Location:
Administration

REPORTS TO: Superintendent of Schools
MISSION: The Chester Upland School District is committed to providing all students the opportunity to achieve excellence in the four A's: Academics, Athletics, Arts, and Activities.
The senior leadership team continues to build a talented and committed team to ensure all students are prepared to graduate from Chester Upland schools career and college ready! The C.O.R.E. is the foundation of the Chester Upland School District’s vision and mission.
C.O.R.E.:
C- Children First: The well-being and continuous learning of every child will drive decisions.
O- One Chester Upland: With dedicated community of partners, parents, students and staff, we will excel, united as One Chester Upland.
R- Reimagining: Through a mode of continuous improvement, we will apply four important levers for change, collaboration, capacity building, deepening knowledge of pedagogy, and focusing direction to improve outcomes for all.
E- Equity, Excellence, and Emotional Intelligence: We will ensure equitable access to a quality education that includes emotional intelligence and leads to excellence across all opportunities and services.
Position Purpose
To plan, operate and evaluate special education programs in accordance with state and federal regulations and laws to meet the special education needs of students and schools. In addition, the Director of Special Education will provide leadership and supervision to the administrative, instructional, and support staff relative to special education policies, procedures, and programs.
Essential Functions

• Monitor student programming to ensure that the District is in compliance with Federal and State regulations in terms of placement, IEP’s, service delivery, discipline, assessments, and documentation.
• Collaborative coordination of Extended School Year, Early Intervention to School Age Transition, and Secondary Transition programming
• Supervise and actively collaborate in the evaluation, selection, and implementation of learning programs and supplemental curricular resources utilized in special education programming with an equity mindset.
• Evaluate and improve the diagnostic and instructional techniques used with special education students.
• Continued development and expansion of programming options within the district for students receiving specialized instruction to increase students' sense of belonging.
• Provide educational leadership and expertise to improve inclusion and subject matter coordination between special education and regular education staff.
• Develop and organize professional development workshops and formal training for administrative, professional, support staff, and community members.
• Participate in the supervision and evaluation of assigned professional staff.
• Complete classroom observations and monitors student data/achievement.
• Serve as LEA in IEP, GIEP, 504 and other meetings for students enrolled within in district or out of district programs.
• With an equity lens, actively collaborate with directors, building administrators, curriculum leaders, school psychologists, teachers, related service providers, parents and families to ensure appropriate services for identified students.

Additional Duties
Performs other related tasks as assigned by the Superintendent of Schools, and other central office administrators as designated by the Superintendent.
Note: The above description is illustrative of tasks and responsibilities. It is not meant to be all inclusive of every task or responsibility.
Key Competencies
The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following:
Vision and Courage to Ensure All Students Achieve:

• Demonstrate belief and holds self and other accountable for reaching high academic achievement of all students.
• Secures buy-in for a clear and compelling vision.
• Comfortable addressing matters of equity, race, and bias in decision-making

Teaching and Learning Knowledge Expertise:

• Demonstrate the ability to develop and deliver programming that drives improved academic and technical skill performance for all students.
• Understand and implement promising, innovative, and effective instructional practices and models.
• Demonstrate knowledge of federal and state regulations and compliance related to students with special needs.
• An expert in the field of teaching and learning, can work independently to lead the academic vision for the school.
• A proven record of effectively planning, organizing, and using resources and systems to provide high-quality professional learning and leadership development on teaching and learning.

Strategic Planning and Effective Execution

• Proactively offer innovative solutions to seemingly intractable problems.
• Demonstrate critical thinking skills and the ability to analyze data, identify trends, and diagnose root causes.
• Exhibit a strong focus on goals and results. Sets clear metrics for success.
• Demonstrates excellent project management skills, including close attention to detail, ability to balance the big picture with detailed steps to reach the end goal, and ability to balance multiple projects under tight deadlines.
• Continuously monitors progress and demonstrates persistence to overcome obstacles to achieve goals.

Effective Change Management

• Ability to develop and execute approaches to preparing and supporting individuals, teams and organization in making systemic improvements district wide.
• Ability to use methods that redirect or redefine the use of resources, processes, budget allocation, or other modes of operation that significantly shift/change an organization
• Creates environments that encourages systemic improvement of practices over time.
• Use structured approach to ensure changes are implemented successfully to support sustainable change at scale.

Team Leadership and Management

• Build and lead effective teams to achieve ambitious goals.
• Assess team and individual skills, identifies development needs, and provides feedback and supports to improve practice, build capacity, and maximize talent.
• Lead team to collaborate with other departments, teams, and stakeholders.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of current teaching methods and educational pedagogy, as well as differentiates instruction based on learning style.
• Knowledge of best practices in administration, program evaluation and staff supervision.
• Knowledge of data information systems, data analysis and the formulation of action plans.
• Knowledge of applicable state and federal laws regarding education and CTE programming.
• Ability to use computer network system and software applications as needed.
• Ability to develop and implement projects.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with students and parents.
• Ability to organize multiple tasks and conflicting time constraints.
• Ability to engage in self-evaluation with regard to leadership, performance and professional growth.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others contracted in the course of work.

Physical and Mental Demands, Work Hazards
Work in standard office and school building environments
Equipment
Use of standard office equipment such as personal computers, printer, copier and fax machines, and telephone.
Travel Requirements
Travel to school district buildings and professional meetings as required.
Qualifications Profile

• Pennsylvania Special Education Supervisor Certification and/or other proper Pennsylvania administrative certification for the position required.
• Knowledge of best practice in special education instruction, teaching methodology, intervention, and positive behavioral support for students aged 5-21 required.
• Minimum five (5) years of successful experience in public education as a teacher and/or administrator required.
• Knowledge of state and federal laws and regulations of IDEA and ADA including Chapters 14, 15, and 16 required.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as the LEA in meetings, allocating resources and assisting the team in determining appropriate services for students.
• The following are required.
  • PA Criminal Clearances
  • PA Child Abuse Clearances
  • FBI Clearances
  • Physical including TB test
• Proof of U.S. Citizenship or legal resident alien status

The information in this job description is for compliance with Chester Upland School District Board Policy and the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities and qualifications for the position. The incumbent may perform or be assigned other duties.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The Chester Upland School District (CUSD) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. CUSD ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of race, creed, gender, color, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, or disability. Any individual needing assistance in making application for any opening should contact the Department of Human Resources at 267-916-5169.