Special Education Specialist

Thank you for your interest in working with Rome City Schools.
We look forward to receiving your application.

Position Title: Special Education Specialist  

Division/Department: Teaching, Leading, & Learning 

Pay Grade: Certified Salary Schedule

Pay Type: Salaried-Exempt

Retirement: TRS

Work Days: 240

Reports To:  Director of Special Education

Evaluation Instrument: LKES

Essential Knowledge, Skills, and Experience 

• Five years of successful teaching experience with a valid Georgia Educator Certificate in assigned teaching field as required by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.
• Preferred Master’s Degree or higher
• Valid teaching license with special education certification or endorsements.
• Preferred graduate work or specialized training in special education.
• Exhibit positive interpersonal skills necessary to deal with diverse publics and colleagues.
• Meet the needs of stakeholders tactfully and courteously.
• Listens, understands, and follows directions.
• Punctual and exceptional attendance.
• Use of good judgment while recognizing the scope of authority.
• Able to work independently and collaboratively with a team.
• Able to lead multi-disciplinary teams.
• Exceptional understanding of policies, procedures, and services provided.
• Able to interpret written materials and various legal documents (IEPs).
• Communicates clearly and professionally (face-to-face, phone, email, writing, etc.).
• Proficient filing, recordkeeping, and computer skills.
• Ability to schedule meetings and conferences.

Purpose and Goal:

The Special Education Specialist will serve as the assistant to the Director of Special Education. The Special Education Specialist provides district level support to school administrators and special educators with a focus on effective educational programs for all students with disabilities.  The Specialist  assumes district-level shared responsibility for the knowledge and application of the appropriate curriculum and the instructional programs for students with disabilities.  The Special Education Specialist follows all federal, state, and district due process policies and procedures while supporting school administrators and special educators in compliant practices.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

Essential duties of this position are noted below.  Employees in this position perform some or all of the following tasks.  Other duties may be assigned.

• Supervises and coordinates system’s total special education program for all students with disabilities
• Interprets the philosophy and practices of the Special Education Department to the Board, administrators, staff and the public at large 
• Recommends policies and programs essential to and required for the needs of students with disabilities 
• Provides leadership in determining needs of students with disabilities. 
• Assists in adoption of school policies to include special education needs 
• Works with the curriculum director, special education teachers and general education teachers in providing students with disabilities access to the general education curriculum 
• Establishes and supervises procedures which ensure due process steps are implemented on all students referred or enrolled in a special education program 
• Develops and maintains complete individual confidential files of all students enrolled in a special education program or referred to the special education program. 
• Continuously evaluates and makes recommendations on design, furnishings, equipment and location of special education facilities 
• Cooperates with public and private agencies, organizations, and professional personnel in securing and providing services for students with disabilities. 
• Coordinates continuous Child Find projects 
• Evaluates existing programs as an ongoing responsibility.  
• Assists in evaluating personnel, as needed 
• Arranges professional development for special education staff and regular education staff as it relates to areas of special education. 
• Assists in recruitment, selection, and recommendation for employment of special education personnel 
• Supervises and reviews all shared service programs for students with disabilities. 
• Prepares all local, state, and federal reports regarding special education programs. 
• Coordinates special education FTE collection and similar data to determine state, local and federal funds received. 
• Approves all supplies, materials, and texts used by special education personnel 
• Determines budget expenditures and approves use of all Title VI State/Federal Preschool Grant Funds – Rule 10 Funds and Inclusion Funds 
• Maintains a procedure for requisitioning, ordering, and paying for materials and equipment 
• Maintains an inventory of all materials and equipment. 
• Arranges for special education transportation for those students requiring this related service as outlined in student’s IEP 
• Assumes responsibility for own professional growth and development, for keeping current with the literature, new research findings, and improved techniques, and for attending appropriate professional meetings and conventions regarding special education. 
• Keeps superintendent and assistant superintendent informed of needs of the special education program
• Serve as Local Education Agency representative in special education meetings.
• Collaborate and coordinate with system-wide administrators, supervisors, principals and specialists in the implementation of quality instructional programming.
• Collaborate with other departments, such as Federal Programs, Assessment & Accountability, Transportation, Finance, Human Resources, etc. as needed.

• Analyze urgent situations accurately and exercise judgment in taking effective action when dealing with students and colleagues of all levels.
• Maintain awareness of and compliance with federal and state regulations regarding Special Education.
• Supervise Special Education Coordinators (3), Administrative Assistant, and other itinerant staff (e.g. OT, PT, COTA, TVI, DHH, AT Specialist, Communication Paraprofessionals, etc.)

Important Notes and Essential Duties

Job descriptions are designed and intended only to summarize the essential duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and requirements for the purpose of clarifying the general nature and scope of the position’s role as part of the overall organization.  Job descriptions do not list all tasks an employee might be expected to perform, and they do not limit the right of the employer/supervisor to assign additional tasks or otherwise to modify duties to be performed - even if seemingly unrelated to the basic job.  Every employee has a duty to perform all assigned tasks.  It should also be noted that the order of essential skills/knowledge and duties/responsibilities as listed in the job description are not designed or intended to rank the duties in any order of importance relative to each other.

Salary : $50,000 - $100,000