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