Special Education Coordinator

SUMMARY: This position is responsible for the coordination of services within the Student Services Department to include special services such as Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy, School Psychologist, Deaf and Hearing, Vision, Adaptive Physical Education, and Extended School Year. This position will assist with recruitment and coordination of training for certified and non-certified staff. The district has a culturally rich student population and is attentive to children with special needs.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in education, special education, or closely related field.
• Must have, or be eligible for and obtain upon hire, an Alaska Type-B adminsitrative certificate.
• Broad working knowledge of procedures, best practices, and training across the field of special education, beyond the specific university degree.
• Minimum of seven (7) years regular and/or special education combined experience.
• Experience in training and mentoring adults in special education practices or similar experience in an educational field.
• Must have skills for conflict resolution, research, problem solving, and critical thinking.
• Knowledge and training in best practices in regular education.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in special education preferred.
• Knowledge of special education programs and requirements.
• Three (3) years of successful administrative experience preferred.
• Experience with the requirements of IDEA and knowledge of 504 regulations.
• Successful experience in serving children of varied ethnic, socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
• Proven effective interpersonal and communication skills with students, staff, parents, district and community.
• Demonstrated skills as a team builder, mediator and facilitator.
• Demonstrated experience in successful, equitable, consistent behavior management and follow-through.
• Demonstrated experience administering alternative school programs.
• A good working knowledge of school law and relevant federal laws.
• Demonstrated experience handling a high volume of tasks and responsibilities.

Typical Responsibilities:

• Assists principals and teachers to assure compliance with appropriate state and federal statutes and regulations governing special education services and procedures, including IDEA.
• Assists in the development of the district wide special education budget as requested and makes recommendations as to the allocations of district wide funds for special education programs.
• Gives input on staffing needs for assigned special education programs.
• Determines the most appropriate placement of pupils with special needs if a district wide program is recommended by the IEP team.
• Works cooperatively with community and state agencies regarding the needs of special education students.
• Recruits and interviews applicants and makes hiring recommendations for special education positions district wide. Assists principals with the hiring recommendations for special education personnel.
• Assists IEP teams in the transition of students from elementary school to middle school and/or middle school to high school.
• Provides in-service training to special education teachers and support staff on state and federal laws and regulations, district procedures, evaluation of students, and changes in special education paperwork.
• Assists with the supervision and evaluation of district wide special education employees.
• Attends School Board meetings and other meetings as required.
• Fills in for the director of student services as required.
• Plans and organizes in-service presentations in coordination with the executive directors of special education and curriculum.
• Attends multidisciplinary team and IEP meetings concerning students, as needed, to assist in the development of appropriate plans for students who are eligible for special education.
• Meets with building level intervention team leaders as requested.
• Assists with state and federal reporting data.

Terms of Employment: The work year is determined by the School Board; administrator/coordinator positions are typically for a 215-day contract period from August to June. Salary is determined by level of education and years of work experience for placement on the JSAA Salary Schedule. This position is represented by the Juneau School Administrative Association collective bargaining unit.

Compensation: Annual salary range is $103,434.50- $132,487.30 (placement is dependent upon experience), for a 215-day contract, with an excellent benefit package including: an employer-sponsored medical, dental, vision plan as well as employer-paid life insurance plan, membership in the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) plan, an optional tax-deferred retirement plan, relocation cost reimbursement.