Special Education Speech and Language Services Manager at KIPP

The Manager of Special Education Speech and Language Services serves as a critical leader within Special Education, providing strategic oversight, operational leadership, and accountability for high-quality speech-language services across KIPP Texas. This role collaborates closely with regional leaders, campus teams, compliance, legal, and talent partners to ensure that speech-language pathology services are delivered in a timely, legally compliant, culturally responsive, and instructionally impactful manner for students with disabilities. The Manager of Special Education Speech and Language Services leads the statewide implementation of speech-language pathology service systems across all KIPP Texas regions (Austin, DFW, Houston, San Antonio). This roledirectly supervises a statewide team of Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs), Speech-Language Pathologist Assistants (SLPa’s) and Speech Paras, ensuring consistency, compliance, and quality across assessment-informed service delivery, IEP implementation, and progress monitoring. The position is responsible for monitoring service delivery, managing caseloads, addressing escalations, improving systems, and building SLP capacity. The role partners cross-functionally to ensure that speech-language services meaningfully support access to instruction, IEP goals, language development, and student outcomes. Strategy: Supports the strategic vision for Special Education by developing and strengthening speech-language service delivery systems that promote compliance, equity, and high-quality intervention practices. Executes, monitors, and refines systems aligned to departmental goals and network priorities. Communication: Ensures clear, proactive communication across regional teams, campus leaders, SLPs, and cross-functional partners. Provides responsive support and escalation management to resolve complex service delivery concerns. Legal Framework & Compliance: Demonstrates deep knowledge of IDEA, Texas Education Code, TEA guidance, and ASHA standards related to speech-language services, service delivery models, documentation, and IEP implementation. Ensures systems promote legally defensible and student centered practices. ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES:  Leadership & Management • Manage and directly supervise a statewide team of 10-month Speech-Language Pathologists across four regions. • Provide ongoing coaching and professional development to build SLP capacity in compliance, evidence-based intervention, collaboration, and culturally responsive practices. • Lead regular one-on-ones, team meetings, calibration sessions, and professional learning experiences. • Ensure SLPs/SLPa’s are appropriately resourced, trained, and supported to meet service delivery, documentation, and quality expectations. • Monitor caseload distribution and service models; adjust staffing, coverage, and supports to mitigate risk and promote sustainability. • Support onboarding, mentorship, and performance management for new and existing SLPs and SLPas. Assessment Coordination & Oversight • Monitor the delivery, quality, and timeliness of speech-language services in accordance with IEPs, service minutes, and least restrictive environment requirements. • Serve as a point of contact for complex cases involving service delivery concerns, parent disputes, compensatory services, or compliance risks. • Partner with regional leaders, ARD facilitators, and campus teams to resolve barriers impacting service implementation. • Ensure consistency in speech-language service models across regions, including push-in, pull-out, consultative, and collaborative approaches. • Provide guidance on service recommendations to ensure alignment with student needs, instructional impact, and data-driven decision-making. • Provide guidance to SLPs and campus teams on AAC consideration, selection, implementation, and progress monitoring in alignment with IDEA and best practices. • Support teams in addressing complex AAC cases, including access across environments, staff training needs, and family collaboration. Data, Systems & Compliance Monitoring • Track service delivery, caseloads, missed minutes, and compliance metrics using internal dashboards and monitoring systems. • Analyze trends in speech-language data to identify risks, gaps, and system-level improvement opportunities. • Collaborate with Compliance and Legal teams to ensure speech-language services meet federal, state, and organizational standards. • Coordinate quality assurance reviews of IEP goals, service documentation, progress monitoring, and Medicaid-related requirements as applicable. • Use data to drive continuous improvement across SLP practices and service delivery systems. Training & Professional Learning • Co-facilitate professional development for SLPs, campus teams, and regional leaders related to: • Speech-language service delivery models • IEP goal development and progress monitoring • Language-based instructional strategies • Procedural safeguards and service compliance • Culturally and linguistically responsive practices • AAC Device Selection & Use • Provide onboarding training for new SLPs/SLPa’s to ensure consistency in expectations, systems, and clinical practices. • Coach SLPs on effective participation in ARD meetings, including communicating progress, collaborating with families, and supporting instructional teams. Cross-Functional Collaboration • Partner with ARD Facilitators, campus leaders, and instructional teams to strengthen IEP implementation and access to instruction. • Collaborate with Compliance, Legal, and Leadership teams to address complex cases, audits, and monitoring findings. • Support Legal, Compliance, and Leadership with data, documentation, and guidance related to complex cases or external inquiries. Perform all other tasks and duties as assigned