Job Summary:The Director of Special Services is responsible for the day to day provision of all special education and psychological, behavioral and evaluation services. Primary responsibility is to assure that all identified special education students receive a free and appropriate public education in compliance with all state and federal rules and regulations. The director is the primary person responsible for providing necessary financial and program information to the Agency of Education and the SSD Chief Financial Officer under law, regulation and SDD policy.

The Director serves on the SSD Leadership Team, working collaboratively with the Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, the CFO, and the Superintendent to fulfill administrative responsibilities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:  Other duties may be assigned.

• Develops, manages and evaluates all district Special Education programs, including curriculum, budgeting and fund disbursement, in compliance with all appropriate state and federal regulations.
• Develops and implements policies and procedures for standardization, compliance and guidance.
• Develops and implements the Local Education Agency Plan for Special Education, as required by IDEA.
• Conducts and/or coordinates in-service Special Education training workshops for Special Education personnel.
• Consults with Principals on Special Education programs, supervision and evaluation.
• Collects data for Child Identification and Child Count Activities.
• Collects data for evaluating student progress, program effectiveness and resource utilization.
• Defines and improves, under general direction of the Superintendent, the administrative structure of Special Education services to clarify line and staff operations and define job descriptions.
• Establishes workload and assignments of Special Education personnel in cooperation with administrators.
• Produces annual reports or special reports as needed.
• Arranges transportation services for eligible Special Education students.
• Participates in appropriate local, state and national professional meetings.
• Recruits, screens, and recommends for hire Special Education personnel in conjunction with the Principals and Superintendent.
• Disseminates to the public, staff and boards information relative to Special Education services, objectives, and programs.
• Oversees IDEA-B Basic, BEST, EEE and Medicaid, completing the annual applications and evaluations for these programs, chairing appropriate committees and recommending appropriate expenditures for these programs to the Superintendent.
• Selects, schedules, and follows up on diagnostic procedures identifying students’ eligibility for Special Education services.
• Selects personnel to work with individual students placed in outside residential facilities, and oversees the selected team and learning plan established for these students.
• Consults with curriculum development committees (or designates a staff member to do so) to represent Student Support Services in the development of curriculum.
• Communicates with other Special Education Directors to both implement appropriate individual student IEP’s and to share general knowledge and ideas.
• Maintains confidential files of Special Education students in locked file cabinet at the Central District Office, and monitors confidentiality of school based Special Education files in each building.
• Attends appropriate professional meeting/seminars, and reads relevant journals and papers to keep current on new research findings and improved techniques in specialized areas.
• Establishes effective liaisons with the various offices and agencies within the community and state that may provide specialized or professional help to students and their families, and serves as the referral agent to those offices and agencies when deemed appropriate.
• Works cooperatively with the school district attorneys in regard to matters of due process in Special Education.
• Performs other duties or assignments as directed by the Superintendent.
• Supervisory functions, generally in conjunction with the school principal:
  • Provides overall direction to Special Education and psych/speech services staff.
  • Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.
  • Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring and training; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining; and addressing complaints and resolving problems.
• Ensures that all required and applicable State and Federal laws with respect to Special Education are administered in each school. Assesses and evaluates conditions in each school and reports findings and recommendations to each school board.
• Develops procedures for effective and efficient implementation of all board policies with respect to delivery of Special Education services in the supervisory union.
• Advises and assists building level administrators in the implementation of Special Education programs.
• Supervises the provision of services to all children in the Springfield School District (birth-21), according to federal and state law.
• Supports Principals with the implementation of accommodations and supports for students protected by Section 504.
• Ensures that appropriate staff development is provided for all supervisory union teachers, support staff, and administrators needed for the implementation of Special Service Programs.
• Develops and implements a system for developing goals for Special Education services which include a timeline for accomplishments, and which are measurable and reportable.
• Collects data from each school and reports to state and federal agencies as required.
• Attends, as necessary and appropriate, basic staffing team meetings and IEP meetings.
• Functions as LEA representative at the request of the building administration or as necessary.
• Advises and assists building administrators to ensure eligible students are provided appropriate, safe, and cost effective transportation services.
• Advises and assists building administrators with new staff orientation and training.
• Advises and prepares the Special Education budgets and the disbursement of Special Education funds in accordance with district procedures.
• Provides coverage, consultation and support to building administrators.
• Attends, at the request of the Superintendent, school board meetings.
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Superintendent.