Special Education Director

Job Description: Virtual Special Education Director (California)

Company: Lighthouse Therapy LLC

Location: Remote (Must be based in or licensed to practice in California)

Assignment: Dedicated to 1 Partner School District (Overseeing Onsite Staff)

Employment Type: Partial (5 hours per week) / Contract

Reports To: Executive Leadership / District Assistant Superintendent of Student Services

About Lighthouse Therapy LLC

Lighthouse Therapy LLC is a premier provider of virtual special education administration and therapeutic services. We partner with school districts across the country to deliver high-quality, compliant leadership. In this unique role, Lighthouse Therapy is embedding a dedicated virtual director to single-mindedly support, manage, and transform the special education department of one of our premier partner districts in California.

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced, high-touch Virtual Special Education Director to take full administrative ownership of one dedicated California school district.

Unlike general remote consulting roles, you will serve as the district's primary special education leader. While you operate 100% virtually, you will directly manage and mentor a team of onsite Special Education Teachers and support staff working inside the physical school buildings. This position requires a masterful communicator who can build a cohesive, compliant, and thriving department from a distance, seamlessly bridging the gap between virtual leadership and brick-and-mortar execution.

Key Responsibilities1. Onsite Team Leadership & Evaluation

Directly manage, support, and evaluate the district's team of physical, onsite Special Education Teachers, instructional aides, and related service providers.

Establish virtual feedback loops, utilizing video observations, regular digital check-ins, and data reviews to monitor teaching efficacy and classroom management.

Bridge the gap between remote leadership and physical classrooms by designing structured, clear operational protocols for onsite staff to follow.

Coordinate schedules, caseload allocations, and sub-coverage for the district's physical classrooms.

2. District-Wide Compliance & SEIS Management

Serve as the final authority on all district Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), ensuring strict adherence to the California Education Code, IDEA, and local SELPA policies.

Manage the district’s SEIS (Special Education Information System) database, monitoring compliance timelines, triennial dates, and progress reporting.

Virtually chair high-stakes, contentious, or complex IEP meetings, successfully guiding the onsite team and parents toward consensus.

Oversee the manifestation determination process and represent the district in mediation or due process situations.

3. Professional Development & Process Alignment

Design and virtually deliver targeted professional development for onsite teachers regarding California-compliant IEP writing, data collection, and evidence-based interventions.

Standardize district-wide procedures for child find, referrals, student study teams (SST), and assessments to ensure uniform equity across all school sites.

4. District & Community Liaison

Act as a trusted cabinet member for the district's superintendent team, providing regular data-driven updates on special education budgets, litigation risks, and staffing needs.

Serve as the primary district representative at monthly regional SELPA meetings.

Build strong, trusting virtual relationships with local families, ensuring parent voices are valued and compliance concerns are proactively defused.

Qualifications & Experience Required:

Education: Master’s degree or higher in Special Education, Educational Administration, or a related field.

Certification: Valid California Administrative Services Credential AND a California Clear Special Education Teaching Credential (or Pupil Personnel Services Credential).

Experience: Minimum of 4 years of direct K-12 special education administration experience (e.g., Program Specialist, Coordinator, or Director) specifically within a California public school district or charter network.

Remote Management Skills: Proven ability to manage, inspire, and hold accountable employees who are working in a physical environment different from your own.

System Expertise: Mastery of SEIS, California assessment frameworks, and state compliance indicators.

Preferred:

Prior experience transitioning a district from non-compliance to compliance.

Experience utilizing video-based coaching or remote instructional leadership strategies.

Skills & Competencies

Presence from a Distance: The unique ability to project authority, warmth, and supportive leadership through a screen so that onsite staff feel fully supported and supervised.

Conflict Resolution: Exceptional diplomacy skills to navigate tough conversations between onsite staff, district cabinet members, and families.

Logistical Acumen: Sharp organizational skills to manage the physical assets, staffing schedules, and legally binding timelines of an entire district simultaneously.

Pay: $55.00 - $60.00 per hour

Work Location: Remote