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Director of Student Services
EducationYou oversee every non-academic support system in the district — counseling, special education, psychology, social work, the works. You're the person who decides how limited resources get allocated across thousands of students, and every decision you make will upset someone. It's administrative, it's political, and the stakes are children's lives.
Salary Range
Low
$78k
Median
$98k
High
$130k
10-Year Growth
4%
US Workers
45K
Education
EdS or PhD in Education/Psychology + administrative certification
Environment
indoor
Tools & Technical Skills
- ▸District-wide program administration
- ▸Special education compliance (IDEA, Section 504)
- ▸Budget management & grant writing
- ▸Data analysis & program evaluation
- ▸Policy development
- ▸Board presentation & reporting
- ▸Multi-agency coordination
People & Mindset Skills
- ▸Executive leadership
- ▸Strategic planning
- ▸Political navigation
- ▸Communication
- ▸Advocacy
- ▸Decision-making
- ▸Cultural competence
Learn the skills
Courses and certifications to get you job-ready
Budget management & grant writing
Data analysis & program evaluation
Board presentation & reporting
What you'll actually do
- 01Oversee district-wide counseling, psychology, and special education services
- 02Manage budgets for student support programs across multiple schools
- 03Develop policies for crisis intervention and mental health support
- 04Present data to the school board on student outcomes
- 05Coordinate with external agencies, courts, and community organizations
- 06Make resource allocation decisions that never have a perfect answer
Related Shifts
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