Director of Exceptional Learners

POSITION: Director of Exceptional Learners

LOCATION: DSST: Home Office

SALARY RANGE: $107,500 - $131,100 based on years of aligned experience in a role of similar level and responsibilities, up to 10 years. We also offer a relocation stipend if you are moving from a location greater than 75 miles from Denver!

STATUS/CLASSIFICATION: Full time, benefits eligible, exempt, in-person position (Denver, CO) 

START: Immediate start preferred. You can view our current School Year Calendar here.

Applications will be accepted until September 23rd 2026 at 4pm MST.

KEY ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Director of Exceptional Learners reports to the Vice President of Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum and works closely with leaders across the organization.  This position provides a unique opportunity for an individual with superior special education expertise and people, systems, and instructional leadership skills to play a central role in supporting the advancement of one of the organization's most important priorities.

The Director of Exceptional Learners will lead mission-critical work to:

• Further develop and actualize DSST’s vision for Exceptional Learners in order to improve academic outcomes for students.

• Lead the Home Office Exceptional Learners Team in providing excellent service and support to Special Education, 504, and Gifted & Talented leaders and teachers at all DSST schools. 

• Build the capacity of school leaders and teachers throughout the organization to reach desired outcomes for all exceptional learners. 

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Lead DSST’s Vision for Exceptional Learners (30%):

• Develop & refine a coherent vision for Special Education, 504, and GT systems, programming, and instruction across the DSST network.  

• Collaborate with the Exceptional Learners Team & network content leaders to adopt and implement curricular materials and resources that drive towards high academic outcomes for Exceptional Learners.  

• Maintain strong line of sight & use data effectively to diagnose the state of instruction, compliance, programming, and other health metrics for exceptional learners, and lead strategic initiatives for continuous improvement.

• Lead strong systems for school planning in partnership with the Strategy team, the Finance team, Academic Program team, and Human Capital team- ensuring all schools have the staffing, conditions, and systems for strong programming in service of Exceptional Learners.

Lead and Develop a Team for Impactful Programming & School Support (30%):

• Lead the development of a highly effective team to implement DSST’s vision and achieve results for exceptional learners across the network of schools.

• Directly coach & manage the Senior Managers of Exceptional Learners, Lead Network SPED Teacher, & Lead Network School Psychologist.  

• Design a clear & sustainable tiered support system for work between the Home Office Exceptional Learners team and schools - ensuring schools are ultimately enabled to achieve our network goals for programming, academic outcomes, and compliance. 

• Analyze Exceptional Learners data through a program, instruction, and compliance lens and create & implement appropriate response plans.

• Adapt team systems for support as needs change and to support a growing and evolving network of schools.  

Develop Network Capacity for Serving Exceptional Learners (25%):

• Build the capacity of school leaders through the organization to lead effective Special Education programs.

• Lead highly effective teacher development systems & programming for onboarding and developing special educators across experience levels.

• Work collaboratively across the organization to ensure coherence between teacher development, coach development, and curriculum implementation in Special Education.

• Collaborate with school leaders and SPED Admin to identify areas for improvement and provide targeted support to improve and enhance programming for exceptional learners. 

External Partnership (10%)

• Build strong relationships and communication channels with partners at DSST LEAs (Denver Public Schools and Aurora Public Schools) 

• Positively represent DSST with strategic partners, including local Special Education advocacy organizations, regional and national experts, etc. 

Additional Duties (5%)

• Model our Core Values, Commitment to the Human Condition, and our commitment to equity as a Leader within the Network

• Play an active leadership role in building and sustaining Home Office culture

• Engage with our school communities to actively build relationships between our schools and the home office

• Participate in & support the execution of Home Office & Network-wide events

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's Degree required from accredited university

• Master's Degree or advanced coursework in relevant field strongly preferred 

• At least 3 years of experience as a special education teacher

• At least 5 years of experience managing programming for exceptional learners

• You want to change the way the public school system serves students, so that all kids– regardless of race, ethnicity or income – have the opportunity to go to college.

• Strong commitment to solving education inequity and a passion for the ability of joyful, inclusive culture and student experience to play a role in that solution

• Proactive problem-solver who demonstrates initiative and ability to work individually and with a team

• Experience and comfort with facilitation of classroom sessions, professional development, and events

• Experience and comfort working with middle school and high school students and school staff

• You create unambiguous systems and procedures to allow others to easily replicate or take advantage of your work and thinking

• You have a strong customer service mindset and ability to clearly guide users to solutions

Preferred Qualifications: 

• 7+ years of experience in special education (classroom experience required)

• 3+ years of experience in school leadership (as an instructional leader, assistant principal, or principal) 

• 2+ years experience in central office or regional leadership 

Please note: The DSST Talent Team replies to every application. If you haven’t heard from us by the indicated timeline, please check your spam folder first. If you don’t see an email there, reach out to us at [email protected]. We’re committed to providing an exceptional candidate experience.

Application Timeline

This is an evergreen position, meaning DSST Public Schools recruits for this role on an ongoing basis to support current and anticipated hiring needs across our network. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and qualified candidates may be contacted for interviews as opportunities become available.

For positions with a defined hiring timeline, the anticipated application deadline will be listed at the top of the job posting.

Who We Are

At DSST Public Schools, we are proud to achieve transformational results for our 7,500+ students — 97% of whom attend a Green (top-rated) school. Just as important is how we achieve them: values-centered, human-focused, and together.

We invite educators and leaders who share our belief that there is more in us — more brilliance, more courage, more possibility — to join us.

• 100% of DSST graduates have been admitted to college or a postsecondary program
• 15 of 16 schools rated Green on the 2024–25 SPF
• 9 out of 10 DSST families would recommend DSST to a friend
• 95%+ of staff say their managers check in regularly and care about them as people 

Why Work at DSST?

At DSST, our Quantum 5 Culture defines how we help every team member grow, belong, and thrive.

• Comprehensive Compensation & Benefits: Competitive pay and a Total Rewards package that includes fertility and adoption support, educator-focused mental-health care, and everyday perks like Safeway grocery discounts.
• Growth & Opportunity: Weekly 1:1 coaching, data-driven feedback, and clear career pathways such as Apprentice Teacher and Emerging Leader.
• Rewards & Recognition: Core Value and TOAST Awards, milestone celebrations, and the signature Flower Person Award honoring staff who help our community flourish.
• Whole Human Wellness: Access to the Therapist of Color Collaborative, Wellness Wednesdays, comprehensive health coverage, and six weeks of paid parental leave.
• Thriving in Colorado: Time to recharge with 11+ weeks off each year, relocation support for out of state applicants, and local discounts that help you enjoy life in our beautiful sunshine filled state.

Learn more about our Quantum 5 Culture and Compensation & Benefits.

Employment Classification & PERA Participation

DSST Public Schools participates in the Colorado Public Employees' Retirement Association (PERA). Unless otherwise stated in the position title or posting, all roles are full-time and are designated as PERA-covered positions. Candidates should review their individual circumstances and ensure they are able to accept employment in a PERA-covered role prior to applying.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY AND DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION

DSST Public Schools is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not exclude participation in, deny benefits to, or discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and related conditions, sexual orientation, or gender identity), age (40 and older), disability, or genetic information. We also prohibit retaliation for filing a complaint, reasonably opposing discrimination, or participating in any investigation or proceeding.

DSST is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where all individuals are respected, valued, and empowered to thrive.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here represent those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing these duties, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear and may spend extended periods standing, walking, bending, or kneeling. The employee must occasionally lift or move up to 30 pounds and have sufficient hand and finger dexterity to operate a computer keyboard and other office equipment.