10 month Position

PROGRAM SPECIALIST for Exceptional Children

Wilkes County Schools provides a robust variety of state and local benefit offerings that include but are not limited to health insurance, annual leave, sick leave, holiday pay, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, state pension plan, and other ancillary benefits. Benefit eligibility is determined by job status and percentage of employment. In addition, Wilkes County Schools offers a local salary supplement of 5%.

NATURE OF WORK

Under limited supervision, performs a variety of professional work to assist in the coordination of activities of the Exceptional Children’s Department. Work involves function as a consultant to schools and ensuring the implementation of required policies and procedures affecting students with disabilities. Employee is responsible for reviewing required EC forms and paperwork to help determine eligibility and placement of students with disabilities. Work is guided by and must be in compliance with federal and state statutes and regulations. Employee must exercise considerable independent judgment and initiative in the performance of assignments.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Assist in assuring compliance with state/federal rules and regulations in assigned schools.

Attend building level IEP meetings, as needed.

Assist in building level administrators in resolving issues relating to the delivery of special education services.

Provide technical assistance to special education classroom teachers in developing appropriate

IEPs, structuring/organizing classrooms, developing behavior management plans, etc.

As appropriate, act as a mentor to “Initially Licensed” special educations teachers.

Conduct student observations required for eligibility determination and transitions, as needed.

Upon request, schedule/conduct staff development activities.

Act as LEA Representative, as determined appropriate.

Consult with parents, teachers, service providers, and regarding implementation of IEP local agencies.

Attend regional meetings, as needed.

Respond to calls and correspondence regarding all programs and services offered by the EC Department.

Function as special education liaison for assigned schools.

Completes random moment in time studies as required by MAC program guidelines.

Perform other related work as required.

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s Degree in Education, or a related field and at least 5 years of successful teaching experience with students that have disabilities; or any combination of training and experience which provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Must be physically able to operate a variety of equipment including computers, copiers, etc.

Must be physically able to operate a motor vehicle.

Must be able to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, and pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Light work usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree.

Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural or composite characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.

Requires the ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving and receiving instructions, assignments and/or directions.

Requires the ability to read correspondence, reports forms, statutes, regulations, procedures, etc.  

Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, reports, forms, policies etc., using prescribed formats. 

Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form.

Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in standard English.

Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; multiply and divide; utilize decimals and percentages.

Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with emergency situations.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Considerable knowledge of federal and state statutes and regulations regarding provision of services to students with disabilities.

Considerable knowledge of the County and School Board policies, procedures and standards regarding exceptional children education.

General knowledge of the ethical guidelines applicable to the position as outlined by professional organizations and/or federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations.

General knowledge of the North Carolina Course of Study.

Skill in oral and written communication.

Skill in providing consultative services to school staff.

Ability to evaluate the effectiveness of existing programs and make recommendations for improvement.

Ability to work and communicate with diverse groups and organizations.

Ability to exercise independent judgment in determining eligibility, type of services to be provided, and placement of students with disabilities in the least restrictive environment.

Ability to develop and conduct presentations.

Ability to use common office machines and popular computer-driven word processing, spreadsheet and file maintenance programs.

Ability to maintain complete and accurate records and statistics and to develop meaningful reports from the information.

Ability to effectively express ideas orally and in writing.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.

REPORTS TO:     Director of Exceptional Children

FSLA STATUS:    Exempt

DISCLAIMER

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to perform this job.