Hiring for the 2025-26 Academic Year

WHO WE ARE

Heartwood Community School is a community-focused, tuition-free charter school serving Jasper, Beaufort, and Hampton Counties in South Carolina. We believe in educating the whole child—nurturing each student academically, socially, emotionally, and physically. Honoring every child's unique journey, we bridge home and school to foster a compassionate, empowering environment where students feel seen and valued.

Our mission goes beyond academics; we guide students to become resilient problem-solvers, compassionate community builders, globally minded citizens, emotionally intelligent leaders, and lifelong learners. Embracing mistakes as part of growth, we equip students to thrive in school and life—ready to make a meaningful impact in their communities and beyond.

THE ROLE

The Dean of Student Supports at Heartwood Community School will play a critical role in fostering an inclusive learning environment where students receiving exceptional education services, multilingual support, and broader student services thrive. Reporting directly to the Principal, you will lead the development and implementation of an integrated support model that ensures every student receives the necessary resources to reach their full potential.

We are looking for a visionary leader with the compassion, commitment, and drive to create a supportive, nurturing, strengths-based culture. The ideal candidate embodies Heartwood's dedication to high standards and accountability in pursuit of transformative outcomes for students. High-performing individuals who are ready to join our mission to redefine education in South Carolina—and who believe in achieving ambitious goals for all students—are encouraged to apply.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Establish the vision and systems for special population programs (Exceptional Education, ML, Gifted, and Section 504), ensuring alignment with school-wide goals.
• Design and implement research-based math, reading, and writing programs for students with special needs, requiring academic intervention, or multilingual support.
• Support and enhance classroom instruction through regular monitoring, observation, model teaching, and coaching.
• Ensure effective, inclusive instruction for students with IEPs in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) and track progress on IEP goals, objectives, and transition plans.
• Lead schoolwide professional development focused on special population programming.
• Manage compliance with timelines and requirements for IEPs, 504 plans, and state and federal standards, including collaboration with external stakeholders.
• Oversee rostering, scheduling, and database management for compliance with ML, IEP, and 504 requirements.
• Address sensitive inquiries and concerns related to student support services, fostering clear communication with families and external partners.

SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS

We are unapologetically committed to recruiting the best people in our field. We seek only those team members who set the highest standards for themselves and are passionate about making a lasting impact on the lives of children.

• Deep commitment to Heartwood Community School's mission and the whole-child philosophy, choosing to contribute to a community dedicated to meaningful, lasting impact.
• True team player who celebrates the achievements of others, finds joy in shared successes, and understands that individual accomplishments are only as strong as the team's collective impact.
• Exceptional instructional and relationship building skills, driven by a belief in each student's potential and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
• Strong personal organization, planning abilities, and attention to detail, ensuring a structured and inspiring learning environment.
• Passion for lifelong learning, with a drive to master content, continuously improve, and inspire students with enthusiasm for the subject matter.
• Proven ability to inspire, motivate, and engage children and adults, fostering curiosity, confidence, and a love for learning in every member of our community.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor's degree required, Master's degree in exceptional education, education administration, or a related field preferred
• Active South Carolina exceptional education certification (or ability to transfer current certification to South Carolina)
• At least three years of teaching and leadership experience in exceptional education, academic intervention, and/or Multilingual Leader
• Thorough knowledge of special education laws, regulations, and best practices.

COMPENSATION

The salary for this role is $80,000, with eligibility for a relocation package. To uphold our commitment to equitable and fair compensation, we offer a competitive salary and have a no-negotiation policy.

We are committed to building a best in class team that reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students. As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability.