Director of Special Education

Job title:

Director of Special Education

Reports to:

Assistant Superintendent

Receives guidance from:

Executive Director, Assistant Superintendent, and Superintendent

Overtime status:

Compliant with position, salary and FLSA regulations

Job purpose:

In keeping a tradition of excellence, the Director of Special Education will oversee all related activities of the SPED Department. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Contribute to the development of the total district philosophy of education by assisting in the adaptation of federal, state and district policies to include all Special Education needs

• Keep informed of all legal requirements governing Special Education and disseminate changes in program operation to appropriate personnel in a timely manner

• Give timely responses and resolutions to legal proceedings regarding formal complaints, mediation and due process hearings

• Responsible for the creation and annual implementation of IDEA required programs and FY budget, including Project Application and amendments for all special education students

• Responsible for the provision of FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education) in the LRE (Least Restrictive Environment) for all students receiving special education and related services age 3-21.

• Attend IEP meetings in an advisory capacity to ensure compliance and to respond to specific parent concerns as needed.

• Responsible for the implementation of the following initiatives:

• Alternate Assessment

• ESY (Extended School Year) Services

• Transition services and reporting for students age 14-21

• Strive and The Spot transition programs

• Part C to Part B transition from First Steps Early Intervention and provision of services under IDEA for children 3-5

• Educable Child- students in outside day-treatment and residential placements as well as the Mississippi Schools for the Deaf and Blind

• Special Education Transportation

• Technology in Special Education classrooms

• Interagency agreements with outside providers and agencies

• Compliance with all Indicators 1-20 as required by MDE

• Evaluations and eligibility determinations of preschool and K-12 students annually

• District Child Find Initiative

• Rankin County Juvenile Detention Center Child Find and Special Education classroom services

• Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) in special education classrooms

• Oversee related service providers, programs, and services for Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Language Speech Therapy, and behavior.

• Participate in personnel functions (e.g. recruitment, hiring, evaluations, etc.) to maintain adequate staffing, to ensure that the objectives of special education programs are achieved within budget

• Indirectly supervise all special education teachers, assistants, preschool teachers, homebound teachers, and support services throughout the district

• Directly supervise and evaluate the performance of Special Education administrative staff.

• Provide means for professional development for all staff; supervise staff development conducted by Special Education administrative staff; provide support and training as requested by principals at local schools

• Develop and maintain community partnerships

• Provide parent training and support through community-wide meetings regarding specific issues related to parents

• Work cooperatively with other directors and departments to facilitate the creation and implementation of programs with a joint focus

• Lead and attend staff meetings/trainings as applicable; serve on staff committees

• Assume responsibility for own professional growth and development, for keeping current with literature, new research findings, for attending appropriate professional meetings and conferences, and to maintain any credits and/or continued education for maintenance of licensure/qualifications required for the position

• Maintain and accept responsibility for any district owned fixed asset item assigned to employee and ensure appropriate use by following district policies for acceptable use

• Undergo periodic evaluations according to state and board policy procedures

• Maintain confidentiality

• Regular, dependable, punctual, and in person attendance is an essential function of this position

• Perform such other and not specifically enumerated duties as may be requested by the Board of Education, superintendent, administrator, director or established by district policy

• Read, understand, and abide by Employee Conduct Policy, GAB, all other district, state and federal policies, and procedures and protocols as established by RCSD and the Mississippi Educator Code of Conduct

Qualifications:

• Education Level: Masters degree minimum

• Certification: Valid Mississippi educator license with a 486 endorsement and effective SPED leadership experience

• Other Requirements: Preferred effective SPED leadership experience, excellent communication skills, problem solver, experience with budget, knowledge of Federal IDEA and state SPED law, track record of team building, ability to self manage and prioritize work-load, ability to delegate, ability to respond in a timely manner, ability to understand and accept other points of view, and ability to make sound decisions

Physical Demands:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, use hands for fine manipulation, handle or feel and reach with hands and arms using equipment such as a keyboard and video display terminal. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, reach, crouch or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and move up to 35 pounds and occasionally up to 75 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

Work Environment:

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The work environment is not a standard office setting; but rather encompasses the entire active school campus both inside and outside the facilities. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate and occasionally high.

Note: This is not necessarily an all-inclusive or exhaustive list of responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts, functions or working conditions associated with the job. The job description is not a contract of employment or a promise or guarantee of any specific terms or conditions of employment. The school district may add to, modify or delete any aspect of this job (or the position itself) at any time as it deems advisable.

Terms of Employment:

Salary, days and work year as established by the Rankin County Board of Education

Evaluation:

Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with the provisions of the Rankin County School Board policy on Evaluation of Employees.

Reviewed and agreed to by: ___________________________ Date: _____________

(employee)

Reviewed and agreed to by: ___________________________ Date: _______________

(supervisor)