Position: 

Director of Special Education

Supervisor:

Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Operations

Work Site:

Central Consolidated Administrative Complex

Summary:

The Director is responsible for the leadership and management of the District’s Special Education services and programs to serve a diverse population of students with disabilities ages 2-21, parents and families. The Director develops, implements and evaluates programs and services to meet the special education, social and culturally-related needs of these students to ensure the opportunity for high achievement and a high-quality education. The Director ensures that program and services delivery complies with Federal and NM law, Public Education Department requirements and CCSD Board Policy.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The following duties are normal for this job. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Maintains effective basis of communication with the New Mexico Public Education Department, the Superintendent, and, upon request, the Board of Education.
•  Serves as a liaison between the New Mexico Public Education Department, the Superintendent and, upon request, the Board of Education.
•  Functions as an advocate for eligible students requiring special education services.
•  Is responsible for the implementation of special education for eligible individuals pursuant to New Mexico Administrative Code and the Policies and Procedures for the Provision of Special Education Services for Students with Disabilities to ensure that each child needing special education receives appropriate services.
•  Designs, directs, and assures a sequence of activities, including consent and evaluations to identify children in need of special education within Central Consolidated School District.
•  Collaborates with Curriculum and Instruction and building administrators as they ensure effective MLSS and SAT processes with implementation and appropriate data collection.
•  Assigns weighted enrollment factors as appropriate to student need and shall not assign level of service for the sole purpose of meeting the financial costs of existing programs.
•  Provides district-wide coordination of special education programs and services.
•  Develops and recommends district policies and administrative regulations for public dissemination regarding the provision of special education services.
•  Assists the district administration in developing a financial budget recommendation which is fiscally efficient and supports the needed special education services based on the federal and state rules of special education.
•  Assists the Superintendent and Finance Director in assuring district Maintenance Of Effort (MOE).
•  Assists the Human Resources Department to develop, assign, and a staff recruitment program to meet the needs of the district.
•  Supports and participates in staff evaluation and self-improvement procedures.
•  Maintains the best achievable equity of (a) related and ancillary services, and (b) accessibility to instructional programs or services across the district according to the composite needs of children with disabilities.
• Organizes advisory persons or groups representing consumers, parents/guardians, associations/organizations serving the disabled, and the general public and shall be responsive to their suggestions and concerns, as well as being a liaison between these groups.
•  Collaborate with the ICO to ensure strong family engagement to address the health and emotional/mental needs of students with disabilities are addressed through active participation in evaluations and IEPs in a culturally sensitive manner.
• Collaborates through bi-weekly meetings (minimum) with ICO and DART Departments to address district priorities and immediate needs.
•  Assists in and monitors the District and Special Education Services record keeping system sufficient to meet the basic requirements of the NM Department of Education, as well as developing long-range planning and accountability for the district to address student needs.
•  Is continuously informed of the federal and state rules for special education and current interpretation, as appropriate.
•  Assists in directing communications of the district and special education’s philosophy, purposes, programs and services. Provides effective communication with all levels of the organization.
• Establishes priorities in consultation with district personnel and designs effective strategies for pursuing those priorities while building effective working relationships with district personnel.
• Provides governmental agencies with required information within designated timelines.
•  Builds effective working relationships with district personnel.
•  Develops and implements philosophical and organizational framework pursuant to the provisions of law and NM Public Education Department and that supports the total district framework.
•  Provides leadership in short-range and long-range special education program/services development consistent with the needs of all children within the boundaries of Central Consolidated School District.
•  Provides leadership and professional development for CCSD staff to ensure the needs, goals, accommodations and special considerations for students with disabilities are implemented with integrity. This includes use of needs assessments, development of training, evaluation of training and implementation of the skills trained.
• Provides for the evaluation of the efficiency and effectiveness of all phases of the special education programs and services which are the responsibility of the district.
•  Serves as a member of the Superintendent’s Cabinet, providing advice and counsel in matters pertaining to special education.
• Advises site and district administrators of noncompliance with rules and statutes.
• Provides leadership with others in developing, achieving and maintaining integrated programs and services across the district.
• Develops a communication system for special education services and personnel.
•  Serves as the primary resource for special education programs and services.
•  Perform other duties as may be assigned.
•  Comply with all Board of Education policies, administrative regulations, Public Education Department guidelines, and local/state/federal regulations and laws
• Perform any other assigned duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Special Education or closely related field.
• NMPED Administrative License 
• 3-5 years teaching/related experience; prior work with at-risk children and their families
• Program management or administrative experience in a PreK-12 public school system; supervisory experience
• A clear background check.
• Valid driver license

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of Dine language, culture and history preferred
• Good communication skills and customer service skills

Physical/Job Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. 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 walk, sit, use hands for fine manipulation, handle or feel, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance and peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Safety and Health:

• Knowledge of universal hygiene precautions
• Completed and cleared background check
• Pass drug test if required for position
• Knowledge and compliance with district and school Safety Plans

Equipment/Material Handled:

• Multimedia equipment, including current technology
• Equipment/materials relevant to the job responsibilities
• Valid driver license and insurable by district if necessary
• Motor vehicle, if necessary- valid driver’s license

Work Environment:

• Must be able to work within various degrees of noise, temperature and air quality
• Work interruptions
• Flexibility
• Must be self-motivated and able to complete job assignment without direct supervision
• Must complete applications and assignments within the timeframes allowed
• Extended work hours, on occasion

Term of Employment:

• Exempt