Date Available:
July 1, 2023Work Year Calendar and Hours

• 12-month position (260 days / year), 7 hours per day
• Daily work hours: TBD

For more information about employee benefits please go to: www.fcps.org/benefits
Salary

• Support Salary Grade S08: $21.78 per hour; starting

Under the Fair Labor and Standards Act this position is non-exempt from overtime. Actual salary placement will be in accordance with the salary procedures of the Frederick County Public School System.
Role
The Special Education Community Liaison reports directly to the Director(s) of Special Education. The Special Education Community Liaison has the primary responsibility to provide community outreach information, develop and maintain an informational database and lending library of resources for assistance and use by parents of children with special needs. Special Education Community Liaison also provides referrals, workshops, and direct support to families, educators, and the community to assist in understanding special education and early intervention processes. This position also provides bilingual training workshops on special educational courses, and other topics as required by the office of special education.
Essential Functions
Coordinates Community Resources:

• Designs and maintain a community resource information system for storing and retrieving information for parent/professional referral purposes.
• Develops and maintain a manual of resources available to the community.
• Participates in the annual FCPS Transition Fair.
• Networks with CASS and programs in feeder areas.
• Networks with Parent Coordinator of Infants and Toddlers Program.
• Composes Special Education Community Liaison newsletter which will provide specific information regarding disabilities, resources, community events, workshops, etc.
• Provides regular office hours for easy accessibility for parents, teachers and the community.
• Coordinates with Frederick County Mediation Center and FCPS Office of Special Education in arranging Facilitated IEPs when requested by parents or educators.

Establishes and Maintain a Lending Library

• Secures current information about disabilities, inclusion, transitioning, special education, laws, etc., for distribution in multiple modes for families of children with special needs.

Provides Training Workshops

• Delivers or arranges training presentations.
  • Individualized Education: an Overview of the Special Education Process.
  • Effective Partnership in Special Education: Advocating in Harmony.
• Determines effectiveness of training.
• Identifies issues to be addressed by trainings.

Advertises

• Increases public awareness of Special Education Community Liaison through:
  • Displays at fairs, conferences etc.
  • Presentations at meetings or trainings.
  • Participation in the local Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee.
  • Collaboration with other local agencies.
• Visits schools, individual teachers, therapists, etc., whenever possible to familiarize them with Special Education Community Liaison resources.

• Distributes Special Education Community Liaison brochures through schools, fairs and local agencies.
• Develops and maintains a mailing list for the newsletter to include other parent centers, agencies, professionals, special educators and private schools.

Supports Families

• Assess family needs through surveys, evaluations, etc.
• Works with local agencies to offer ongoing parent learning sessions and a support network.

• Collaborates with the Family Support Network Coordinator in offering a Parent-to-Parent program.

Collaborating and Network Strengthening

• Participates in applicable MSDE training and conferences.
• Communicates with MSDE Family Support Services coordinators.
• Collaborates with counterparts statewide.
• Forges cooperative relationships within Frederick County Public Schools.

Required Qualifications

• Two (2) years community outreach experience for individuals with disabilities.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Understanding of the challenges faced by children with disabilities and their families.
• Able to work independently and without supervision.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate Degree.
• Demonstrate knowledge of community resources.
• Experience working with families of children with special needs in the community.
• Write, edit, and proofread public advertisements that keep the public informed of community resources and events.
• Demonstrate keyboarding proficiency and creation of a table in a word processing program.
• Five years community outreach or social work experience.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in both English and a second language.

FREDERICK COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
THIS JOB DESCRIPTION HAS BEEN WRITTEN TO INDICATE THE GENERAL NATURE AND LEVEL OF WORK PERFORMED BY AN EMPLOYEE HOLDING THIS POSITION. IT IS NOT WRITTEN TO INCLUDE OR BE INTERPRETED TO INCLUDE A COMPREHENSIVE INVENTORY OF ALL DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED OF THE EMPLOYEE. NOTHING IN THIS DESCRIPTION RESTRICTS MANAGEMENT’S RIGHT TO ASSIGN OR REASSIGN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OR ADD REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AT ANY TIME.