Diagnostician

Job Title:  Educational Diagnostician     

Wage/Hour Status: Exempt-Professional

Reports to:  Campus Principal/Executive Director SPED  

Pay Grade 3:  Administrative Education Pay Plan                              

Dept/School: Special Education Department  

Initiated Date:  May 17, 2004       

Funding Source: 192 Special Education         

Revised Date:  January 25, 2021

District Primary Purpose:                

To assist and promote La Joya ISD in implementing a rigorous curriculum/instructional program that supports student success and achievement.

Department Primary Purpose:         

To provide expertise in the assessment of intelligence and educational functioning of students for the purpose of:  

                          (a)        Determining eligibility for services and

                          (b)        To assist in the development of individualized educational plans. 

Qualifications:                                                                      

Education/Certification:                     

Master’s degree

Diagnostician’s Certificate, or

Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists License as Licensed Specialist in School Psychology (LSSP)                         

Three years special education classroom experience (preferred)

Other qualifications as deemed necessary or acceptable by the Board  

Experience/Knowledge:                     

Assessment instruments and their administration; remediation strategies; psycho-educational report writing; eligibility criteria for all handicapping conditions.

Major Responsibilities and Duties: 

1. Conduct comprehensive assessments of students referred to Special Education.
2. Facilitate the Admission Review and Dismissal Committee to assist with interpretation of assessment data, development of Individual Education Plans, and appropriate placement to determine appropriate educational programming for special education students for all assigned campus (es).
3. Provide a testing matrix to campus administrators on state assessments for students with disabilities.
4. Conduct department trainings at assigned campus (es) on special education current issues.
5. Conduct trainings for campus professional personnel on the on-line IEP writer.
6. Create and provide reports to director on State Performance Indicators (SPP) and Performance Based Monitoring Analysis System (PBMAS) indicators.
7. Monitor all initial and re-evaluation deadlines to meet state and federal guidelines.
8. Utilize technology to facilitate in scoring, interpreting and in developing assessment reports.
9. Present psycho-educational report and recommendations to ARD committees.
10. Serve on the appraisal team with responsibilities in assessing, compiling, and interpreting, information into a written report for students needing a psychological evaluation.
11. Conduct three-year evaluations on eligible students.
12. Comply with all federal, state, local and campus policies, operating procedures and legal requirements.
13. Establish and maintain open lines of communication by conducting conferences with parents, students, teachers, and other professionals concerning vital issues of the assessment process.
14. Use appropriate and accurate written, verbal, and non-verbal communication when conferring with parents, staff, and other professionals.
15. Assist in the presentation of Individualized Educational Plans for identified students with disabilities.
16. Provide training on specific handicapping conditions to professional personnel.
17. Serve as a resource to teachers of students with disabilities.
18. Provide information to staff (regular and special education) and/or parents related to the child-centered process and assessment.
19. Conduct oneself in a professional ethical manner in accordance with generally accepted community standards, complies with TEA Code of Ethics and serves as role model for all district staff.
20. Work collaboratively and constructively with colleagues and other professionals towards meeting individual student needs.
21. Serve as a liaison between campus and the Special Education Department.
22. Promote and support environment which is conducive to positive staff morale and directed towards achievement of the campus, departments and district's mission.
23. Participate in all ARD meetings where assessment data will be a determining factor.
24. Conduct appraisal and prepare written report of findings in compliance with standards set by Texas Education Agency.
25. Conduct appraisal within the timeframes set by SBOE rules.
26. Maintain confidentiality of all student information and all aspects of the special education department.
27. Perform other duties pertaining to special education as assigned by director and campus principal.
28.  Follow all Work from Home Protocols when working remotely.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

            Mental Demands:

            Ability to communicate effectively (verbal and written); interpret policy and procedures; maintain emotional control                under stress.

            Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:

            Frequent district-wide and occasional statewide travel; occasional                                                                                        prolonged and irregular hours

POSITION WORKING DAYS:          202 Days