Senior Director of Special Services (6893)

Position Title:  Senior Director of Special Services

2024 - 2025 School Year

1.0 FTE Certificated Non-Rep Position

260 Days* / 8 Hours Per Day

*257 days for 2024/25 School Year due to three furlough days

This is a Continuing Position.

This position will remain open until a qualified applicant is selected.

Evergreen Public Schools (EPS) offers the following to eligible employees who work at least 630 hours in a school year:

• Medical, dental, vision, basic long-term disability, basic life and AD&D insurance through School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB). For additional information click EPS Benefits Information.
• Employees may also be eligible to participate in FSA, DCAP, HSA, FPFSA (w/HDHP), and other supplemental benefits.

Employees may be eligible for employer-employee funded retirement benefits through Department of Retirement Services (DRS).

EPS offers paid holidays and paid time off, including but not limited to, sick, vacation, personal, religious, and bereavement leave. 

We appreciate your interest in employment with Evergreen Public Schools. The most qualified and competitive applicant(s) that possess directly related experience and expertise, training, and education may be invited to participate in the interview/selection process. As part of the selection process, the District conducts confidential reference checks to include former and present employers and also requires a criminal background investigation  including fingerprints Click here for Fingerprinting Services.

Failure to submit a full application package will result in disqualification.

STANCE STATEMENT:

Evergreen Public Schools are committed to eliminating the predictability of outcomes by demographic group and we strive to be a diverse community of schools that provides each member with the opportunities, access, resources, and support they need to be successful. With this in mind, our goal is to recruit, hire and retain employees of all racial ethnic/cultural, and national backgrounds who will bring their unique talents and skills into our educational institution to encourage students to thrive academically. Our district aims to provide an equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for all students and staff to succeed in a racially and culturally diverse local, national and global community.

Essential Functions:

• Provide leadership and coordination of specialized programs in collaboration with Director, program coordinators, building administrators, and other instructional leaders to create systems that serve schools.
• Participates as a member of the leadership team.
• Maintain a positive relationship with students, staff, parents, and community by modeling respect, cooperation, and professionalism with others, recognizing the personal achievements and professional contributions of others and demonstrating knowledge of a sensitivity toward individuals and groups from all racial, ethnic/cultural, national socio-economic backgrounds.
• Complete required federal, state and local reports. 
• Provides leadership in staff assignment and supervision in collaboration with Building administrators. 
• Provides fiscal management in all areas of special education budgets. 
• Participates as a member of the Special Services Team to increase the capacity of staff. 
• Articulates the vision of the Evergreen Public Schools based on a professional commitment to improving learning and achievement for all students. 
• Establish a set of culturally responsive standard operating procedures, practices and routines.
• Provide and/or facilitate training of staff with regard to the most effective practices which lead to higher student achievement regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status or prior academic achievement. 
• Supervises Special Service programs and evaluates assigned staff using the district evaluation process, including the Director of Special Services, Health Services Manager, and other administrators in Special Services. 
• Collaborates with administrators on personnel hiring and assignments, use of data to inform decisions, instructional leadership for improving instruction, school improvement planning, development of written School Improvement Plans and the use of research-based best practices for meeting goals related to achievement, safety, school climate and school culture. 
• Provides and coordinates support for building administrators on district protocols related to legal issues, parental concerns, unique student issues, classified staff issues, and issues related to caseload. 
• Leads for inclusive programming for students qualified for special education services and those learning English as a second language. 
• Serves as an advocate for Evergreen Public Schools and its students in the community, in the region, and at the state level. 
• Functions as an effective team member with co-workers and the community to build productive, collaborative relationships and to achieve program goals and objectives. 
• Continues to increase professional knowledge, skill, and competencies in job-related areas, incorporates and demonstrates new knowledge and skills on the job. 
• Maintains confidentiality of program, staff and student information.
• Works with parents and schools on boundary issues at the elementary level.  
• Attends and participates in district staff meetings, such as Operations, P-12, etc.  
• Attends labor relations when issues are related to Special Services.  
• Supports district initiatives on equity.  
• Develops cultural competence and a commitment to equity in outcomes and opportunities for adults and students.

a)  Leads for equity towards college and career readiness.  
b)  Nurtures a school environment that celebrates, respects, and values diversity where teaching and learning are made relevant and meaningful to students of various cultures.  
c)  Publicly draws attention to all equity gaps that exist for various groups of students with plans to address their elimination.  
d)  Initiates activities and discussions that lead to increased cultural competence of staff, informing and expanding teaching practices within classrooms.  

Qualifications:  

• Master’s Degree/Doctorate in Education Preferred.  
• Valid Program Administrator’s or Principal’s credential or current enrollment in a credentialed Program Administrator or Principal’s program required.  
• Central office experience preferred.  
• Previous experience as a building or district office administrator preferred.  
• 3-5 years of experience in special education administration preferred.  
• Successfully complete Washington State Patrol background check. Employee is responsible for cost of background check.  
• Ability to demonstrate effective written and oral communications with diverse community members to include students, staff, parents and community stakeholders.  
• Ability to respond to and engage with a diverse multi-cultural and multi-racial community, and to work side by side and foster strong, positive relationships with parents, staff, students and the public.  
• Demonstrated ability to provide strong and effective leadership that ensures high standards and academic success and excellence for all students.  
• Demonstrated knowledge of effective teaching strategies (Workshop Instructional Model) and demonstrated experiences in effective instruction.  
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate collaborative project teams and to promote consensus with groups having diverse perspectives and interests.  
• Demonstrated ability to supervise large groups.  
• Demonstrated leadership qualities including the ability to be innovative and the ability to maintain positive and trusting relationships with staff, parents, community and the employee groups. 
• Demonstrated skill in interpersonal relations and problem solving.  
• Demonstrated experience and skill in personnel selection and labor relations.
• Commitment to work as an effective member of the district leadership team. 
• Demonstrated ability to establish consistent, stable, and supportive relationships. 
• Commitment of five years in this position preferred. 
• A strong background, working knowledge and thorough understanding of all state and federal laws, rules and regulations related to all areas of special education. 

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Related to Cultural Competence and Equity:

1. Knowledge/awareness of own cultural identity and how this influences behavior, and desire to learn about the cultural identity of others.
2. Nurtures a positive school environment that celebrates, respects and values diversity, where teaching and learning are made relevant and meaningful to students of various cultures.
3. Initiates activities and discussions that lead to increased cultural competence of staff, informing and expanding teaching practices within classrooms.
4. Models instructional leadership and demonstrates a strong commitment to equitable outcomes for all students.
5. Ability to recognize each person as a unique individual even as we celebrate their group cultural heritage.
6. The ability and desire to establish positive relationships with persons regardless of race, gender, physical limitation, sexual orientation or religious belief, with an active commitment to equal opportunity for all persons.
7. Demonstrated ability to establish effective working relationships and interact successfully with diverse instructional support services and administrative staff, including perceiving the needs and concerns of others; assisting others in resolving conflicts; motivating others; and designing programs to assist others in meeting organizational goals.

Notice of Nondiscrimination:

Evergreen Public Schools does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:

Salary : $206,303