Senior Advisor to the Director of Special Education

POSITION:                     Senior Advisor to the Director of Special Education         
LOCATION:                    District Office    
REPORTING:                 Director of Special Education
WORK YEAR:                 Full Year, Full-Time
COORDINATES WITH:  Superintendent, Assistant Superintendents, Building Principal, Assistant Principals, Department Heads, Office Manager   
 
QUALIFICATIONS: 
Master's degree or higher in Special Education, Educational Leadership, or related field

• Significant experience in special education leadership at the district and school level
• Deep knowledge of:
  • IDEA and special education law
  • Inclusive practices and LRE requirements
  • MTSS and evidence-based instruction
• Demonstrated expertise in:
  • Policy development and implementation
  • Professional learning design
  • Program evaluation and improvement
  • Data-driven decision-making
• Experience working in a districtwide leadership role
• Experience implementing inclusive education systems at scale
• Strong background in coaching and adult learning
• Demonstrated success in leading organizational change 
  
   

OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• The Senior Advisor to the Director of Special Education provides high-level strategic leadership and advisory support to advance the Nashua School District's vision for inclusive, equitable, and effective special education services.
• This districtwide role focuses on special education policy development and implementation, professional learning systems, program evaluation and review, and the implementation of the Inclusive Education Model. The Senior Advisor works in close partnership with district leadership, school-based teams, and cross-functional departments to ensure coherence across systems and alignment with federal and state regulations.
• The Senior Advisor serves as a key member of the Special Education leadership team and plays a critical role in strengthening instructional practices, ensuring compliance, and improving outcomes for students with disabilities.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Strategic Leadership & District Alignment

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the Director of Special Education on districtwide initiatives and priorities
• Lead the design and implementation of systems aligned to the Nashua Inclusive Education Model
• Ensure alignment between special education programming, district strategic goals, and regulatory requirements
• Support long-range planning to increase access, participation, and progress for students with disabilities

2. Policy Development & Implementation

• Develop, review, and refine district special education policies, procedures, and protocols
• Ensure alignment with IDEA, New Hampshire Rules for the Education of Children with Disabilities, and district expectations
• Lead implementation of policies across schools, ensuring clarity, consistency, and fidelity
• Provide guidance on complex compliance and procedural issues

3. Professional Learning & Capacity Building

• Design and oversee districtwide professional learning related to:
  • Inclusive practices and co-teaching
  • MTSS and specially designed instruction (SDI)
  • IEP development and implementation
  • Progress monitoring and data use
• Build leadership capacity among administrators, special educators, and related service providers
• Develop scalable systems for ongoing coaching and professional learning

4. Program Evaluation & Review

• Lead districtwide special education program evaluations and internal reviews
• Develop tools and protocols for monitoring program effectiveness and compliance
• Analyze qualitative and quantitative data to identify strengths, gaps, and priorities
• Provide actionable recommendations to improve service delivery and student outcomes

5. Inclusive Education Model Implementation

• Support districtwide implementation of inclusive practices and service delivery models
• Collaborate with school teams to design schedules, staffing models, and service delivery aligned to LRE
• Ensure that inclusive education is operationalized through:
  • Master scheduling
  • Service mapping
  • Instructional practices
• Monitor implementation fidelity and support continuous improvement

6. Data Systems & Continuous Improvement

• Develop and support systems for:
  • Progress monitoring
  • Program evaluation
  • Compliance tracking
• Use data to inform decision-making at the district and school levels
• Lead continuous improvement cycles aligned to district priorities

7. Cross-Department Collaboration

• Partner with:
  • Curriculum and instruction teams
  • Multilingual learner (MLL/EL) departments
  • Student support services
  • Building leadership teams
• Ensure coherence across initiatives impacting students with disabilities
• Support integrated approaches to instruction, intervention, and service delivery

8. Project Management & Systems Implementation

• Lead complex, districtwide initiatives related to special education and inclusion
• Develop implementation plans, timelines, and deliverables
• Monitor progress and ensure successful execution of key initiatives
• Manage competing priorities in a complex educational system
• Maintain accurate records, lesson plans, and documentation in alignment with district and state CTE requirements.
• Serve as a positive role model demonstrating professionalism, ethics, fairness, teamwork, safety, and leadership.
   
   

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
Applicants should submit a completed application online at www.nashua.edu and attach their letter of interest for the position, resume, certification, copies of official transcripts and three professional letters of recommendation. 
 
This notice should not be construed to imply that these requirements are the exclusive standards of the position or that this is the exclusive list of job functions associated with this position.

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The Nashua Board of Education reaffirms its position of compliance with applicable State and federal laws of nondiscrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, marital status, familial status, genetic information and age in admission to, access to, treatment in or employment in the services, programs and activities of the Nashua School District.