Special Education Department Chair

The Department chair is responsible for overseeing the function and efficiency of the building's Special Education Department, in addition to coordinating evaluation team meetings, completing required paperwork, and completing academic evaluations, as required by the local education agency, the RI Department of Education and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 2004, in order to assess whether a disability is present. 
 
In addition to, the Department Chair will work closely with the principals and teachers in the schools, central office personnel, parents, and with those institutions and agencies in the community interested in services for children with disabilities. The Special Education Department Chair's immediate supervisor is the building Principal.
 
Exemplary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Coordinates and chairs the evaluation team
• Collaborates with the Systems Manager to review all pertinent data to inform decisions
• Oversees the referral process and scheduling the referrals in compliance with the IDEA evaluation timelines
• Support case managers and ensure that IEP's and other required paperwork are completed in a timely manner following evaluation.
• Review all evaluation/RTI data and present data to the team in a comprehensive manner
• Administration and completion of education evaluations
• Coordinates grade level transition meetings with staff and administration at the end of each academic year (school to school)
• Coordinates meetings with outside agencies, such as but not limited to, Office of Rehabilitation
• Liaison between regular education and special education
• Insures that the school administration and special educators follow and implement all federal and state mandates outlined by IDEA
• Coordinates regularly scheduled meetings with the special education staff
• Responsible for scheduling an IEP team meeting, including the Special Education Director or Assistant Special Education Director, when placement or change in service decisions need to be made.
• Assist building administration, guidance and central office with the development of caseloads and student schedules, which includes placement of students in the least restrictive environment
• Monitoring the quality of special education service delivery
• Coordination of all transition activities
• Review all special education documents prior to the presentation to the IEP or evaluation team to insure high quality and compliance.
• Planning and delivery of Professional development in the area, but not limited to, the following topics:

1. IDEA regulations and district protocol for the evaluation and delivery of services to students with disabilities.
2. Transition tools, activities, assessment and mandates.
3. Co-teaching and other inclusive models
4. Specialized instruction
5. Writing IEP's
6. Progress monitoring IEP goals and Objectives
7. Interpreting evaluation results and how this translates to program placement and IEP development
8. The use of RTI data in determining disability

• On-going dissemination of current special education district information to case managers and special education support staff.
• Membership in TAC
• Development of the agenda and presentation of materials at regularly scheduled special education department meetings
• Provide support to the Special Educators in the building
• Any other duties assigned by the Director of Special Education, Assistant Director of Special Education or school /district administrators.

 
Is Knowledgeable Of:

• IDEA
• Section 504
• The related laws of Rhode Island, the BEP and the policies, regulations and procedures of the Pawtucket School Department and the Rhode Island Department of Education
• The RI High School Regulations and graduation requirements
• Response to Intervention (academic and behavioral)
• Data analysis
• The new RI teacher evaluation tool
• Principles of learning; principles of effective instruction
• Principles of effective management, staff supervision, and evaluation of instruction
• Instructional materials and their relationship to program goals and objectives
• Response to Intervention

 
Employment Standards:

• Master's Degree in special education, educational administration or educational leadership preferred
• RIDE certification Special Education 9 - 12
• At least five years teaching experience
• Evidence of Commitment to educating students with special needs within the least restrictive environment
• Experience in a leadership role
• Ability to effectively communicate with staff, parents, and administration
• Ability to interpret and implement changes in federal and state special education laws and regulations
• Ability to work effectively along with all administrators in establishing and maintaining district plans for continuous improvement of student performance

 
Skill At:

• Public Speaking; writing; listening; problem solving; dispute resolution and providing direction
• Staff supervision and administration
• Ability to communicate with other professionals in a respectful and productive manner
• Respectful, sensitive and professional communication with family and community
• Ability to work as a team with school administration and faculty
• Excellence in problem solving and organization skills
• Timely in the completion of tasks and paperwork requirements
• Creative in solutions to problems and in the development of service models to meet the needs of students.
• Complete requirements of job in a fast-pace environment
• Research and data analysis
• Teaching and presenting
• Use of instructional technology
• Observing and understanding effective teaching techniques
• Leadership
• Being innovative and working with little direction
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work

 
Licenses/Certificates:

• A valid Rhode Island Special Education certificate
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid State of Rhode Island driver's license with a driving record acceptable to the district

 
Compensation and Benefits:

• Salary and benefits will be per Pawtucket Teacher's Agreement.