Director of Special Education & Related Services

Job Description

Classification Title: Director of Special Education & Related Services

Department: Special Education

Pay Grade: Administrator Salary Scale (A5)

FLSA Status: Exempt

Supervisor: Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning

GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB

The individual in this position provides leadership and oversight for programming for students with disabilities as well as operations and services for special education students. Maintains all areas of record-keeping and official documentation for students with disabilities, including compliance with Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Section 504, Americans with Disabilities Act and student enrollment.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential Functions:

• Manages all special education programming and services for HCPS students.
  
• Collaborates with school principals and school special education teachers for the purpose of implementing and maintaining a continuum of services and/or programs for students with disabilities.
  
• Directs personnel, for the purpose of delivering services which adhere to established guidelines.
  
• Develops proposals, innovative programs, budgets and grants for the purpose of serving students with disabilities and meeting district goals.
  
• Evaluates district and school special education programs and monitors the implementation of special education as well as compliance with regulations in each location.
  
• Facilitates special education eligibility meetings and processes for the purpose of implementing and maintaining special education programs and services.
  
• Implements assigned programs and/or projects for the purpose of conforming to district and state curriculum and/or instructional objectives.
  
• Manages fiscal resources from the General Fund and special education grants, prepares budgets and directs spending, and monitors maintenance of effort.
  
• Prepares documentation and reports data to the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) for the purpose of providing written support, conveying information, and complying with Federal and State regulations.
  
• Communicates information on programs, services, and regulations to school personnel, parents, the School Board, and other districts as required.
  
• Recruits, hires, supervises, and evaluates assigned district-level staff (in collaboration with school principals) including speech pathologists, school psychologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, social workers and other special education staff.
  
• Serves as the District Representative for Individual Education Plan (IEP) Meetings as needed.
  
• Manages special education complaints, for the purpose of providing required services in the least restrictive environment.
  
• Coordinates with outside agencies to provide services to students and staff, for the purpose of offering appropriate services based on student needs.
  
• Directs the Medicaid Administrative Claiming process and direct billing of Medicaid-eligible special education services provided by the district, for the purpose of securing fiscal resources.
  
• Supervises and ensures the training of special education instructional assistants for the purpose of assuring well-trained personnel and meeting regulatory compliance.
  
• Stays abreast of changing laws and recommends development of and/or revisions to School Board Policy for special education as is needed and/or required, for the purpose of assuring program consistency and compliance with state and federal guidelines.
  
• Provides guidance, training, and leadership related to Section 504.
  
• Works with the Supervisor of Pupil Transportation to schedule and coordinate bus transportation for students with disabilities as needed.
  
• Manages computerized IEP Online Program (required training, scheduling, and problem solving).
  
• Organizes Special Education Advisory Board and facilitates and conducts Advisory Board meetings throughout the year.

Additional Duties:

• Performs other related work as required.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND TRAINING

• Postgraduate professional license with endorsements in Administration and Supervision PreK-12 and/or Special Education. Prefer minimum of three (3) years successful experience as a building-level or central office administrator and five (5) years successful experience as special education teacher.
  
• Or an equivalent level of education and experience.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS REQUIRED

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Comprehensive knowledge of state and federal laws, regulations and procedures related to special education (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
  
• Exhibits strong leadership in support of school division goals.
  
• Ability to write clear and concise reports.
  
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with school division personnel.
  
• Demonstrated conceptual skills and problem solving capabilities.
  
• Ability to present highly complex and technical information in a clear and meaningful way to a wide variety of audiences in a style that is decisive and direct as well as collegial and approachable.
  
• High level of energy and passion for serving students with disabilities.
  
• Enthusiastic commitment to student learning and ensuring the success of all students.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The work is light work which requires exerting up to 30 pounds of force occasionally and/or exerting up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force to move objects frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Work is performed while standing, sitting and/or walking. Requires the ability to communicate effectively using speech, vision, and hearing. Requires the use of hands for simple grasping and fine manipulations. Requires bending, squatting, crawling, climbing, reaching. Additionally, the following physical abilities are required:

• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
  
• Pushing or Pulling: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward. Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.
  
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
  
• Handling: Picking, holding, or otherwise working, primarily with the whole hand.
  
• Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.
  
• Manual Dexterity: Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.
  
• Repetitive Motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.

Work Environment:

The work is performed mostly indoors and includes occasional work within specialized classroom environments with a noise level of mostly low to moderate, but could be louder at times. While performing the duties of this job, there may be constant exposure to trip and fall (over wheelchairs, walkers, Hoyer lifts, crutches, etc.) obstacles.

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