About the Job
As the Founding Head of Inclusion, you will play a
pivotal role in bringing Sankoré International School to life by designing and
launching an exceptional, equity-driven inclusion program rooted in local
relevance, global competence, disability justice, and deep joy. You will lead
the creation of systems, curriculum adaptations, professional learning
pathways, and learner supports that ensure every student—especially those with
diverse learning needs—flourishes.
You will work hand-in-hand with the Head of School
and fellow founding leaders (Learning and innovation, Operations, and
Wellbeing) to build a thriving, inclusive learning community where every child
is valued, challenged, and celebrated. Your leadership will ensure learning
remains rigorous, accessible, culturally grounded, and alive for all children.
We aren’t walking into a school—we’re building one.
The work will be complex, imaginative, and deeply meaningful. It will stretch
you, inspire you, and transform you. And it will be worth it.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership for Inclusive Learning
- Co-create and uphold a powerful, equity-centered vision for
inclusive learning at Sankoré, ensuring all learners—especially those with
diverse learning needs—are supported to thrive.
- Use data (student learning profiles, IEP progress,
assessments, interventions, family and community feedback) and research to
shape systems that continuously improve outcomes for learners with
disabilities and learning differences.
- Build and maintain sustainable structures—including
documentation, intervention frameworks, referral systems,
progress-monitoring tools, and inclusion practices—to ensure long-term
impact and scalability.
- Leverage strategic partnerships with specialists, therapists,
community knowledge holders, and inclusive education networks to enrich
support for learners and Learning Guides.
- Lead efforts to position Sankoré as a national and regional
model for inclusive, progressive, and equity-driven education.
Inclusive Curriculum & Learning Design
- Lead the adaptation, design, and documentation of an inclusive
curriculum that is accessible, rigorous, joyful, identity-affirming, and
responsive to learners with diverse needs.
- Ensure the curriculum integrates universal design for learning
(UDL), differentiated instruction, multimodal approaches, individualized
learning supports, and accommodations aligned with global best practices
in inclusive education.
- Ensure assessments reflect a whole-child approach and are
meaningful, flexible, and responsive to learners’ varied abilities,
communication modes, and strengths.
- Collaborate with curriculum teams to break down big ideas into
accessible learning experiences across grade levels—ensuring barrier-free
participation for all students.
- Guide the selection of adaptive learning resources, assistive
technologies, inclusive literature, and tools that reflect Sankoré’s
values and support learner independence.
- Support curriculum iteration and growth as we expand toward
Grade 12, ensuring inclusion systems evolve appropriately across
developmental stages.
Instructional Coaching & Professional Learning
- Build and lead a robust professional learning program focused
on inclusive practices, differentiation, IEP implementation, behavioral
support, and reflective practice.
- Lead onboarding and ongoing development of Learning Guides and
support staff (e.g., teaching assistants, inclusion aides, specialists) to
build confidence and competence in inclusive pedagogy.
- Conduct classroom observations and provide coaching, modeling
strategies for accessible instruction, co-teaching approaches, and
inclusive classroom management.
- Strengthen and iterate Learning Guide development rubrics,
personal learning plans, and portfolios to embed inclusive teaching
standards and competencies.
- Champion pedagogy that is agentic, inclusive, joyful,
rigorous, culturally grounded, and affirming of neurodiversity.
Learning Innovation, Research & Inclusive
Practice Development
- Embed research-based inclusive practices and support staff in
experimenting, piloting, and reflecting on new approaches that support
diverse learners.
- Stay informed about global and local trends in special needs
education, neurodiversity, therapeutic interventions, and inclusive
models—and adapt them thoughtfully to Sankoré’s context.
- Attend and present at relevant professional learning
convenings, networks, and conferences focused on inclusion and special
needs education.
- Build and sustain partnerships with schools, universities,
therapeutic centers, and research organizations to strengthen inclusive
practice.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement, inquiry,
documentation, and reflection across the school, with a particular focus
on inclusion.
- Collaborate with learners, families, educators, and external
specialists to co-create interventions and adapt learning experiences.
- Explore inclusive models rooted in African knowledge systems,
community wisdom, and global progressive pedagogies.
Team & Culture Leadership
- Model Sankoré’s core values through compassionate,
equity-driven leadership that centers dignity and respect for all
learners.
- Collaborate with Heads of School, Academic Leadership,
Operations, and Wellbeing to align systems that sustain a holistic,
joyful, inclusive school environment.
- Build trusting relationships with staff, families, and
learners—ensuring transparent communication, shared purpose, and strong
advocacy for inclusive practices.
- Address conflict with clarity, care, and professionalism,
modeling courageous conversations and values-aligned decision-making.
- Champion an affirming and equitable school culture that
elevates children’s voices, honors neurodiversity, and embraces diverse
lived experiences.
- Contribute to the recruitment, onboarding, and retention of
high-impact educators and specialists committed to inclusive education.
In the first year you will…
Before School Launch
- Design inclusive curriculum adaptations and support the
selection of accessible learning materials, assistive technologies, and
resources that meet the needs of diverse learners.
