Assistant Director of Special Education - Infinity Academy

## Description

# Assistant Director of Special Education - Infinity Academy

**Salary: $59,000-$70,000 annually, based on experience**

**Location: Springfield, MO**

**Job Type: Full-time, salaried/exempt**

**Schedule: Year-round school setting**

**Program: Private alternative school serving middle and high school students**

## Lead a school program designed for students who need something different.

The Arc of the Ozarks is seeking an **Assistant Director of Special Education** to help lead Infinity Academy, a private year-round school serving middle and high school students with autism spectrum disorder, giftedness, learning differences, and other developmental disabilities.

Infinity Academy provides an individualized learning environment where students can grow academically, socially, emotionally, and independently. Our students benefit from a supportive school model that blends academics, life skills, social communication, executive functioning, arts, career exploration, and individualized support.

This is a strong opportunity for a certified special education professional who is ready to step further into school leadership while staying closely connected to students, families, and staff development.

## What You’ll Do

As the Assistant Director of Special Education, you will work closely with the Director of Educational Services to support the daily operations, student programming, staff supervision, family communication, and continued growth of Infinity Academy.

In this role, you will

• Help lead daily school operations and educational programming
• Supervise, coach, train, and support Infinity Academy staff
• Assist with student enrollment, admissions, transitions, and discharge planning
• Partner with families, guardians, staff, and community partners to support student success
• Support individualized academic, social, emotional, behavioral, and life-skills planning
• Help maintain student records, documentation, attendance, reporting, and compliance standards
• Support positive behavior supports and intervention strategies
• Assist with parent conferences, school scheduling, staff schedules, and student activities
• Participate in staff recruitment, interviewing, onboarding, and training
• Help develop and evaluate programming that supports student growth and independence
• Model best practices in special education, student support, and team leadership

## What Makes Infinity Academy Different

Infinity Academy is designed for students who may not thrive in a traditional school setting. Students work in a supportive, individualized environment that helps address academic needs while also building skills in resilience, self-reliance, emotional regulation, social communication, executive functioning, and independence.

Our program primarily supports students with autism spectrum disorder, gifted learners, and students with developmental disabilities or learning differences. The Assistant Director plays an important role in helping students, families, and staff feel supported, understood, and equipped for success.

## Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Special Education from an accredited college or university
• Current Missouri teaching certificate in Special Education and/or Learning Disabilities, such as ED and/or LD
• At least six years of professional experience working with individuals with autism spectrum disorder, gifted learners, or other developmental disabilities
• At least two years of supervisory, administrative, leadership, or management experience
• Direct experience supporting individuals with autism spectrum disorder
• Experience in educational or community-based services for individuals with developmental disabilities
• Licensed and insured driver with the ability to obtain a Missouri Class E Driver’s License

## Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Special Education or a related field
• Certification or specialized training in Autism Spectrum Disorder, Gifted Education, or High Incidence Special Education
• Experience in an alternative education setting
• Experience with positive behavior supports, behavior intervention strategies, or cognitive behavior management techniques
• Experience supporting students with emotional regulation, sensory sensitivities, executive functioning needs, or social communication needs

## Skills That Will Help You Succeed

The ideal candidate is a steady, compassionate leader who can build trust with students, families, and staff. Strong communication, organization, problem-solving, and follow-through are important in this role.

You’ll be successful in this position if you are able to

• Lead and support a team with consistency and empathy
• Build strong relationships with students, families, staff, and community partners
• Communicate clearly and professionally
• Balance daily operations with long-term program goals
• Adapt in a fast-paced school environment
• Use good judgment when supporting student, family, or staff needs
• Stay current on special education, autism services, and positive behavior support practices
• Support the mission of helping individuals with disabilities grow in independence and dignity

## Benefits

The Arc of the Ozarks offers a competitive benefits package, including

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance eligibility after a 0-day waiting period
• Employer-paid life insurance and AD&D coverage
• 403(b) retirement plan eligibility immediately, with employer match up to 4% after one year of service
• Sick and vacation accrual
• 7 paid holidays per year
• Paid day off to celebrate your birthday

## Why Join The Arc of the Ozarks?

At The Arc of the Ozarks, we believe every person deserves the opportunity to reach their fullest potential. Our educational services team is committed to creating a supportive, individualized school environment where students can build confidence, independence, and meaningful skills for the future.

If you are passionate about special education, student success, autism services, and leading a dedicated team, we encourage you to apply.

**Apply today and help shape the future of Infinity Academy.**

## Qualifications

**Definition**

The Assistant Director of Infinity Academy is a professional, program management and supervisory position for Infinity Academy. Infinity Academy is a program with the Arc of the Ozarks and is a private school that serves the educational, social, and life-skill needs of middle and high school-aged students who need an alternative to traditional schooling. The Assistant Director is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the school, including recruiting, evaluating, and planning programs for students and their families.

Infinity Academy is a year-round school that addresses the student’s individual academic, social and emotional needs in a supportive environment. Infinity students follow a work at their own pace structure while working on underlying cognitive skills that have not been fully developed, which impacts their thinking and learning. The Academy also assists students in developing character traits such as resilience and self-reliance. Students can earn a high school diploma through programs of Acellus Academy and Power Home School Curricula. Both are remote, learning-based, with customized instruction and materials. In addition to the academic curricula at Infinity, arts, social, and career exploration and apprenticeships are offered to support executive functioning, functional life skills, and social communication.

The Infinity program primarily supports students who have an autism spectrum disorder, are gifted learners, and students with other developmental disabilities. These students are prone to sharing a common disparity between cognitive, emotional, and physical development and may experience difficulties with emotional regulation, sensory overload, and sensory sensitivities. They may have difficulty with social interaction and communication.

The Assistant Director functions as the Qualified Educational Professional and in conjunction with the Director of Educational Services, is responsible for the development, implementation, coordination, and evaluation of the student’s educational, social, and life skill plans adapted and developed based on their needs.

Work includes day-to-day oversight of the Infinity facility and supervision of the staff and students Additional responsibilities include working closely with the Director of Educational Services to develop the design, evaluation, monitoring, and recruitment strategies for the delivery of effective programming, assuring that standards for licensure, certification and/or accreditation are met and maintained as well as supervising assigned staff, and contracted professionals in implementing programs.

General supervision is received from the Director of Educational Services; however, the employee is expected to exercise independent judgment and initiative within the limit of established guidelines and procedures. This is a salaried, exempt position.

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| **Essential Job Functions** | |

| ***Mission and Core Values*** | Serves as an ambassador of the mission and purpose of The Arc of the Ozarks. |

| Supports students in the school setting so they may continue to work towards independence in their community and utilize resources. |

| ***Personnel Management*** | Supervises Infinity staff. |

| Observes staff interaction with Infinity families and students; and prepares performance evaluations of all assigned staff. |

| Participates in interviewing, hiring, and training staff candidates. |

| Collaborates with the Director to provide New Parent, Staff and Volunteer orientations. |

| Arrange and complete staff schedules, Infinity transportation schedule and coordinate with staff and professionals on student schedules. |

| ***School Program Oversight, Design and Development*** | Develops, collects data and implements the Infinity Strategic Plan for advancing academic and therapeutic achievement. |

| In conjunction with the Director, supervises the enrollment, transfer, discharge, and admission process for students and ensures documentation, records, and files are kept in accordance with agency guidelines. |

| Participates with the Director and other administrative staff in the formulation and implementation of administrative procedures, rules, and regulations pertinent to program services. |

| Participates in activities relating to the development, coordination, and implementation of the Educational Services Department. |

| Works with the Director in the development of programs to meet strategic planning for the educational services department by implementing, coordinating, and evaluating therapeutic and academic programs adapted to the individual needs of Infinity students. Reports on and prepares monthly Infinity operational reports |

| Collaborate with the Director to foster, develop and coordinate individual and group activities with families, community organizations and businesses for Infinity Academy |

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| ***Quality Assurance and Compliance*** | Provide leadership and direction for staff to assist in maintaining standards and ensure training compliance. |

| Keeps current on education topics relevant to general and special education. |

| Provide individual and group guidance for individuals and parents/guardians to develop and initiate transition goals and objectives for st |