District Hearing Officer (2024-2025)

Position Title: District Hearing Officer

Department: Operations and Student Services

Reports To: Director of Student Services

FLSA Status: Exempt

SUMMARY

Provide leadership and coordination in creating alternative non-traditional educational, behavioral and social programs and school safety initiatives for the District. All programs should be focused on planning and implementing programs designed to reduce school violence and engage students in appropriate behaviors and activities that promote positive youth development, character and facilitate academic growth. Serve as the district Hearing Officer overseeing the District hearing process for all students recommended for expulsion and/alternative placement. Coordinate the readmission process for expelled students.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serves as Hearing Officer for the District. Ensures expulsion hearing process is conducted according to Board policy.
• Provide coordination, vision, leadership evaluation and strategic planning to help guide the development of alternative education/non-traditional programs, and school safety initiatives.
• Establish educational partnerships with businesses, higher education, the community, and other appropriate individuals, groups, and agencies to establish alternative programs, mentoring opportunities and interventions for students and staff to promote positive youth development.
• Plans and implements programs and activities to reduce school violence.
• Collaborates closely with School Resource Officers (SRO).
• Assists with planning and implementation of District Discipline Program.
• Monitors student behavior data and develops interventions for improvement.
• Provides leadership in establishing school mentoring programs and community partnerships that assist at-risk students
• Makes recommendations for additional programs to district administration utilizing needs assessment data and observations.
• Works with local, state agencies (DSS/DJJ) and community organizations to support students returning to the school district.
• Serves on the Multi-Agency Staffing Team.
• Conducts research as assigned, develops management objectives, and engages in long-range
  planning in the area of alternative nontraditional education and school safety.
• Prepares administrative reports in the area of alternative services and school safety as directed.
• Represents the school district at professional meetings and conferences when assigned.
• Plans and devises methods and procedures for acquiring data and for the dissemination of
  salient information for research and analysis.
• Provides leadership in preventing student absenteeism and dropouts in conjunction with the attendance department (contracts, intervention, hearings).
• Conducts in-service programs, when assigned, for principals, assistant principals and personnel in the area of student discipline and student services.
• Meets with principals/ parents/ students for redress of grievances for alternative and Non-traditional programs when requested to do so.
• Works with school administrators and teachers in ensuring equitable and effective discipline and safety protocols.
• Assists with grant writing efforts to secure additional funds for alternative, non-traditional, and safety programs.
• Devises methods and strategies for drug education prevention/ intervention; provides in-service for teachers.
• Develops and disseminates information to the public concerning school district discipline programs and alternatives to expulsion.
• Assist schools with coordination of safe school activities. (ie. Red Ribbon Week, etc.)
• Serves on the District Reunification Team.
• Involves parents and community as “on-site” advocates in the schools.
• All other duties as assigned by the Director of Student Services.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Master's degree or higher from an accredited institution, a valid South Carolina Teaching Certificate, South Carolina Certification as a Principal, Supervisor and / or Superintendent. Minimum of five (5) years administrative experience in public education.

Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

No direct supervisory responsibilities but assists the Director of Student Services with supporting various departments within student services.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES:

Must be able to transport between school buildings, districts and cities. Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory in specific field. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff and the community. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both in oral and written form. Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Board of Education policies.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

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 sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The position requires meeting deadlines with severe time constraints, interacting with the public and staff, irregular or extended work hours. The employee is responsible for safety, well-being, and work output of others. Must be able to meet demands from several people.

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 noise level in this position varies. When visiting a building the noise level will be loud, in the office, quiet and at meetings, moderate.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

260 days

EVALUATION:

Performance of this job will be evaluated annually according to Board policy.

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned

Updated August 2024