Director of Special Services

JOB GOAL

To provide effective leadership, coordination and direction in the development of Special Services, implementation of IDEA regulations and evaluation of all special programs. The Director of Special Services is responsible for providing instructional and department leadership to ensure the educational and academic services for scholars with special needs in the Cartwright Elementary School District.

Qualifications

• Minimum of (5) years of administrative experience required.
• A Master's degree or higher in a relevant field.
• Successful elementary (K-8) experience as a building principal.
• Current Arizona Elementary, Secondary, Special Education Certificate or Principal certificate at time of application.
• At least five (5) years successful work experience in grades K-8 as an administrator of or within special education programs.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English preferred, but not required.
• Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Governing Board may find appropriate and acceptable.
  
  

Performance Responsibilities

Responsibilities shall include, but not limited to, the following:

• Provides instructional leadership to special education teachers at various District sites.
• Facilitates integration of regular education goals for improved student achievement into special education.
• Monitors for effectiveness of compliance within all special education including gifted, ED, all special ed classrooms, programs and services, 504s and maintains responsibility and accountability for service delivery in collaboration with Principals.
• Monitors for effectiveness of compliance, accuracy and implementation of all Governing Board special education policies, rules and procedures as well as for internal policies, rules and procedures established by Special Services, to guide staff in best practices service delivery.
• Collaborates with the Director of Language Acquisition and Director of Curriculum and Instruction in supporting the goals of the Structured English Immersion (SEI) program and all academic programs.
• Collaborates with the Director of Curriculum and Instruction to ensure the implementation and effectiveness of the MTSS process.
• Designs and arranges ongoing staff development activities for special education personnel in all categories.
• Supports effectiveness of instruction in special education using data driven approaches and makes recommendations for instructional improvement based upon assessment.
• Provides administrative oversight and ensures compliance within the Medicaid in the Schools Program (MIPS) and directs the activities of the administrative technician associated with that program.
• Lead in both general and special education curriculum content and best teaching practices to support initiatives, which have as their aims: (1) accessibility to and participation in the general curriculum for the special education scholar; (2) increased academic achievement for the special education scholar to the maximum extent possible; (3) response to intervention
• Monitors proportionate share of private school placements.
• Provides administrative oversight for Multi-State Alternate Assessment (MSAA).
• Works with parents of scholars with IEPs regarding program and services concerns
• Oversees the Health Office services for the district.
• Monitors programs and progress of children placed in private or alternate settings by the District and assesses their status regularly, initiating re-integration into District programs when appropriate, in collaboration with District psychologists.
• Determines budget allocations for various programs and services.
• Meets with groups of teachers and other special education staff on a regular basis to guide delivery of standards-based education on IEPs.
• Represents the Special Services Department of Cartwright School District at community and other meetings when necessary.
• Attends workshops and conferences to keep abreast of the latest developments in special education and shares new information with staff in formal or informal ways as necessary.
• Attends IEP meetings within the District, with some frequency, to promote and to ensure procedural and content accuracy.
• Participates in formal evaluation of school psychologists providing input to building principals on various aspects of psychologists' performance.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
  
  

Knowledge And Skills

• Evidence of knowledge of Federal and State Regulations governing special education.
• Evidence of knowledge of national standards, the Arizona academic standards and ELL standards.
• Evidence of knowledge of special education program development, design, and program evaluation.
• Evidence of knowledge of special education funding (IDEA), budget development, management, and current educational legislation.
• Evidence of effective techniques and practices of supervision and administration.
• Evidence of leadership in delivery of professional development for teachers and administrators.
• Evidence of knowledge and implementation of inclusionary programs.
• Evidence of independent decision-making skills.
• Evidence of strong interpersonal skills.
• Evidence of collaborative skills.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate in oral and written form.
• Evidence of problem-solving ability.
  
  

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

REPORTS TO Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services

LOCATION District Office

SUPERVISES Special Services Staff

CALENDAR 12 Months, Full-Time, Benefited

JOB CATEGORY Director

BEGINNING SALARY As approved by Governing Board

FLSA STATUS Exempt

BENEFITS As Approved By The Governing Board

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION Until Filled