Lead the Future of Support for Gifted and Twice-Exceptional Students
Menlo Park Academy is seeking an innovative, student-centered leader to serve as our Dean of Social-Emotional Learning & Special Education. This newly expanded leadership role is at the heart of an exciting transformation as Menlo launches its Social-Emotional Learning Center of Excellence, a schoolwide initiative designed to ensure every gifted child receives the personalized support, advocacy, and opportunities they need to thrive.
As the Dean, you will lead a multidisciplinary team of intervention specialists, counselors, and support professionals dedicated to serving gifted and twice-exceptional (2e) learners. You will help shape a comprehensive system of academic, social-emotional, and behavioral supports that allows students to reach their full potential while ensuring compliance, excellence, and innovation in service delivery.
This is an opportunity to build something meaningful. You will work alongside a collaborative leadership team to strengthen special education services, expand social-emotional learning initiatives, refine positive behavior supports, and help create an environment where every student feels challenged, supported, and connected.
Why Menlo?
Menlo Park Academy is an intentionally different public school dedicated to developing the potential of gifted children. Serving students from more than 40 school districts across Northeast Ohio, Menlo offers a nationally recognized educational experience built on acceleration, differentiation, creativity, and whole-child development.
Consistently ranked among Ohio’s highest-performing schools, Menlo is currently the #1 ranked charter elementary and middle school in Ohio according to U.S. News & World Report.
Our students are curious, passionate, and exceptionally capable. Many are twice-exceptional learners who require thoughtful, individualized support. We believe gifted students deserve specialized services that help them thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
What You’ll Lead
- Provide strategic leadership for Menlo’s Social-Emotional Learning Center of Excellence.
- Develop systems and programs that support student wellness, belonging, resilience, and self-advocacy.
- Lead a collaborative team of counselors, intervention specialists, paraprofessionals, and support staff focused on whole-child development.
- Partner with families and educators to ensure students receive coordinated, responsive support.
Special Education Leadership
- Oversee all special education services and ensure compliance with IDEA, Section 504, ADA, and state regulations.
- Lead the development and implementation of high-quality IEPs and 504 Plans.
- Ensure gifted and twice-exceptional students receive individualized support that recognizes both their strengths and challenges.
- Collaborate with families, outside providers, and evaluators to coordinate services and supports.
Positive School Culture & Student Support
- Help shape and strengthen schoolwide systems that promote positive behavior, belonging, and student engagement.
- Collaborate with school leadership on PBIS initiatives and Menlo’s House Program.
- Use behavioral and student support data to drive continuous improvement.
- Promote restorative practices, conflict resolution, and proactive interventions.
Faculty Development & Collaboration
- Support teachers in meeting the academic, behavioral, and emotional needs of gifted and twice-exceptional students.
- Provide coaching and professional development related to special education, SEL, behavioral supports, and differentiated instruction.
- Foster strong collaboration between general education teachers, intervention specialists, counselors, and families.
- Serve as a trusted resource and problem-solver for staff.
What We’re Looking For
- Strong knowledge of special education law, compliance, and best practices.
- Experience leading teams and building systems that improve student outcomes.
- Exceptional communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills.
- Commitment to creating an inclusive, supportive, and student-centered school culture.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- Master’s degree preferred.
- Experience in special education, student support services, school leadership, or related fields.
- Strong organizational, problem-solving, and project management skills.
- Proficiency with Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, and student information systems.
- Ability to adapt in a fast-paced environment with multiple priorities.
- Must successfully pass all required federal, state, and local background checks.
Join Us
If you are passionate about helping gifted and twice-exceptional students flourish and want to help build a model of excellence in social-emotional learning and student support, we invite you to join our team.
At Menlo Park Academy, we believe every gifted child deserves to be known, challenged, supported, and inspired.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $50,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
