Special Education School Coordinator

The Education Director is responsible for the strategic education and training initiatives of the overall PACE agency.  This individual is critical in shaping the internal methods of education/vocational development as well as spearheading external initiatives that promote a broader regional/national image for PACE and generate high credibility for the agency.  As a key member of the executive staff, the Education Director plays a key role in developing and promoting strategies for agency management and corporate culture. The essential functions and duties of the Education Director are as follows:

• Autism Knowledge - Establish an industry leading position in the field and ensure that the PACE’s methodologies are well positioned in this arena.
• Staff Mentor - Provide teacher mentor training and support to ensure that the teaching staff is best adhering to the teaching implementation methods and practices.
• Training - Assist in developing the core training components of the PACE educational model and ensure that staff training is completed in the proper fashion.
• Strategic Initiatives - Pioneer new areas of teaching and industry collaborations in improving the PACE model and generating high credibility to the agency.
• Program Development – Provide oversight on all the educational/vocational program plans within the agency and institute changes and improvements where necessary
• Advocacy – Take an active role in the regional, statewide and national political initiatives surrounding autism to ensure greater visibility of PACE’s needs in the constantly changing political landscape. This includes participation in SELPA and school district meetings as well as CAPSES collaborative meetings.
• Metrics – Establish quality metrics that can adequately provide quantifiable and qualified measurements of improvement  in student progress within the program.
• Teacher Credentialing - Sustain an active program of recruiting qualified credential or internship credentialed teachers for the school.  Develop a collaboration with local university credential programs to develop a pipeline of credentialed teachers supporting the school and expansion programs.  Ensure that internship credential teachers maintain their course progress submissions.  Keep updated on the latest trends in teacher credentialing through the CCTC.
• NPS Certification – Responsible for the coordination and collection of the extensive documentation required for the annual Non-Public School (NPS) certification as well as the triennial rotating NPS on-site or self review audit process.  This includes periodic audits of the NPS requirements and methods of implementation.
• WASC Certification – Coordination of any ongoing Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) requirements that may include volunteering for other on-site reviews of WASC accredited schools.  This includes the submission of WASC accreditation every 6 years (next on-site review is slated for 2015).

The candidate must possess the following minimum requirements for consideration as the Education Director:

• Education –Masters degree in Special Education with a clear L2 moderate-severe teaching credential.  Additional Masters degree in Education Administration preferred.
• Driver – Posses a valid California driver’s license with a good driving record and proof of insurance.

• Experience –. Ten or more years working as a special education teacher or administrator.  Direct experience in serving individuals affected by severe Autism preferred.
• Communication Skills -- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including speaking, writing, listening, motivating, inspiring, collaborating, delegating. Self-starter and team player.

• Organizational Skills -- Strong organizational skills with the ability to track and follow-up with multiple, simultaneous projects.
• Technical Skills -- Proficiency in understanding education codes and best practice processes.  Strong understanding of relevant methodologies and practices for providing direct service education to individuals with Autism or similar developmental disabilities which includes methods for behavioral management.

The Education Director is responsible for presenting proposals to the Executive Director for any requests for program enhancements that involve capital purchases such as new software licenses, classroom furniture or Augmented Alternative Communication (AAC) devices.

• Peer Development – Responsible for maintaining a peer oversight relationship to the EI Director and School Program Director to promote strategies for agency management practices, leaderships and corporate culture.  Secondary role to provide peer oversight for Residential Administrators to ensure that consistent teaching methodologies are maintained in the residential forum.  

The Education Director must be able to comply and adhere to the following physical requirements.

• Pushing, Pulling and Lifting – The individual must be able to lift and or push at least 25lbs. in order to carry necessary presentation materials to external sites on occasion.
• Driving – The Education Director must be able to physically drive from a variety of PACE locations.
• Office Work – This position requires that the Education Director be able to conduct a variety of office work.   

• Must have the ability to work independently and in cooperation with others.
• Must enjoy working with and relating to people effectively.
• Must have excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Must be willing to attend to emergency issues when warranted on evenings and weekends.

Pacific Autism Center for Education is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, citizenship, disability or any other basis of discrimination prohibited by applicable local, state or federal law.

Salary : $90,000 - $110,000