Director of Student Services Full Time NEW

The Director of Student Services is responsible for overseeing and ensuring compliance with all

special education programming, student support services, and related federal and

Massachusetts state regulations, including IDEA, Section 504, and DESE requirements. The

position provides leadership and supervision for special education staff, related service

providers, and district-wide student support systems while collaborating closely with

administrators, educators, families, and community agencies to promote equitable access to

education for all students. Responsibilities include managing special education budgets,

coordinating and directly overseeing some out-of-district placements and transportation,

facilitating the IEP processes, overseeing evaluations and compliance timelines, and supporting

the implementation of inclusive practices and behavioral interventions across the district. The

Director also serves as a member of the district leadership team, supporting professional

development, problem-solving support, and overall planning to enhance students’ academic,

social-emotional, and behavioral outcomes.

FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT (FLSA) CLASSIFICATION: This position is classified as Exempt

(Professional).

Qualifications

Licensed, or eligible for licensure as a Special Education Administrator by the Massachusetts

Department of Elementary & Secondary Education;

Master’s Degree in Special Education or a related field;

Successful administrative experience in special education and experience working in special

education

Other comparable qualifications as the Superintendent may deem appropriate. Licensed, or

eligible for and able to be licensed by position start date, as an Assistant Superintendent or

Superintendent by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

(DESE)

Experience leading professional development and supporting educator growth

Excellent communication, collaboration, and leadership skills

Ability to work effectively with administrators, staff, families, and community stakeholders

Understanding of navigating the budget and upholding fiscal responsibility

Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Superintendent may deem appropriate and

consistent with state licensure requirements

REPORTS TO: The Director of Student Services reports to the Superintendent of Schools

Supervisory Responsibilities: Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with school committee policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities may include: interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems. The director of student services evaluates: the special education coordinators, the assistants in the office of student services, speech and language pathologists, occupational therapists, psychologists, physical therapists, ESP-3’s (COTA’s, BCaBA’s, SLPA’s), and board-certified behavioral analysts

Responsibilities

The Director of Student Services is responsible for leadership in the following areas:

Developing, implementing, supervising, and/or evaluating all programs, policies, and services in

the Department of Student Services;

Assures compliance with all state and federal laws, regulations, and reporting requirements;

Develops and manages the Student Services budget, writes related state and federal grants, and

supports data collection for Circuit Breaker and Medicaid reimbursements;

Works collaboratively with other administrators in the selection, supervision, evaluation, and/or

training of Student Services staff;

Coordinates transportation for students with disabilities;

Works collaboratively with parents, the Special Education Advisory Council (SEPAC), the ACCEPT

Collaborative, 766-approved facilities, state and federal agencies, and other organizations to

support students with disabilities;

Facilitates the development, revision, and evaluation of the district’s special services programs

and all related services.

Assists building principals in the recruiting, interviewing, hiring, assigning, and evaluation (under

intensive review) of special education.

Prepares, coordinates, and administers the special education and federal program budgets.

Responsible for the preparation, submission, and implementation of all grants pertaining to

special education and early childhood education.

Preparation of state reports necessary for state reimbursement and similar fiscal matters.

Ability to prepare district-level special services reports that are required by law or are requested

by the Superintendent

Prepares, coordinates, and administers the special education and federal program budgets.

Responsible for the preparation, submission, and implementation of all grants pertaining to

special education and early childhood education.

Preparation of state reports necessary for state reimbursement and similar fiscal matters.

Ability to prepare district-level special services reports that are required by law or are requested

by the Superintendent.

Supervises the preparation and implementation of all Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and

ensures the availability of appropriate services.

Receives, investigates, mediates, and processes complaints under IDEA and Section 504 of the

Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Ensures complete and cumulative individual records for all students receiving special services or

enrolled in special classes.

Coordinates the district’s special services program (ages 3-22), Preschool to grade 12(+) in

conjunction with the Superintendent, principals, teachers, and staff.

Recommends new special services programs based on identified students’ needs and identified

community or government resources.

Arranges transportation for all children requiring special-needs transportation and out-of-district

educational placements.

Recruits, hires, supervises, and evaluates district-level special education staff, including Special

Education Administrators, Related Services Providers, and the Early Childhood Special Education

Administrator.

Oversees the referral process for students in need of out-of-district placements

Maintains requirements for out-of-district oversight established by DESE

Coordinates services and maintains connections with students and families who have been

identified under the McKinney-Vento Act

Perform physical requirements which may include: a. Moderate to extensive degree of physical

and emotional stamina b. Frequent and prolonged talking/hearing conversations c. Knowledge of

CPI (Crisis Prevention Intervention) strategies and their implementation

Specific Duties Include, But Are Not Limited To

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Prepares applications for external funding and related reports for special education services and

federal programs. Prepares and monitors special education and student services budgets.

Submits referrals to other agencies whose services complement or extend those of the district

and coordinates special education services with private and other agencies and private schools.

Recommends, interprets, and implements the district’s policies and procedures in the area of

student services.

Manages student services administrative functions to maintain safe, efficient school operations

in accordance with district guidelines.

Maintains a high level of ethical behavior and confidentiality when dealing with student, staff,

and/or parent information.

Serves as a consultant to staff/principals regarding special services.

Participates in parent conferences upon request from other administrators or teachers.

Represents the district at local, county, and state levels in matters related to special services.

Recommends policies and procedures essential to special education and federally funded

programs.

Communicates to school administrators and staff information about each program and

information about changes or developments within each ongoing program.

Regular visits to all physical sites within the school district where special programs are

conducted during hours when the programs are in operation.

Develops and initiates survey programs to continuously identify (Child Find) children with

learning differences.

Supervises and coordinates home instruction for homebound or hospitalized students.

Assists with the development, implementation, and evaluation of effective alternative programs

for students at-risk.

Prepares various written documents (e.g., correspondence, reports, analyses, etc.) for the

purpose of providing written support and/or conveying information as required.

Keeps current with the Pre-K-12 courses of study, the district’s scope and sequence framework,

and state standards/guidelines.

Promotes the continuity of the instructional program.

Provides insights about the progression of student skills and key contributions made by staff at

each level.

Provides ongoing professional development workshops for all special education staff to better

serve students’ special needs and provide guidance.

Coordinates staff development programs with the Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum,

Instruction, and Assessment for special education, to include an annual needs assessment and

the arranging of all in-service activities.

Encourages parent organizations and supports school-sponsored activities. Participates in Parent

Advisory Council meetings.

Attends meetings with the School Committee and community as requested.

Coordinates with other departments to implement and maintain an integrated student database.

Serves as liaison between the district and community, interpreting activities and policies of the

district, and encouraging community involvement with the district.

Establishes annual goals and objectives as deemed appropriate by the Superintendent

Assumes responsibility for own professional growth and development; for keeping current with

the literature, new research findings, and improved techniques; and for attending required state

and professional meetings.

Preparing reports and presentations for the Superintendent, School Committee, staff, and

families

Attends school committee meetings as required

Performing other duties as assigned by the Superintendent of Schools

Schedules summer services and summer programming, hires appropriate staff, interviews new

hires, and coordinates commitment with all students who are eligible to attend

Terms Of Employment

Salary Range: $140,00-$160,000 annually – Anticipated Three-Year contract – Start date July 1,

2026 or negotiated.

Evaluation

The performance of this job will be evaluated annually by the Superintendent of Schools in

accordance with the MA General Law. Ashland values diversity and is committed to diversifying

our professional staf . We strongly encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds, including

people of color, people with disabilities, and others, to apply.