Assistant Director of Special Education - Infinity Academy

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.

 

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 

 

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 students at Infinity.

Assists in maintaining quality assurance 

Investigates reports of infractions of the rules; complaints of students, parents, and/or guardians, employees, and community stakeholders; and takes appropriate action or refers problems to the Director for resolution.  

Ensure attendance and billing for services are accurate and completed by the required time frame.

Leadership and Communication 

Direct and coordinate staff supervision through modeling best practices as well as observations and written follow up and recommendations.

Meet with parents, guardians, and students to plan, communicate and support progress.

Provides and supports an environment that sets the standard for excellence in an educational setting. 

Keeps the Director informed through periodic reports concerning various phases of program responsibility.

School Program Operations 

Arrange and schedule for parent conferences and provide support throughout the day of the conferences.

Work with the Director to develop and distribute the annual school calendar.

Provide and coordinate the educational program for students including assessment, planning, intervention and evaluation. Review reports and related information and distributes to parents.

Monitors enrollment and works with the Director to recruit families and students to maintain enrollment requirements. 

May teach classes, organize and conduct staff training and accompany students on field trips.

Supervises all functions of the Infinity program for The Arc of the Ozarks and assists in development of the annual program budget; tracks, monitors and manages program resources within that budget.

 

 

 

 

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

Ability to exercise good judgment and discretion.

 

Ability to work with and respect people with intellectual disabilities and other developmental disabilities.

 

Ability to work varied and flexible hours and to accept and adapt to changes in 

assignments, methods, policies, etc.

 

Thorough and practical knowledge of the principles and practices of elementary, 

secondary and special education.

 

Considerable knowledge of positive behavior supports principles and practices, and cognitive behavior management techniques as they apply to therapeutic treatment and education for those with autism spectrum disorder, gifted learners, and other developmental disabilities.

     

Supervisory Skills

     

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other Directors and administrators, teachers, therapists, parents, guardians, and stake holders.

     

Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written form.

 

A licensed and insured driver, with ability to obtain a Missouri Class E driver’s license.

 

Minimum Experience and Training Qualifications

 

Six years of professional experience (two of which must be in administrative management capacity) in working with people with autism spectrum disorder, gifted learners, or related developmental disabilities.  This experience must have been involved in the provision of educational or community-based programs for people with intellectual disabilities and other developmental disabilities. 

Specific experience with individuals with autism is required.  

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in special education is required. Master’s in Special Education with an emphasis or certification in ASD, Gifted Ed or High Incidence Special Education (i.e., mild ASD, LD and EBD are under “high incidence”) preferred.

A current teacher’s certificate with the State of Missouri required. The teacher’s certificate should be in ED and/or LD. 

 

Traits and Characteristics Desired

The Assistant Director will be a person who is passionate about working with individuals with disabilities and increasing their independence as a valued member of the community.  A sincere dedication to the mission and the people served by The Arc of the Ozarks is crucial. 

The Assistant Director should have empathetic and effective communication skills as applicable in the education setting and with the diverse group of students, employees and parents involved in the Infinity program. 

Must have the capacity to cultivate and maximize Infinity team relationships.  Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build authentic relationships with staff, students, parents and guardians is valued. 

Demonstrates empathy and compassion, with effective conflict resolution.

The Assistant Director must be adaptable and able to work successfully in a fast-paced environment with a strong work ethic.  They are able to delegate effectively and demonstrate solid time management skills. 

The Director should be open to feedback, possess a growth mindset, and exhibit a willingness for learning opportunities (themselves and staff) in order to better themselves and the Infinity team at The Arc of the Ozarks.