Director, Special Education Teacher Residency Program

Job Description:

Fairfield University’s School of Education and Human Development is developing a clinically rich, equity-centered Special Education Teacher Residency Program in partnership with local districts to recruit, train, mentor, and certify the next generation of special educators. The Director of the Special Education Teacher Preparation Residency Program will lead the creation and implementation of this innovative graduate level residency model, designed to prepare aspiring special education teachers through fieldwork, coursework, mentorship, and community partnerships.

The Director will oversee every aspect of the residency initiative from program design and district collaboration to candidate recruitment, supervision, and continuous improvement. Grounded in Fairfield University’s Jesuit principle of cura personalis, the program will prioritize the development of highly skilled, reflective, and compassionate special educators prepared to serve students with disabilities in high need school communities. This is a unique opportunity to build a first of its kind program at Fairfield University and to play a leading role in strengthening the pipeline of diverse, well prepared special education teachers for districts with critical staffing needs.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Design & Implementation

• Design the residency model and gradual-release framework; develop all guiding program documents, handbooks, rubrics, and milestone calendars.

• Partner with ESTP faculty and the department chair to align or redesign courses and shepherd curriculum through the university's approval process.

• Manage the Year 1 program budget; maintain complete records and serve as primary liaison to the funder and grants office at Fairfield University.

• Collaborate across ESTP on marketing, communications, and institutional visibility.

Cohort Recruitment, Selection & Support

• Create culturally responsive recruitment targeting preservice candidates, with specific outreach to paraprofessionals and long-term substitutes in partner districts;

• Coordinate admissions with Fairfield University Graduate Admissions in alignment with SEHD and CT SDE educator preparation requirements;

• Design professional learning for the residency cohort;

• Create tracking and reporting systems.

University & District Partnership Management

• Serve as Fairfield's primary liaison to school districts; build sustained relationships with district leadership, principals, and mentor special education teachers;

• Design and deliver mentor teacher professional development; coordinate distribution of mentor stipends.

Grant Compliance, Data & Reporting

• Design and maintain a data system tracking all required indicators;

• Submit accurate, on schedule reports to the funder with narrative analysis of program impact.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree in special education, education or Educational Leadership,

• CT State Certification in education and minimum five (5) PK-12 experience

• Demonstrated experience coaching teachers or teacher candidates with measurable impact on instructional practice,

• Experience designing and facilitating professional development for adult learners,

• Experience managing multi-faceted teams including administrators, educational professionals, faculty, staff, and students,

• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion with a professional record of work in or alongside historically underserved communities,

• Strong written and oral communication skills.

• Experience working with grant-funded programs; proficiency in data management and grant reporting.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Doctoral degree (Ed.D. or Ph.D.) in Special Education or a related field,

• Certification in Special Education

• Experience teaching in an urban or high-needs school,

• Direct experience within a formal teacher residency program (any role),

• Familiarity with Connecticut's Alliance District framework, the TEAM mentoring program, and CT SDE educator preparation requirements,

• Established relationships with CT school communities; higher education experience a plus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Based at Fairfield University's main campus with regular travel to partner school sites. Occasional state and national travel. Valid driver's license and reliable transportation required. This is a grant-funded position; continuation is contingent upon program performance and funding availability.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Salary: $70,000–$90,000 annually, commensurate with experience. Fairfield University offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, retirement contributions, tuition benefits, and paid time off, consistent with university policy for exempt administrative staff.

Category:

Academic - Admin

Performs such other duties, responsibilities, and activities as required by supervisor and as departmental/University needs indicate.

*Disclaimer

The above information indicates the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain and should not be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, activities, and/or qualifications required or expected of employees assigned to this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change and new ones may be assigned at any time, with or without notice.

Fairfield University provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

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