Special Education Director/ Guide

Arizona Department of Education
Scottsdale, Arizona
Full Time

Email Address

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Position:

Type:

Charter

Location:

Urban

Job ID:

134045

County:

East Maricopa

Posted:

May 10, 2026

Contact Information:

Phoenix Modern

14109 North 109th Street

Scottsdale, AZ 85255-1600

District Website

Contact:

Nikol Carlson

Phone: ...

Fax:

District Email

Job Description:

Are you ready to finally have the freedom to embrace a whole child, holistic approach in special education?

Phoenix Modern is seeking a certified Special Education Teacher/ Director who demonstrates the following characteristics:

Care for the well-being and growth of children
Genuine trust in children and an interest in finding their strengths
Playful and curious spirit with a passion for learner-centered curriculum design
Entrepreneurial with a strong desire to play a major role in building a new school model in Phoenix
Strong work ethic and consistent follow through
Continually self reflective with the intent to improve
Committed to creating and embracing different types of diversity
Strategic, with the ability to approach situations with optimism and perseverance

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES for the role include:

Director related responsibilities:

Serves as the LEA specialist in special education law; specifically, state and federal statutes and regulations
Oversees and monitors all school initiatives related to special education to ensure compliance
Oversees the Special Education Census
Serves as a liaison to the Department of Education on special education matters
Works in cooperation with state and community health and social welfare agencies
Conducts or facilitates ongoing staff development opportunities for special education staff, regular education staff, and administrators, in relation to Special Education.
Prepares all reports as required by the Department of Education
Writes and supervises all special education grants
Participates in IEP meetings, MET meetings, and Manifestation
Determination Hearings, as appropriate.
Conducts research and keeps abreast of new developments in the field
Provides leadership in the planning and development of additional special education services
Prepares Request For Proposals for purchased services in a timely manner
Oversees contract service providers in relation to Special Education services
Works with the Executive Director and School Director to ensure compliance with Arizona Assessment Programs
Evaluates other Special Education staff as assigned
Performs other duties that may be assigned by the school director

Guide related responsibilities include:

Build a loving community

Speak with children in a friendly, positive, courteous manner; listen to children with attention and respect.
Foster a safe, and inclusive community and culture of care among learners by developing rituals and routines
Engage learners in restorative conversations
Co-develop authentic systems for accountability aligned to our learning approach

Create rich learning experiences

Work collaboratively with general education guides and provide support around differentiating instruction in the general education learning studio
Inspire learner curiosity by asking thought provoking questions, engaging in playful inquiry alongside learners, and creating learning provocations
Plan and facilitate a variety of learning experiences, ranging from small group instruction, to workshops, to 1:1 conferencing
Provide challenges, frameworks, processes, tools and world class examples to support excellence in learning
Elevate learners' voices, critical thinking, and perspective-taking by facilitating small group Socratic discussions
Promote problem solving through open-ended questions and suggestions

Monitor and document individual learning

Monitor and support academic progress for core skills; hold students accountable
Document various data-points to illustrate each learner's holistic growth

Support student-led exhibitions of learning for special education learners

Communicate with parents about learners' progress

Contributing to the Phoenix Modern Community

Contribute collaboratively to the betterment of our community
Identify ways to serve others and add value to our team
Be present and on time for team and community gatherings

Other:

Who are we?

Phoenix Modern is reimagining the design and approach of school for learners age 5- 14. We value wonder, love, joy, and growth for children. Our purpose is to support a diverse community of learners in developing the skills, mindset, and character that best prepare them for positive, healthy and productive engagement in the world.

Our instructional approach at Phoenix Modern provides children with significant opportunities to play an active role in their own learning and shape the community. On a typical day, learners engage in self-paced core skill development using a variety of tools and resources, participate in guided discussions, and immerse themselves in multi-week projects and workshops. Our mixed-age studios are prepared for between 20-25 learners, representing 2 levels in each studio. Our special education team supports about 15-20% of the learners at Phoenix Modern. These learners each have different learning challenges and strengths including specific learning disabilities, other health impairments and autism. We contract services for OT, speech and psychology.

Learn more at www.phoenixmodern.org

The salary for this position is competitive with similar roles and depends on experience. Compensation also includes additional benefits and personal time off.

The proposed start date is July 2026 with some additional training opportunities available earlier.

TO APPLY:

Please submit responses and upload your resume through our online application found on our website at

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits: