| Description | TITLE: Director of Special Education
CLASSIFICATION: Administrative – Exempt
REPORTS TO: Associate Superintendent or Superintendent
SUMMARY: Plans, directs, and administers special education and gifted education programs within district to identify and assess student needs. Develops and implements programs designed to improve student achievement for Special Education students. Ensure program compliance with federal and state special education laws. Provides training to staff to meet the needs of exceptional/special-needs population students.
POSITION SUPERVISES & OVERSEES:
- Related services team: Psychologists, Occupational and Physical Therapists, Social Workers, Speech/Language Pathologists, Speech Clinicians, Diagnosticians, Itinerate Teachers and Department Administrative Assistant.
- Secondary supervisor to special education teachers.
PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Ensures that students with disabilities receive appropriate accommodations and services in accordance with their Individual Education Plan (IEP) and the law.
- Investigates concerns by parents, staff, social services, OCR, state agencies, and the community. Counsels parents on their responsibilities and obligations. Coordinates mutually acceptable solutions. Acts as ombudsperson at the district-level.
- Represents the district to organizations such as the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind, alternative programs and community agencies.
- Ensures that the appropriate framework is in place to assist state and federal audit teams in monitoring approved programs. Advises School Principals and teachers of audit results and recommends changes as appropriate.
- Represents Exceptional Education to public and private school districts for the purpose of testing and evaluating special education students.
- Reviews staff referrals of students for special education program consideration. Ensures timelines for student evaluation and placement are met in accordance with special education mandates.
- Acts as liaison to high school department chairs and clerical staff.
- Authorizes changes for special education services to a more restrictive setting and the allocation of other resources in consultation with School Principals.
- Consults on teacher performance in special education as requested by School Principals.
- Ensures service center staff and special education department chairs are knowledgeable in curriculum, district initiatives and current best practices.
- Monitors special education student participation in state and district testing.
- Implements Medicaid in the Public Schools (MIPS) Program and Administrative Outreach.
- Ensures compliance with State Requirements for students in residential or day treatment.
- Administers Exceptional Education Extended School Year Program and compensatory programs.
- Mediates in multi-disciplinary conferences with parents of students who have been referred for special education evaluation when there are dissenting views of placement options.
- Supervises the process of legal placements of special education students and monitors students’ files for compliance documentation.
- Investigates concerns and complaints by parents, staff, social services, OCR (Office of Civil Rights), state agencies and the community. Mediates mutually acceptable solutions consistent with legal Procedural Safeguards.
- Represents the district to the community agencies.
- Interprets federal, state and district policies and regulations; advises parents, administrators, special and regular education teachers and related service personnel of the relevance of their individual roles.
- Represents Exceptional Education to RESD No. 2 and private schools for the purpose of evaluating of and providing appropriate services to students with special education needs.
- Provides staff development to both regular and special education teachers.
- Authorizes changes for special education services to be provided along a continuum for least restrictive environments (LRE).
- Supervises implementation of CORE curriculum by exceptional education staff.
- Monitors Compensatory Education Programs.
- Monitors Special Education Individual Education Plans (I.E.P.) and ensures compliance with state and federal statutes. Resolves I.E.P. issues with parents and staff by coordinating mutually acceptable plans. Recommends and in some cases develops new or revised I.E.P. in collaboration with parents and district staff.
- Advises parents of Special Education programs and facilities. Coordinates with parents, Program Specialists, Community Services and department chairs for the placement and/or transfer of students in accordance with parental desires and district policies and procedures. Represents parents and students to the district as an advocate.
- Analyzes transportation requests from parents and students and coordinates with the Transportation Department to ensure students can reach appropriate classes within the district.
- Plans, develops and conducts training programs for school psychologists and teachers in the area of Special Education. Plans, develops and conducts parent training workshops.
- Represents the district to parent groups such as the Special Education Parent Action Council.
- Reviews placement criteria and collaborates with special education administrative staff to recommend changes that meet with compliance issues and district policies and procedures.
- Determines student eligibility for placement in residential treatment centers.
- Supervises, evaluates, interviews and assigns activities and assess the performance of Health Service support and clerical staff.
- Collaborates with district instructional staff to develop and implement health education programs and curriculum. Provides health related training for teachers and other staff members, such as on health service practices, health management strategies and performance based outcomes.
- Develop health service plans and programs for a continuing program of assessment and education to promote optimum health among school children.
- Observes the health staff to determine effectiveness and recommend changes in functions and delivery of services.
- Compiles reports from school site nurses, analyze activities, determines corrective action, assigns duties and ensures completion.
- Develop multiple interdepartmental/site budgets based upon spending patterns, programmatic needs and district priorities. Manage several budgets as well as state and federal grants.
- Provides updates as needed and requested regarding the programs related to Health Services.
- Maintain professional growth through educational meetings, visiting related facilities, reading professional literature and exchanging ideas among the staff.
