IEP Coordinator

Description

Summary

The Children's Guild Alliance is a nonprofit organization serving children, families, and child-serving organizations. We are dedicated to transforming how America educates and cares for its children through education, behavioral health, national training, and consultation services. Affiliates of The Children's Guild Alliance include The Children's Guild, Monarch Academy public charter and contract schools, Monarch Preschool College Park, TranZed Academy for Working Students, TranZed Apprenticeships, The Children's Guild DC Public Charter School, Transformation Education Institute, and The National Children's Guild Fund. We are among the most experienced child-serving organizations in the Greater Baltimore/Washington region and are currently expanding in national and international programs. Each year, the agency's continuum of care and hundreds of professional staff help thousands of youth and young adults and their families achieve, excel and succeed. We operate public charter and contract schools; special education schools; preschool; apprenticeships, and pre-career programs; therapeutic group homes; treatment foster care; and behavior health services. We invite you to be part of our innovative team!

The Individual Education Program Coordinator will oversee all aspects of the special education IEP team process for the entire school population. They will ensure The Children’s Guild operates in compliance with all state and federal regulations, special education data is collected and updated in a manner that meets all compliance expectations in accordance with specific state and/or LEA specifications.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Monitor compliance with special education processes and timelines across all programs
• Organize training for appropriate school personnel
• Oversight for IEP records
• Organize training to assure compliance with federal and state special education regulations
• Consult with the Administrative Team to ensure appropriate placement for students within the school programs for year-round intake
• Provide instructional support to classroom teachers in overseeing the delivery of special education services
• Oversee all aspects of IEP development, diagnostic assessments and annual/triennial reviews
• Facilitate IEP process, information exchange, preparation and scheduling for IEP meetings
• Assure that instruction modifications are met during classroom instruction
• Oversee the development, tracking, dissemination and proper implementation of IEP mandated accommodations for students during state testing events
• Oversee school responses to complaints or Due Process Hearings
• Work directly with parents, as needed to answer questions and ensure that all school actions are in compliance, and are in the interest of maximizing the student learning in the Least Restrictive Environment
• Knowledge of ED students, familiarity with curriculum and a variety of instructional strategies and assessment tools
• Provide informal assessment for new enrollments and work with the Admissions Director reviewing student packets and assuring proper placement in the fall
• Work closely with the teaching staff to make sure instructional modifications are in place
• Work closely with the Director of Academics with IEP data collection, feedback on classroom implementation of IEP and analysis of academic goals and objectives
• Participate in weekly administrative meetings upon request

Competencies

• Ability to assess potential crisis situations involving both individuals and groups and utilize necessary resources to de-escalate and/or defuse these situations
• Relate to children with emotional disabilities and autism in a sensitive, empathetic, understanding and clinically insightful manner
• Demonstrate knowledge and application of behavioral management techniques and milieu therapy
• Ability to respond quickly and appropriately to crisis situations, at times requiring the use of therapeutic holding, using the least restrictive intervention necessary to de-escalate the situation
• Demonstrate knowledge of human behavior and child development, including understanding of the factors that contribute to dysfunctional behavior
• Ability to relate well to less experienced staff and to model professional behavior.
• Ability to communicate well, both orally and in written reports.

Cultural Awareness Expectations

• The Children’s Guild employees are expected to honor the diversity that makes up our community. This includes being respectful and accepting of everyone's personal identity. The Children’s Guild empowers employees to share their own identities and encourages all members to learn from each other to foster a safe, tolerant, and diverse community.
• The Children’s Guild expects all to contribute to a space where individuals can grow, learn, share, and embrace differences in a respectful environment. The Children’s Guild recognizes that expressing personal and cultural identity is crucial to cultivating a safe community for staff, children, and families.
• Staff will build an empathetic, supportive, and equitable environment for the students and families we serve.
• Staff will value all children and families we serve and colleagues by embracing their diverse talents, perspectives, identities, and experiences, while fostering inclusion that inspires innovation, encourages respect, and promotes growth.
• Staff will attract and sustain a diverse workforce by recruiting, hiring, developing, and retaining employees who work collaboratively to carry out the mission of The Children’s Guild.

Qualifications

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Master’s Degree and current Maryland State Department of Education teaching certificate in Special Education are required. Additional areas of concentration may include: elementary or secondary education. Advanced certification preferred with a minimum of 3 years teaching experience. Successful candidate will possess excellent oral and written communication skills, computer proficiency, and demonstrated ability to collaborate with diverse disciplines and individuals. Must have a minimum of 3 years’ experience in all aspects of the special education IEP Team process. Knowledgeable about MSDE regulatory compliance.

EEOC Statement

The Children’s Guild provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristics protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

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 frequently required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear. The employee must frequently lift and/or move more than 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include ability to adjust focus.

All Guild employees are expected to demonstrate an awareness of, respect for, and attention to the diversity of the people with whom they interact (person served, personnel, families/caregivers, and other stakeholders) that are reflected in attitudes, organizational structure, policies, and services.

Salary : $71,000 - $110,000