Executive Director of Special Services

The Austin Public School District is seeking to hire an Executive Director of Special Services for the 2025-2026 school year.

APS is a world-class public school system located in Austin, MN. We employ over 800 full- and part-time employees and serve over 5000 students from diverse backgrounds.

Executive Director of Special Services 

The Executive Director of Special Services leads the Austin Public School District’s efforts to provide comprehensive student support services. This position focuses on meeting students’ academic, emotional, social, and health needs through effective oversight of special education, counseling, health services, and behavioral interventions. Collaborating with school staff, parents, and community organizations to build partnerships, the Executive Director fosters inclusive and equitable learning environments while leveraging data to drive program effectiveness. 

Responsibilities 

• Leadership: Provide oversight and collaboration to the district-wide student support services, including special education, section 504, counseling, health services, emotional well-being supports, and mental health services. 
• Team Development: Coordinate and collaborate with district staff to hire, develop, and evaluate student support staff, ensuring they are prepared to meet the diverse needs of students.
• Policy Compliance: Ensure adherence to legal requirements for equitable access to services and resources, develop and implement individualized education programs (IEPs), and compliance with health and safety regulations.
• Budget Management: Managing resources and budgets for student support services, ensuring efficient allocations while meeting the diverse needs of students with disabilities.
• Professional Development: In collaboration with district leadership, design and implement professional development programs to include the MTSS frameworks across academic, behavioral, and social-emotional domains to promote student success and strengthen leadership capacity to support staff effectively. 
• Partnerships for Collaboration: Foster strong partnerships with families, caregivers, school staff, and community organizations to strengthen support services and promote student success.
• Data Analysis and Reporting: Monitor and analyze student outcome data to inform decision-making and drive continuous improvement, ensuring educators and staff are equipped with effective instructional strategies to support the success of all students.
• Crisis Management and Coordination: Collaboration with district leadership to address complex situations and coordinate the district’s response to student-related crises effectively and efficiently.
• Strategic Planning and Department Vision: Develop and implement a long-term vision and strategic plan for the district’s student support services aligned with the broader strategic directions of the school district.

Requirements 

• Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, Social Work, School Counseling, Psychology, or a related field (Doctorate preferred). 
• Minimum of 8-10 years of experience in student support services or special education, including at least 5 years in a leadership role. 
• MN Director of Special Education license. 
• Proven leadership and management abilities. 
• Expertise in special education, mental health services, and culturally responsive practices. 
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. 
• Proficiency in data-driven decision-making. 

Salary Range 

• Competitive salary based on qualifications within Austin Public Schools’ range.  The salary range for this position can be located on page 9 of our Employee Handbook (Link). 

Benefits 

• Our Employee Handbook (LINK) outlines additional benefits, including PERA/TRA, and other retirement savings options.   

• Comprehensive benefits package tailored to support employee well-being. 

This role offers a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact on students’ lives by ensuring the delivery of high-quality, equitable support services across the district.  
 

Application Procedure:  Apply online at  Employment – Austin Public Schools | Inspire. Empower. Accelerate.

As Equal Opportunity Employer, Austin Public Schools is committed to creating an inclusive environment that values the diversity of its employees and does not discriminate against any employee or candidate based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, age, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, familial status or membership or activity in a local commission. The school district strongly encourages anyone interested to apply to join our teams. Reasonable accommodations to access job openings or to apply for a job are available.