| Description | DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL SERVICES
Reports to: Assistant Superintendent
Dept./Campus: Special Services
Wage/Hour Status: Exempt
Length of Contract: 240 days
PRIMARY PURPOSE:
Direct and manage special education services for the district. Provide leadership to ensure high standards of instructional success.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Education/Certification
- Bachelor's degree
- Master's degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum of 18 hours in intellectual disability, learning disabilities, physically handicapped, individualized testing, and other related areas
- Special education certification
- Special Knowledge/Skills:
- Thorough understanding of program management and budgeting skills
- Ability to communicate with all levels of special needs students, their parents, and the community
- Knowledge of the selection, training, and supervision of personnel
- Knowledge of federal and state regulations for special programs
- Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
- Evidence of an understanding of system accountability, research, and development
- Evidence of the ability to acquire, analyze, and report a variety of data
- Patient and calm demeanor with students and others
- Experience:
- Four years of teaching experience in special education
- Two years of experience in a participatory leadership role
The Board may find appropriate and acceptable alternatives to the above qualifications.
EVALUATION:
Directors employed by this district will be evaluated annually.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:
- Demonstrate relentless commitment to the academic achievement of all students.
- Demonstrate effective customer service strategies to all district patrons.
- Foster collegiality and team building among staff; articulate a positive image of the school district and school district personnel.
- Communicate and promote expectations for high-level performance from staff; hold staff accountable for high performance; recognize excellence and achievement.
- Articulate a clear direction for all students and staff; articulate a positive image of the school district and school district personnel.
- Ensure that student progress is evaluated regularly and systematically, and the findings are used to make all special education programs more effective.
- Coordinate all district programs for children with disabilities and monitor their operation to ensure compliance with state-approved policies, procedures, and guidelines.
- Assist in supervising special education personnel in the district and provide in-service for staff to keep abreast of changing laws and procedures.
- Coordinate the educational component for the Juvenile Detention Center.
- Serve as district administrator for special education services/504 coordinator; designate appropriate professionals responsible for appraisal, programming, and implementation activities as specified by state guidelines.
- Initiate and administer programs to locate and evaluate students with suspected handicapping conditions.
- Provide quality assurance and control for all district reports, plans, surveys, external funding requests, and other areas as determined by the superintendent.
- Facilitate the analysis of all systems district-wide for continuous improvement.
- Obtain and use evaluative findings, including student achievement data, to examine the effectiveness of special programs.
- Evaluate employees' job performance to ensure effectiveness; Teacher Excellence Support System (TESS) certified.
- Make sound recommendations for personnel placement, transfer, retention, and dismissal.
- Implement the policies established by federal and state law, the Arkansas Department of Education, and the local board policy regarding special education and other special programs.
- Demonstrate responsible fiscal control over assigned program budgets.
- Compile, maintain, and file all required reports, records, and other documents.
- Provide leadership in formulating and implementing contracts for eligible students with disabilities receiving services outside the district.
- Respond appropriately to situations that could impair the teaching/learning process or threaten the safety and well-being of students and staff.
- Develop and monitor contracts with other districts, public and private agencies, and individuals providing services to students with disabilities in the district.
- Serve as a resource person in designing and equipping physical facilities for individuals with disabilities.
- Demonstrate/model support for the district's student management policies and expected student behavior related to instructional programs; serve as a consultative assistant to principals and teachers with children with disabilities.
- Conduct conferences with parents, students, and teachers concerning vital issues to establish and maintain open lines of communication.
- Develop professional skills appropriate to job assignments.
- To improve personal performance, use information from assessment instruments and the district appraisal process.
- Seek, accept, and respond positively to evaluative feedback.
- Actively participate in professional organizations; take the initiative to provide leadership in addressing the profession's challenges.
- Communicate district instructional practices, accomplishments, goals, and new directions to parents and the community; solicit input on these instructional issues.
- Work to develop a sense of community responsibility for the successful operation of the school.
- Serve as liaison for the district with governmental, community, and professional groups on matters related to students with disabilities.
- Use appropriate and effective techniques for community and parent involvement.
- Exercise strict professional confidentiality.
- Assist the superintendent and the Board of Education in developing short-term and long-term goals for the district.
- Be administratively responsible for the district's summer school, credit recovery, tutoring, and all other programs designed to close the achievement gap for all students.
- Work in conjunction with the superintendent on special projects.
- Other duties as assigned.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Share supervisory responsibility with principals for professional staff.
Supervise diagnosticians, speech pathologists, contract consultants, and paraprofessionals.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:
Ability to communicate effectively (verbal and written); interpret policy, procedures, and data; coordinate district functions; maintain emotional control under stress
Frequent district-wide and state-wide travel; occasional prolonged and irregular hours; ability to lift and carry 50 lbs |