Director of Special Education

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SUBSIDIARY: Fairwold Academy

Job Overview:

The Director of Special Education (Director) oversees Fairwold Academy special education programs and services, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, alignment with high professional standards, and positive experiences and outcomes for students. The Director is a member of the Fairwold Academy leadership team and works collaboratively to maintain a culture of educational, clinical, and operational excellence.  

The Director ensures appropriate curriculum adaptations and modifications, training for professional and paraeducator school staff, and that implementation of all components of the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is fiscally, legally, and educationally compliant. This position ensures that Fairwold Academy services comply with state special education licensure requirements, including the supervision of professional and clinical staff.

The Director of Special Education oversees a team of 8 FTEs and manages vendor contracts with specialized staffing agencies to maintain a team of 100 professionals to deliver related services required by student IEPs. The Director ensures compliance with federal and state special education regulations,s including documentation, procedures, and staff qualifications. This position interfaces with educational authorities and regulatory agencies in education and special education.  The Director of Special Education reports to the Executive Director.

 Responsibilities:

 Leadership

• Provide leadership and oversight of Special Education services and compliance with federal (IDEA) and state (PA Chapters 14, 15, and 171) regulations, policies, and procedures that ensure compliance with the procedural safeguard rights.
• Coordinate with the Executive Director and fiscal team to develop an annual budget for Special Education services and participate in ongoing budget monitoring.
• Develop, direct, implement, and evaluate procedures for coordination of special education programs and services.
• Oversee and supervise all clinical programs, interventions, and special education personnel.
• Evaluate performance, knowledge, and skills acquisition of special education personnel and clinical staff members.
• Oversee assessment plans to ensure all students’ special education progress is meaningful, measurable, and calculated for growth as appropriate for each child.
• Ensure student special education rights are protected as per IDEA, in accordance with discipline and manifestation determination.
• Prepare and represent Fairwold Academy during special education administrative audits/reviews, mediations, and due process hearings. Assist and coordinate evidence and witness preparation, as well as corrective action required as a result of monitoring by PDE.
• Provide technical assistance to special education staff as needed in topics related to Special Education (IEP content, disabilities, ESY, FAPE, FBA, PBSP, Manifestation Determination).
• Maintain proper credentials for assignment and remain educationally informed in all related areas, including PDE regulations and state/national standards through continued professional study.

 Student Services

• Manages the selection and implementation of all clinical programs and interventions; ensures fidelity implementation and accurate reporting of clinical programs and services.Collaborates with school personnel and LEAs to ensure efficient management of Penn Data, RR/IEP timelines, meetings, and revisions.
• Partner with school leaders to implement a robust family partnership plan.
• Oversee and evaluate the Extended School Year (ESY) eligibility and compliance process.
• Ensure that students’ eligibility for Extended School Year (ESY) is accurate and compliant with the established criteria listed in special education regulations; communicate eligibility with districts and parents.
• Serve as a key member of the campus PBIS program.

 Data Management, Audits, and Reporting

• Assure timely, accurate, and complete entry of special education data in operational data systems.
• Establish a quality review process to evaluate all special education supports and services at Fairwold; create annual reports and program improvement recommendations.
• Establish and maintain systems for IEP service tracking and compliance.
• Convene cross-functional teams to review data to monitor student-level impacts and progress.
• Ensure accuracy and timeliness of reporting protocols for PHMC, districts, parents, and other entities regarding special education mandates.
• Maintain Special Education records and submit reports to state and federal agencies as they relate to Special Education and school licensure.
• Directs and coordinates state-mandated testing programs for students taking the Pennsylvania Alternative System of Assessment (PASA) by ensuring the students are assigned properly, participate in trainings, schedule student assessments with teachers, ensure students taking the test satisfy the PDE guidelines for PASA, and coordinate with the school's IEP team if changes are made in eligibility.

 Related and Clinical Services Vendors

• Negotiate contracts with clinical and related service staffing agencies.
• Oversee the supervision and billing of related services staff.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and complete entry of data into school data systems to support intervention monitoring and billing.
• Manage and supervise all related services and ensure contracted staff are providing quality services, documenting progress as prescribed in student IEPs.
• Oversees and manages the billing accuracy of related services.
•  Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills:

• Thorough knowledge of IDEA, PA Chapter 14 and 15 regulations, discipline procedures, FAPE, various disabilities, programmatic needs of students, and current instructional trends and techniques in the field of Special Education (e.g., Research-Based/Evidence Based Instructional Practices, Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS), special education law).
• Experience negotiating and managing vendor contracts.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and complete multiple projects with timely efficiency.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and train special educators in IEP compliance.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to work effectively with professionals from a wide range of organizations and disciplines and to establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with all constituents (administrators, colleagues, students, parents, state regulatory agencies, outside agencies, and others).
• Background experience or knowledge of Approved Private Schools and the differences between them and public schools.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent leadership and team-building skills.

 Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree in special education or a related educational field is required.
• Current, valid Pennsylvania Administrative certification as Supervisor of Special Education, Principal certificate, or currently enrolled in an administrative program geared towards certification is required.
• A minimum of ten (10) years’ related experience, including working with children with emotional disabilities, and/or children with autism and/or children with Intellectual Disabilities, is required.
• A minimum of five (5) years’ experience as a school administrator and/or combined experience as a Principal, Special Education Supervisor, IEP Coordinator, or Related Services Supervisor is required.

PHMC is an Equal Opportunity and E-Verify Employer.