- Perform any and all job related duties assigned by supervisor.
EDUCATION:
- Doctorate in Education or Doctorate in Special Education preferred.
LICENSES OR CERTIFICATION:
- Administrative Certification required
- Special Education Certification preferred
- A valid Fingerprint Clearance Card
EXPERIENCE:
- Experience or training in both elementary and secondary education. Experience in supportive service plans and programs including special education and experience with or knowledge of Medicaid in the Public Schools Program (MIPS).
SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/ABILITES:
- Minimum of five (5) years administrative experience in a multiethnic and multicultural school district.
- Extensive experience in staff development and school improvement.
- Extensive experience in supervision of personnel in a variety of capacities.
- Working knowledge of Arizona school law and finance.
- Ability to work effectively with School Principals, teachers, support staff, parents, the Governing Board, state and community organizations.
- May use special needs adaptive devices
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- The working environment is primarily an office setting with travel as required.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:
- Twelve-month year, Administrative-Exempt; benefits in accordance with Board policy
EVALUATION:
- Performance to be evaluated in accordance with Board policy on evaluation of administrative staff.
TITLE: Special Ed Director/District School Psychologist
CLASSIFICATION: Administrative - Exempt
REPORTS TO: Associate Superintendent
SUMMARY: Under the direction of the Director of Special Education, the School Psychologist’s primary duty is that of psychological service to children.
PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Completes psycho-educational evaluations and re-evaluations as part of a multidisciplinary team evaluation
- Completes evaluations within the appropriate timelines.
- Uses a variety of appropriate instruments/strategies to assess student abilities.
- Utilizes professional and adopted standards for report and grant preparation and submission.
- Submits evaluations for transcription, editing and review within District timelines.
- Participates in multidisciplinary conferences.
- Attends all scheduled student conferences.
- Serves as team leader, as requested, for student conferences.
- Conducts conferences in a professional manner.
- Provides short-term counseling to students
- Maintains professional documents.
- Facilitates referrals to appropriate agencies.
- Responds to request for counseling in a timely manner.
- Participates in crisis intervention services as requested by site administrators
- Responds in a timely manner to crisis situations.
- Upon request, assumes leadership/guidance role within crisis situations.
- Facilitates referrals to appropriate agencies for needed follow-up.
- Interprets assessment data as needed to parents and district staff
- Gives accurate and complete data in a format understood by educators and parents.
- Generates and supports recommendations based on the available data.
- Ensures that recommendations and instructional strategies are consistent with available data.
- Provides technical assistance to school staff in areas such as classroom modifications for learning and/or social/behavior management
- Demonstrates an understanding of classroom formats conducive to specific learning needs and styles
- Provides in-service training at the request of the site administrator and/or Director of Sp Ed.
- Serves as consultant for parents for areas such as child development, behavioral management, cognitive development, family dynamics, interpersonal communications
- Meets with parents to discuss their concerns regarding student cognitive and/or emotional development
- At parent request, consults with community agencies providing services to the child
- Makes self-available to meet with parent as needed
- Develops and submits monthly and annual reports as requested by Director of Special Education
- Submits documentation in a timely matter
- Follows adopted procedures and standards
- Performance of other job related duties as assigned by Director of Special Education
- Follows adopted procedures and standards
- Complies with State statutes, Board policies, administrative procedures, school rules and regulations
- Carries out the school and District policies and designated regulations
- Follows adopted procedures when trying to make changes
- Conducts himself/herself appropriately towards staff and parents
- Exhibits self-control and good judgment
- Responds to problems in a constructive manner
- Demonstrates respect for the ideas and feelings of others
- Maintains a professional demeanor
- Dress in an appropriate manner
- Exhibits pride in personal appearance
- Uses correct oral and written communication skills
- Adheres to school day according to current Board policy and procedures
- Arrives at assigned school/worksite at the designated time
- Departs from school/worksite at the designated time
- Adheres to approved daily schedule
- Pursues professional growth opportunities
- Participates in coursework
- Participates in staff development opportunities
- Attends conferences, meetings, seminars
- Attends workshops
- Reads professional literature
- Maintains responsible attendance patterns
- Adheres to absence reporting procedures
- Absence pattern is not disruptive to services for children
- Prepare monthly Medicaid billing
EDUCATION:
- Doctorate in Psychology or in a related field required.
LICENSES OR CERTIFICATIONS:
- Valid Arizona School Psychologists Certificate required.
- Valid Administrative or Supervisory Certificate preferred.
- A valid Fingerprint Clearance Card
EXPERIENCE:
- Experience working with an ethnically diverse urban population
SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/ABILITIES:
- Ability to work effectively with District and School Administrators, teachers, support staff, parents and community agencies; such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- The working environment is an office or classroom setting
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:
- Twelve-month year, Administrative-Exempt; benefits in accordance with Board policies.
EVALUATION:
- Performance to be evaluated in accordance with Board policy on evaluation of administrative staff.
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