Director of Special Education

Position:           Director of Special Education

Term:                Full-time/12-Months 

Classification:  Certified/Exempt

Location:          Administration Building

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Administration, required; 
• Valid MO Administrator Certification, required; 
• Special Education Director Certification, required (or ability to obtain); 
• 5 years experience teaching Special Education, required; 
• Building level principalship experience, required;
• Proven leadership in district level committee work;
• Knowledge of federal and state legislation and its impact on local policy and practice 

Supervisory:    Yes

Reports to:      Director of Student Services

Code:               002-2329-6112-1000-00000-1-000  

Job Code:        1061

General Expectations:

• Supports the mission of Joplin Schools.
• Supports the value of education.
• Become familiar with, enforce, and follow all applicable Board policies and regulations, administrative procedures, other directions given by district administrators and supervisors, and state and federal laws.
• Properly supervise students at all times, if applicable to essential job functions.
• Obey all safety rules, including rules protecting the safety and welfare of students.
• Care for, properly use, and protect school property.
• Maintain courteous and professional relationships with students, parents/guardians, other district employees and the public.
• Communicate effectively with supervisors, department staff, all members of the school district, and community as required. 
• Provides excellence in customer service both internally and externally.
• Complies with privacy rights and safeguards confidential and/or sensitive information pertaining to staff and students.
• Reacts to change productively and receive and transmit constructive criticism as it relates to job duties.
• Actively participate in professional development and obtain skills and information necessary to effectively perform job duties.
• Conduct all official business in a professional and timely manner, utilizing district technology resources.
• Arrive to work and leave work at the time specified by supervisors and attend all required meetings pertinent to the position.
• Maintains accurate records and filing systems for accountability and audit purposes as required by law and Board policy.
• Solve practical problems utilizing math functions as needed to complete job duties. 
• Read and interpret documents such as work orders, safety rules, and handbooks and apply to job duties.

Essential Functions:

• Serve as the Director of Special Education to provide leadership and support to schools with Special Education programming for students, curriculum implementation, material selection, and feedback for decision making to instructional staff and administration.
• Assist the Director of Student Services, Assistant Superintendent of Learning Services and Curriculum Coordinators to assure that curriculum and instructional practice provide both equity and excellence for all students, including those with disabilities.
• Assist the Director of Student Services in developing, monitoring, approving, and in the disbursement of the annual budget for Special Education.
• Annually evaluate the effectiveness of third-party contracts and assist the Director of Student Services in modifying contracts as needed, while bringing recommendations to the Board of Education for consideration.
• Collaborate with the Director of Student Services to coordinate and approve the purchasing of supplies, materials, and equipment for all Special Education areas. 
• Supervision and coordination of effective and efficient departmental operations and directly supervise and evaluate the related services staff (SLPs, OT, COTAs, PTs, PTAs, TVI, and TDHH), and other non-certified staff as assigned.
• Oversee and evaluate the work of special education process coordinators.
• Assist in the coordination of all K-12 Special Education Programs, and collaborate in their development and continuous improvement planning processes.
• Assist in the recruitment and hiring of staff for school-year and summer program positions. These positions include Special Education Teachers, licensed support staff, pupil support assistants, and related service providers.
• Monitor compliance with Special Education due process requirements, staff caseloads, and continuum of services within the District.
• Oversee and coordinate the effective and efficient operation of District CBSS programming.
• Track and maintain balanced student caseloads within the district.
• Ensure the efficient use of TherapyLog to maximize Medicaid reimbursement.
• Oversee the special education Extended School Year (ESY) program.
• Assist in the arrangement of in-service and professional development opportunities for special education teachers, paraprofessionals, and related service providers.
• Provide assistance, as requested, to the Director of Student Services with Multi-Tiered Systems of Support throughout the district and provide guidance and support at the building level where needed. Ensure equity and collaboration between departments and systems when addressing student needs.
• Respond to district level Special Education concerns from parents, patrons, and community members. Mediate situations as necessary.
• Carry out all other duties as assigned.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk, talk, and hear. The employee frequently is required to stand or sit. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and depth perception. The employee must be able to lift 25 pounds.

Attendance

Regular and consistent attendance is an essential function of this position.  

The work conditions and environment described here are representative of those that an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Conditions and Environment

The individual who holds this position will regularly work in a school environment that is noisy and active.  Occasionally the individual will be required to work outdoors for short periods of time to perform such tasks as loading and unloading students from district transportation and supervising recess.

Note:  The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees, and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.  Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.

Joplin Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not illegally discriminate in its programs, services, activities or facilities.