Job Description
At Rocketship Public Schools, we believe in the infinite possibility of human potential. We believe that every student deserves the right to dream, to discover, and to develop their unique potential and it is our responsibility and our privilege to unleash the potential inside every Rocketeer we serve. Our non-profit network of public elementary charter schools propels student achievement, develops exceptional educators, and partners with parents who enable high-quality public schools to thrive in their community. We are a collective of parents, teachers, leaders, and students working together to transform the future for underserved communities across our country. At Rocketship Public Schools, we are unleashing potential.
Based in Washington, DC and reporting to the Regional Director of Inclusive Special Education (ISE), the Program Specialist serves as a key strategic leader supporting Inclusive Special Education across Rocketship's DC region. This regional role partners with school leaders to strengthen instructional practices, build leadership capacity, and ensure high-quality, compliant special education programming across all DC campuses.
The Program Specialist is responsible for coaching and supporting school teams to ensure every Rocketeer receives an inclusive, effective, and legally compliant educational experience. In partnership with campus leaders and the Regional Director of ISE, this role drives continuous improvement with the goal of achieving 1.5 years of annual student growth in both mathematics and literacy, as measured by NWEA
As a member of the broader Schools Team, the Program Specialist also contributes to regional strategic initiatives designed to strengthen instructional excellence, develop leadership capacity, and position Rocketship as a national leader in meaningful inclusion and equitable outcomes for students with disabilities.
This is a collaborative, hybrid role that includes regular on-site support across Rocketship's three DC campuses, work from the DC Regional Office, and flexibility for remote work to complete compliance and administrative responsibilities.
Essential Functions - School Support:
- Support ISE team visions at school sites for network initiatives and school priories in collaboration with school leaders and directors of schools.
- Regularly meet with school leaders to develop, monitor, and adjust school-level special education instructional and compliance efforts.
- Co-develop and support the coaching plans for ISE teachers and ISE teams with the support of the managing school leader.
- Provide direct and indirect coaching support to ISE teams around instructional practice and compliance initiatives.
- Strategize together as a team with the Director of Integrated Special Education in order to prioritize special education supports.
- Collaborate and provide regular consultation with service providers and key contractors as needed.
- Coordination with OSSE & PCSB around educaonal best practices, compliance initiatives, and or three ligious cases to support school sites.
- Work with ISE NeST across regions to align on network priorities and implementation.
Essential Functions - Instructional Support:
- Provide School Leaders Managing ISE with resources and expert guidance to support the data based decision making process to guide instructional planning.
- Support effective instructional planning through the selection of appropriate tiered interventions at school sites, consultation on implementation and planning, as well as the development of effective service schedules.
- Provide core instructional resources to school leaders and teachers to support student outcomes.
- Observe and provide feedback on teacher instruction execution.
- Support school leaders and teachers with effective co-teaching practices
- Lead ISE Walkthroughs with School and Regional Leaders
Essential Functions - Supporting IEP and Compliance Processes at School Sites:
- Oversee and support staff member skill in IEP development and meeting facilitation
- Serve as special education “compliance expert” and provide consultation on compliance-related questions and concerns, create compliance systems and structures to support campuses and coaching scope and sequence.
- Participate in recurring compliance walk-throughs at school sites.
- Use compliance indicators to create department acon plans to remediate.
Essential Functions - Professional Development:
- Support the development of regional and school based professional development plans to support staff.
- Co-create and facilitate professional development opportunities on campuses.
- Build and maintain Rocketship’s professional development library in collaboration with key ISE team members.
Qualifications:
- Valid Special Education teaching credential or administrative license; Master’s degree in Special Education or related field strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated track record of improving academic outcomes for students with disabilities.
- Embrace the mission of Rocketship Education and our inclusive approach to serving students with disabilities.
- Knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations associated with special education.
- Experience working with students with a range of disabilities (learning disabilities, emotional and behavioral disorders, ausm, etc.).
- Experience implementing student supports through a Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)
- Experience working with elementary-age students (strongly preferred)
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment
- Ability to be flexible and adaptive in a work environment that is constantly evolving.
- Perform a variety of specialized and responsible tasks: maintain records, establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with students, parents, other school personnel, meet schedule and compliance deadlines.
- Possession of a valid driver’s license: willingness to provide own transportation in conduct of work assignments as you will be required to travel from site to site to work with students and faculty at all sites.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and communicate with both adults and children. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally climb ladders. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is moderate to high.
Compensation:
Commensurate with qualifications and experience, plus excellent health and wellness benefits, 403b retirement plan, flexible spending account (FSA), and generous paid time off.
Rocketship Public Schools provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Rocketship Public Schools complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
Rocketship Public Schools expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of Rocketship Public Schools’ employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated. Click here for our Sexual Harassment Policy For questions, concerns, or complaints, please contact Human Resources.
