What is a director of special education and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Experts

Ryan Allen,

Marie Leahy

A director of special education is an individual responsible for overseeing and managing programs and services for students with disabilities within an academic setting. They work within the school district to ensure that students with special needs receive appropriate educational support and services. This includes developing Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), coordinating assessments, managing resources and budgets, and working closely with teachers, parents, and other professionals to ensure that each student's needs are met.

What general advice would you give to a Director Of Special Education?

Ryan Allen

Assistant Professor of Comparative and International Education and Leadership, Soka University of America

Education goes beyond teaching in a classroom or school. Often people hear 'Educational Leadership' and they think of some kind of school principal or other administrator. These are certainly important careers for the space, but they are only a part of a broader range of possibilities. There are a range of careers in the EdTech space, for instance, that need good people who understand various aspects of what happens in classrooms. Likewise, educational development and the NGO world are full of amazing opportunities that offer exciting careers that are rewarding. These jobs might see a lot of travel and broader global connections that you don't often see in the traditional K-12 space.

ScoreDirector Of Special EducationUS Average

Salary

6.3

Avg. Salary $80,520

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

9.1

Growth Rate 4%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.37%

Asian 3.63%

Black or African American 9.39%

Hispanic or Latino 11.63%

Unknown 3.96%

White 71.02%

Gender

female 70.41%

male 29.59%

Age - 42

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Stress Level

9.1

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

8.3

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

5.5

Work Life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Director Of Special Education?

Pros

Making a positive difference in the lives of students with disabilities
Developing and implementing policies and procedures
Opportunities for career advancement
Building relationships with families and students
Providing support and advocacy for students with disabilities

Cons

Dealing with complex legal requirements and regulations
Difficulties in balancing competing priorities
Managing challenging behaviors from students or staff members
Dealing with funding constraints and budget cuts
Addressing parent and community concerns and criticisms

Key steps to become a director of special education

Explore director of special education education requirements

Most common director of special education degrees

Bachelor's

51.4 %

Master's

33.3 %

Doctorate

7.2 %

Start to develop specific director of special education skills

Skills	Percentages
Professional Development	13.42%
Autism	10.39%
Education Programs	6.37%
Behavior Management	6.19%
K-12	5.29%

Research director of special education duties and responsibilities

Manage all office procedures including successfully meeting DCFS visits and requirements.
Provide oversight of fiduciary hold, non-publicly trade assets within the bank's wealth management department.
Integrate a customer relationship management application for improve tracking and communication for all study abroad relate students and activities.
Integrate a customer relationship management application for improve tracking and communication for all study abroad relate students and activities.

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Prepare your director of special education resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your director of special education resume.

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Apply for director of special education jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a director of special education job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

Average director of special education salary

The average Director Of Special Education salary in the United States is $80,520 per year or $39 per hour. Director of special education salaries range between $55,000 and $115,000 per year.

Average Director Of Special Education Salary

$80,520 Yearly

$38.71 hourly

How do directors of special education rate their job?