- Contribute to the hiring and onboarding of Learning Guides and
support staff, ensuring strong capacity for inclusive and differentiated
instruction.
- Co-lead learning design for the founding team, ensuring
universal design for learning (UDL), individualized supports, and
inclusive pedagogies are embedded from the start.
- Set up school-wide systems for inclusion: IEP/ILP processes,
intervention pathways, progress-monitoring systems, documentation
templates, accommodations protocols, communication channels with families,
and referral procedures.
- Establish structures for coaching, planning, observation, and
feedback tailored to inclusive teaching practices.
- Support family recruitment through inclusive community events,
orientations, and conversations that build trust and communicate the
school’s inclusive vision.
During Staff Orientation
- Co-lead vision alignment to ensure all staff share a deep
understanding of inclusion, neurodiversity, child protection, and
whole-child development.
- Lead training on inclusive pedagogy, behavior support,
differentiation, co-teaching models, and accessible classroom setup.
- Collaborate on building school schedules, intervention blocks,
and support models that allow equitable access to learning for all
children.
- Build early trust with staff and families by introducing
inclusive systems, sharing expectations, and establishing communication
pathways for ongoing support.
First Month of School
- Mentor Learning Guides and support staff daily, modeling
inclusive practices and co-teaching strategies.
- Observe classrooms to identify strengths, challenges, and
immediate needs for learners requiring additional support.
- Launch and refine coaching structures, team meetings,
inclusion check-ins, and data reflection routines.
- Establish or adjust IEP/ILP supports based on real-time
learner needs and assessments.
Ongoing Responsibilities
- Facilitate regular professional development focused on
inclusion, behavior support, assistive technology, data-driven
intervention, and reflective practice.
- Monitor learner outcomes (academic, social-emotional,
behavioral) and adapt curriculum accommodations, intervention plans, and
support systems accordingly.
- Lead inclusive learning exhibitions, portfolio showcases, and
parent workshops that celebrate diverse learner strengths and growth.
- Support staff wellbeing and ongoing capacity building through
retreats, reflective learning spaces, and coaching cycles.
- Track and share progress toward schoolwide inclusion and
learning goals, ensuring transparency and continuous improvement.
- Maintain strong relationships with families, specialists, and
external partners to ensure coordinated, holistic support for learners
with diverse needs.
Qualifications
You are a learning designer, educator coach, and
systems builder who dreams big and delivers thoughtfully.
You have the following experience:
Required Experience
- 10+ years of experience in education, including work as a
special needs educator, inclusion coordinator, learning support
specialist, instructional coach, curriculum lead, or school leader.
- Demonstrated expertise in designing, adapting, and
differentiating curriculum to meet the needs of diverse learners,
including those with disabilities, learning differences, and
exceptionalities.
- Proven ability to design and lead adult learning, including
professional development on inclusive pedagogy, differentiation, behavior
support, and universal design for learning (UDL).
- Familiarity with progressive, inquiry-focused, and
child-centered curricula (e.g., PYP, Common Ground Collaborative, Reggio
Emilia, Montessori, Waldorf, Kenyan Competency-Based Curriculum), and
experience adapting these models for accessibility and inclusion.
- Preferred: Knowledge of Kenyan and/or international frameworks
for special needs education, regulatory requirements, child protection
expectations, and accreditation processes.
You Demonstrate the Following Strengths
- Strategic vision for inclusion paired with the ability to
build practical, grounded systems that support learners and staff
day-to-day.
- High emotional intelligence, cultural humility, and deep care
for community, especially marginalized or historically excluded learners
and families.
- Strong collaboration, facilitation, coaching, and
communication skills, with the ability to mentor diverse teams toward
inclusive, strengths-based practice.
- A commitment to decolonizing education, challenging
deficit-based narratives, and centering African excellence, disability
justice, and learner agency.
- A profound love of learning—for yourself, your colleagues, and
the learners you serve.
- Deep trust in children, including those with disabilities or
learning differences, as capable, curious, and deserving of autonomy,
dignity, and joyful learning.
- The ability to see the strengths in every learner, family, and
colleagues, and nurture their potential through compassionate,
evidence-based practice.
- A strong capacity to embrace uncertainty, iterate, and learn
from missteps, modeling growth mindset and reflective practice.
- The highest degree of integrity, self-awareness, and humility,
including the courage to own mistakes and continuously improve.
How to Apply
We are an equal opportunity employer and value
diversity, all interested please email the following materials to rcrook@shofco.org.
The subject of your email should be: Your name, Head of Inclusion Application.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
- Curriculum Vitae
- Cover Letter (max 2 pages) addressing:
- Your motivation for this role
- Relevant experiences leading transformational educational
initiatives
- Your vision for education and how you’ll bring it to life at
Sankoré
- Your expected salary range
- Optional Video (Max 2 minutes): A brief introduction and why
this role matters to you
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Applications
should reach us no later than 10th December 2025.
