24-25 Director of Special Populations Administration

At YES Prep, work for a mission that impacts the life trajectory of students and their families. YES Prep creates pathways to extraordinary opportunity through best-in-class development, competitive compensation and benefits, and recognition for your impact. Grow as an authentic leader and be part of an equity driven, team-oriented culture.

• 19,500 Students
• 2,100+ Team Members
• 15 Secondary Campuses
• 9 Elementary Campuses
• 92% Students Who Qualify for Free/Reduced-Price Lunch
• 96% Hispanic & African-American Students
• 90% Students Who Are Accepted to a 4-Year University
• 88% First-Generation College Students
• Ranked in the Top 100 High Schools in the Nation, U.S. News & World Report

We serve the students of Houston, Texas, the 4th largest city across the United States. There are over 20 public-school districts and other great public charter school options within Houston’s city limits serving our increasing population. We are a rapidly growing organization, committed to creating life-changing opportunities for over 23,000 students by 2025.

YES Prep needs a dynamic Director of Special Populations Administration with a diverse set of experiences, to make our mission a reality. As a YES Prep employee, you will achieve jaw-dropping results, create pathways to opportunity for our students, build transformative relationships, and eliminate educational inequities to advance social justice.

To put it simply, you will lead and execute the vision for Special Populations Compliance PK-12, while leading a team of centralized compliance specialists responsible for ensuring our organization meets all legal and regulatory requirements for students with disabilities and other Special Populations. You will be a champion for equity and inclusion, fostering a culture of compliance within our school system and ensuring the success of all students.

Leadership and Collaboration:

• Leading and executing the vision for a centralized PK-12 Special Populations compliance program;
• Collaborating on the design and implementing robust compliance frameworks for IEPs, 504 plans, and EB processes, ensuring alignment with federal and state regulations;
• Managing and evaluating centralized Home Office Compliance Specialists, holding them accountable for producing high-quality and accurate Special Populations documents that meet deadlines and exceed expectations;
• Developing and nurturing strong partnerships with stakeholders, including cross-functional Home Office members, the Compliance Team, campus leaders, Special Education Managers, Literacy Specialists and families;
• Revising the district’s policies and procedures related to EB, SpEd and Section 504 for PK-12 programs and implement district policies at assigned campuses, including the transition of dyslexia to Special Education as a result of HB3928 and other legal updates;

• Supporting the submission of the annual high-cost fund, PEIMS, RDA, cyclical monitoring requirements, SPP Indicators, RMTS participant list, etc.
• Collaborating with Home Office teams to create procedures and develop clear guidelines for accurate coding of student services;
• Managing conflict resolution, including consultation, facilitation, and mediation within the district;
• Codifying the programmatic design of services through partnerships with Special Populations leaders to consistently improve the quality of services and ensuring accurate representation in documentation;
• Supporting the Home Office compliance team in gathering information and documentation in the investigation of TEA complaints, for the purpose of providing required student services for students in Special Populations;
• Navigating challenges in high-risk staffing and compliance meetings, providing valuable insights and solutions that prioritize compliance requirements and student needs;
• Writing drafts of District Board policy for special education as needed or required, to assure program consistency and compliance with state and federal rules in all locations;
• Leveraging student achievement data to analyze the effectiveness of Special programs and informing data-driven decision-making;
• Collaborating with legal counsel, Special Populations teams, and other stakeholders to resolve complex compliance challenges and implement best practices;
• Creating procedures and developing guidelines for Home Office Compliance Specialists to consistently produce accurate and high-quality IEPs, 504 plans, and LPAC documents;
• Monitoring campus-level compliance with Section 504 requirements, including but not limited to:

• Child find responsibilities;
• Written notice to parents, including notice of procedural safeguards, before any actions are taken regarding identification, evaluation, or placement under Section 504;
• Team-based decision-making regarding evaluation and placement of students under Section 504;
• Dissemination of Section 504 plans to appropriate staff;
• Periodic re-evaluations of all students who are eligible under Section 504, at least every three years;
• Manifestation determination requirements for disciplinary changes in placement under Section 504

Training and Education:

• Developing and delivering comprehensive training programs on EB, 504, and SpEd compliance for all staff, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to be empowered and excel;
• Coaching and training campus staff on Special Populations compliance topics, fostering their professional growth and confidence.
• Applying the Compliance Teams interpretation of legal updates to YES Prep programs and collaborate to lead programmatic improvement;
• Developing and maintaining accessible and user-friendly resources for compliance information, ensuring staff and families has the tools needed;
• Designing and implementing an optimized schedule and expectations for the Home Office Compliance Specialist role, maximizing transparency, output, and efficiency;
• Ensuring the smooth implementation of ARD software and overseeing the implementation of the programs outlined in language proficiency assessment committee (LPAC), IEPs, and 504 compliance, as well as other student support services, guaranteeing seamless execution and adherence to regulations;
• Staying abreast of changes in federal and state regulations as they apply to YES Prep’s programs;
• Communicating compliance policies, procedures, and updates to all stakeholders, including central and campus-based specialists, campus and system leaders, and families.
• Additional duties as assigned.

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Education, Law, Special Education, ESL, TESOL or a related field.
• One year or more of related classroom experience
• Minimum 5 years education administration experience at the campus or system level with a proven track record of successfully leading and motivating teams.
• Special Education, ESL, and/or Bilingual Certification required
• Strong ability to navigate web-related applications and technology
• Strong understanding of federal and state laws, regulations, and policies related to EB, 504, and SpEd programs.
• Ability to train and educate diverse audiences on complex topics.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Unwavering commitment to equity, inclusion, and the success of all students.
• Ability to work outside of normal hours and on weekends

• Belief in and commitment to the mission and core value of YES Prep Public Schools
• Openness to giving and receiving frequent feedback
• Ability to maintain emotional control under stress
• Ability to work urgently in a fast-paced and results-oriented environment
• Creates and maintains positive working relationships on a team and/or in a highly collaborative environment
• A dedication to learn, grow, and develop as a professional

• Belief in and commitment to the mission and core value of YES Prep Public Schools
• Desire to disrupt systemic status quos in education
• Willingness to go above and beyond to disrupt said status quos
• Passion to develop resiliency through a relentless pursuit of jaw-dropping results
• Conviction that high expectations + high accountability = high performance and high growth

• Bilingual – Spanish or other language

• Ability to juggle multiple tasks and initiatives at once

• Compensation – This position is an exempt, salaried position; offers commensurate with experience.

• Health and Supplemental Insurance – A $0 monthly medical option that includes $600 towards a Health Savings Account, in addition to a variety of supplemental benefits including Dental, Vision, Disability, Life, etc. Employees must work 20+ hours a week to be eligible for a full spectrum of benefits, and 10 hours a week minimum for medical benefits.

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  Retirement Plans – Participation in Teacher Retirement System of Texas and a 457b Retirement Plan.

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  Paid Time Off – Employees working 20+ hours a week receive 15 days of Paid Time Off in addition to the system closures during the Academic Calendar.

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  Paid Leave Programming – In the event you need to be out due to medical needs (including maternity and paternity leave), YES Prep offers paid leave, paid out at 100%, based on eligibility and tenure.

• Professional Development - YES Prep values longevity and performance over time. We invest in developing leaders through high-quality programs, effective coaching, and ongoing professional development.

• Award Winning Culture – The strong cultures of our campuses and Home Office are just one of many reasons we were named Houston’s Best Place to Workin 2018, 2019, and 2021. We won the2012 Broad Prize for Excellence in Urban Education and were a 2016 finalist as well.