Special Education Coordinator - Talbot Community School

TITLE: Special Education Coordinator –Talbot Community School

POSITION OVERVIEW: 

Under the supervision and guidance of the building Principal, the Special Education (SE) Coordinator supports the school's special education team in ensuring that all students requiring special education and related services receive appropriate instruction, programming, and support. This role directly supports Portland Public Schools' five-year strategic plan, which prioritizes building the capacity of schools to provide more effective instruction to students with disabilities across the continuum of services. The Coordinator's role also directly supports the district's on-going focus on improving students' academic and social emotional outcomes and promoting equity. 

The Coordinator is responsible for organizing and monitoring all SE programs and services in the school and will provide direct support to teachers and ed techs at the classroom level, including those working in specialized programs. They will serve as the school's ssigned LEA representative, participate in the school's leadership team(s), and work in close collaboration with the elementary network teams and the central office special education team, as well as families and community partners.  

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
Leadership and Coordination

• Coordinate the building-based special education (SE) team, facilitating regular meetings and check-ins with SE staff.

• Serve on the school leadership team as the point person for all matters relating to special education.

• Collaborate with the school leadership team on scheduling to ensure that all required special education services are provided to students.

• Attend monthly Special Education Coordinator meetings to ensure school alignment with district special education practices.

IEP Management and Compliance

• Coordinate the scheduling of all IEP meetings

• Serve as LEA representative for all Individual Educational Program (IEP) meetings

• Monitor all IEP processes and paperwork requirements to ensure compliance with relevant laws, policies, and timelines

• Review all IEPs and other SE documents before they are finalized, including initial referrals

Student Case Management and Support

• Manage grade-span appropriate transition processes for students with IEPs: CDS students moving to K, or 5th to 6th

• Serve as case manager for students in private school placements, as assigned by the network Director of Special Education

• Submit requests for district-level resources (specialized transportation, 1:1 adult support, specialized programs, etc.) to the network Director of Special Education for approval

• Collaborate with SE case managers to ensure appropriate achievement testing and observations are completed in accordance with referral and reevaluation processes

• Support the implementation of standardized testing accommodations and any alternate assessments

• Consult and collaborate with the school's Response to Intervention (RTI) / MTSS team to provide special education expertise and information

• Support the classroom and other teachers to understand each child's disability and share accommodations with all staff working with each child

Professional Development and Support for Classroom Educators

• Deliver special education professional development to SE staff, in collaboration with the network Directors of Special Education

• Consult with general and special education teachers on evidence-based instructional strategies and methodologies for students with IEPs

• Manage, in collaboration with school leadership, SE staffing on a day-to-day basis, reassigning staff to cover absences and stepping in to provide coverage for breaks or planning meetings when staffing reaches critically low levels

• Serve as a mentor for new special education teachers

• The Coordinator also performs other duties/tasks as may be assigned by the Principal or, where relevant, the Director of Special Education or Assistant Superintendent.  

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Demonstrated commitment to delivering positive academic and social-emotional outcomes for all students, particularly students with disabilities

• Demonstrated commitment to advancing equity in education

• Self-awareness, openness to feedback, and eagerness to develop professionally

• Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills, with a proven track record of working collaboratively with others while also delivering exceptional results

• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills (verbal and written)

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail

• Well-developed technology skills, particularly the ability to use essential Google and/or Microsoft applications (e.g., Google Docs/Sheets/Slides or MS Word/Excel/Powerpoint)

EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE:

• At least three years of experience leading IEP meetings and/or assigned LEA representative responsibilities

• [Preferred] At least three years of special education teaching experience

• [Preferred] Maine State Teaching Certificate with Endorsement 286 and/or experience working in programs or students with significant special education needs (intellectual, functional, social/emotional, behavioral, etc.)

• [Preferred] Advanced degree in special education or related field

CREDENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• One of the following Maine State Certifications (more info):

  • Teacher Certificate with 282 Endorsement (Teacher of Students with Disabilities, K-8)

  • Administrate Certificate 030 (Administrator of Special Education)

  • Administrator Certificate 035 (Assistant Administrator of Special Education)

  • Certificate 079 (Special Education Consultant)

• Maine State fingerprint (CHRC) authorization (more info) **

  •  **if you already have an active teacher certification, you do not need a separate CHRC as this clearance is tied to your teacher certification

EMPLOYMENT DETAILS:

• Calendar: 193 days (standard school year 10 days)

• Assignment: Permanent, Part Time (1.0 FTE)

• Overtime: Not eligible for overtime

• Contract: Union contract being negotiated; until it is established, the CBA of the former union can be referenced (see 2025-2028 PEA CBA here)
• Salary: Salary schedule under negotiation, but until it established, the procedure for determining salary will be based on PEA CBA
• Benefits: Eligible for benefits as outlined here
• Reports to: School Principal

ABOUT TALBOT:

Gerald E. Talbot Community School is a Pre-K through Grade 5 school of nearly 400 students named in honor of Gerald E. Talbot, one of the most cherished and respected community leaders in Portland, ME. We are proud of our diverse population of learners from around the world, who speak 23 different languages. Talbot is a Title I school and is also recognized by the MDOE as a community school, which means we focus on meeting not only the academic needs of our students but also their broader developmental needs, including ensuring their physical and mental health, promoting their social and community engagement and supporting and strengthening their families and neighborhood. In addition to housing one of the district's functional life skills (FLS) programs, our building is also shared with a branch of the Portland Public Library, a Greater Portland Health dental office, and space for the Recreation Department of Portland Parks and Recreation, including a community swimming pool. 

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Portland Public Schools is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws.