-year (EOY) WIDA assessments

Case Management

Organize IEP and 504 meetings, including, but not limited to, scheduling and sending invitations, and ensuring all materials are ready for families and faculty at least 5 days prior to the meeting
Write initial, annual and tri-annual Independent Education Plans (IEPs), Section 504 and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs)
Serve as case manager for students with a 504 accommodation plan
Update IEP, 504s and BIPs as to the achievement of goals and objectives as the end of every quarter
Inform general education teachers of IEP, 504 and BIP goals as necessary; create IEP snapshots
Issue quarterly progress reports on IEP, 504s, and BIPs goals for students & families
Serve as “owner” of interventions and all ELL services, including writing and implementing rigorous, standards-driven goals, managing legal documents and files related to ELL students, liaising with external service providers, ensuring all services are in compliance with mandates
Monitor and support implementation of goals and objectives in content

Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

Maintain continued communication with teachers to ensure knowledge of grade-level standards and concepts through weekly participation in collaborative planning meetings
Address IEP and ILP goals by providing in-class support, small group instruction, and/or pull-out groups
Collaborate with general education teachers and special education teachers to assess every student’s mastery of the content and diagnose areas of student misunderstanding
Utilize culturally sustaining and anti-bias/anti-racist practices (along with data) to inform and guide instructional support; incorporate student cultures, interests, and experiences into lessons and activities
Actively participate in data-analysis cycles and protocols in order to evaluate and increase rigor, coherence, impact, and equity of curriculum, instruction, and assessment
Ensure that each student has equitable access to classroom materials, texts, learning resources and opportunities, academic and social-emotional supports, and other resources in the target language
Use high-engagement strategies, model responses, provide visual anchors to support student learning
Ensure exceptional learners and English Learners are being educated in their least restrictive environment

Service Delivery

Oversee the delivery of both instruction and related services as stipulated on IEPs
Provide and/or support modifications and accommodations as needed in classrooms
Co-facilitate the Student Support Team (SST) meetings and convenes multi-disciplinary team meetings (MDT meetings) on a regular basis to address the needs of each student
Maintain a portfolio of student work samples, anecdotal data, and classroom observations
Serve as the Disability Test Coordinator for all standardized assessments (includes PARCC)
Be accountable for students’ mastery of academic standards
Facilitate professional learning and training to teachers, staff, and families

Coaching, Leadership, and Talent Management

Conduct informal evaluations of teachers within the department; keep anecdotal notes and provide targeted feedback as necessary
Directly manage Dedicated Aides and Related Service Providers
Participate in the interview process of teacher, related service, and dedicated aide candidates
Contribute productively to the school as a whole and as a member of the Leadership Team
Participate in in-service and staff development activities and staff meetings as required or assigned.
Attend and participate in established school-sponsored activities (i.e., back-to-school night, open houses, and other activities)
Manage and monitor the progress of one-on-one dedicated aides; participate in the hiring process

Student and Family Engagement

Build rapport with students outside of the classroom (i.e., lunches with students, special events, etc.), so students understand that teachers care about them
Ensure families receive all notifications and evaluation reports in advance of MDT meetings and SST meetings
Promotes relationships among students, faculty, parents, and others that build trust and value individuality and inclusiveness
Implement family and community engagement strategies aligned to our mission and vision: Maintain open, welcoming communication with stakeholders in service of students and to advance the school mission
Engage parents, families, and the community - especially those who are marginalized or traditionally unable to actively participate - in meaningful, reciprocal, and mutually beneficial ways to promote each student’s social, emotional, and academic development
Provides routine, two-way communication with families and community members about school activities and culture, student performance and development (including students’ progress towards their IEP goals), and school challenges and accomplishments
Plan, implement, and lead student recruitment initiatives, especially during the planning year to ensure we meet our enrollment goal
Evaluate and improve the effectiveness of the student recruitment, family engagement, community outreach, and communications plan
Creates and sustains positive, collaborative, and productive relationships with families and community members for the benefits of students (and their families)

Director of Special Populations Requirements:

At least five years of combined experience as a special education teacher/related service provider or instructional leader
Meet state educational requirements, preferably a valid state-issued teaching license for Special Education in elementary education or meet eligibility, including a Bachelor’s degree or a Master’s degree in Special Education and passing scores on Praxis I & II
Deep experience and knowledge of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and their appropriate implementation in public schools
Prior experience as a special education coordinator preferred
Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred
An energetic, flexible, creative, innovative individual who can develop strengths-based, student-centered support plans that support learning for students of various abilities, including those with various identified exceptionalities
Ability to excel as a member of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) and an instructional leadership team (ILT) is critical
Ability to work in a multicultural, multilingual environment
Ability to lead teams and teaching through a lens of diversity, equity, justice, and inclusion
Communication skills (both oral and written)

Compensation

Salary for this position is competitive and ranges from $90K to $120K. Additionally, Global Citizens PCS offers a comprehensive benefits package.

We are Deeply Committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Global Citizens PCS is an equal opportunity employer and an organization that values diversity. We strongly encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply. It is our policy to ensure that all individuals with whom we are in contact with are not discriminated against on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, disability, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, military status, family responsibilities, pregnancy, parenthood, or any other personal or professional status.

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying for this position, please click “Apply for This Job” on the top right. We’ll review applications as we receive them until the position is filled. If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].

Global Citizens PCS is committed to building a team that reflects the varied backgrounds and experiences of the students we seek to serve. It is important to us that you use your application materials to clearly delineate ways in which your background and experience align with Global Citizens PCS’s core values and key pillars.