Director of Special Education

NEW HAMPSHIRE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT #1 CONTOOCOOK VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT _____________________________________________________________________ POSITION TITLE:Director of Special Education SUPERVISOR:Superintendent of Schools SUMMARY: This position is responsible for Special Education Staff (SSP, OT, PT, SL, School Psychologists, Special Education Teachers, Paraprofessionals), IDEA Grant, Special Education/ESY Budget, Special Education Coordinators, BEST, Middle and High School ESP, ESY, Preschool, program development and management, ensuring compliance with established policies, procedures, and/or regulations, understanding the educational needs of ConVal’s students, and the monitoring of data to make informed decisions. QUALIFICATIONS: •Master's Degree from an accredited college/university •Three years successful administrative experience or equivalent •NH State Certification #0006 (Special Education Administrator) •Knowledge of law and regulations as it relates to this position •Demonstrated evidence of excellent written and oral communication skills •Excellent interpersonal skills, including group facilitation •Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the School Board may find appropriate and acceptable DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Budget: 1.Develops and coordinates budgets and narratives for Extended School Year (ESY) and Preschool Programs with Special Education Coordinator. 2.Collaborates with the Director of Student Services in regard to budget development, budget decisions, and budget narratives. Special focus is on related services staff and special education coordinators. These duties include building assignments, case and workload reviews for related services staff and special education coordinators. 3.Prepares and monitors out of district tuition budget. Planning: 1.Assists in the management response to triennial on-site evaluations conducted by the State. 2.Develops long and short range plans in relation to district needs and makes recommendations to Director of Student Services (e.g. district policies, procedures, staffing, materials, equipment, space requirements, etc.) for the purpose of implementing special education programs/services and complying with local, state and federal regulations. 3.Develops, coordinates and monitors Extended School Year (ESY). 4.Oversees yearly preschool child check screening. 5.Manages response to on-site evaluations, visitations and State Performance Plan indicators conducted by the State. 6.Plans programs for students placed outside of the District, and directs resources necessary to develop transition programs for such students as the need arises. 7.Insures that all Individualized Education Programs of the District’s educationally identified students meet all Federal/State requirements. 8.Monitors all specialized transportation for the District. Staff Management: 1.Responsible for hiring staff for all Special Education programs in the District, as well as diagnostic, related services personnel. 2.Identifies and locates services such as physical, speech, and occupational therapy as the need dictates. 3.Observes and evaluates staff performance, in either a primary or secondary role. (Evaluative responsibilities are negotiated with each of the building principals on an annual basis). 4.Work collaboratively and provide guidance to the Special Education Coordinators regarding all matters related to special education. 5.Works with Special Education Coordinator in successfully transitioning preschool students to kindergarten. 6.Observes and evaluates staff performance for itinerant staff (evaluative responsibilities are negotiated with each of the building principals and (Director of Student Services, if an overlap) on an annual basis. 7.Supervise social workers, and approve certification of special education staff including paraprofessionals. 8.Assists in hiring staff for all Special Education programs in the District, as well as diagnostic and related services personnel. 9.Identifies and locates services such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech language pathologist/therapist as needed. 10.Acts as a clearing house for applications of individuals interested in teaching Special Education. 11.Hires related service personnel, psychologists, and program paraprofessionals. 12.Supervises, monitors, and documents home education programs for identified students. 13.Coordinates all out of district placement students. Consultative Responsibilities: 1.Collaborates with others (e.g. Director of Student Services, Teachers, Building Principals, other professional staff, parent groups, community organizations, public agencies, etc.) for the purpose of implementing and maintaining student services in accordance with programmatic and regulatory requirements. 2.Serves as an initial point of contact and a resource between building level staff (Special Education Coordinators, Principals, Teachers) and the Director of Student Services for matters related to student services. 3.Assists in the provision through which special education staff can provide input into decision making in special education. This is done by a series of regular meetings throughout the year. 4.Facilitates and participates in a variety of meetings including department meetings, that may frequently involve a range of issues for the purpose of evaluating situations, identifying appropriate actions, developing recommendations, and/or implementing desired program changes or changes in operational practice. 5.Coordinates all special education transportation requests and monitors the necessity of such requests prior to submitting them to the Business Administrator or bus company. 6.Act as LEA and an administrative resource to building level Special Education Coordinators and special education. 7.Consults with administration, teachers, and staff for the purpose of maintaining existing programs and the development of new programs in accordance with established timeframes, professional standards, and related requirements. 8.Collaborates with the McKinney-Vento Liaison for special education students that are eligible. 9.Remain informed, and disseminate information to fellow building level administrators, teachers, and staff with regard to current research, trends, and best practices in Special Education. 10.Works with District Special Education Team, (Director of Student Services and Special Education Coordinators) to establish and administer training programs to all school staff. 11.Provides means through which special education staff can provide input into decision making in special education. This is done by a series of regular meetings throughout the year. 12.Assists in the development of staff development programs related to special services that meet the needs of special educators. 13.Supervises extended year programs including budgets and staff. 14.Seeks individual approval from Department of Education as needed. Programming: 1.Develops proposals for new programs for the purpose of serving special education students, and ensure compliance with local, state and federal regulations and meeting district goals. 2.Develops and carries out operating procedures for new and existing programs. This includes, but not limited to, admissions, program size, and program work assignments. 3.Manages the implementation of current programs and/or services for the purpose of delivering FAPE to students with disabilities in conformance with legal, financial, time sensitive, and district requirements. This is done through delegation, meetings, walkthroughs, and personal involvement. 4.Collaborates with the Director of Student Services in developing the ConVal Strategic Plan as it relates to Special Education and Student Services. 5.Supervise record keeping as it relates to students in specialized District programs. 6.Insures that all program implementation and accommodations are in compliance with State and Federal law for identifying educationally disabled students. 7.Updates District Special Education Plan which is required by the State and needs to be adjusted according to the efforts being made to meet the needs of the educationally disabled population. Out of District Responsibilities: 1.Assures that students who are placed Out-of-District receive an appropriate educational program. 2. Demonstrate knowledge of State and Federal special education law, ADA law, and procedures associated with the Office of Children and Youth, as well as the juvenile justice system. 3.In cases where the District is seeking an Out-of-District placement, the Director of Special Education is responsible for finding suitable placement. Crisis Intervention: 1.Makes suggestions to Special Education Coordinators and building principals as to how to deal with crisis situations. May also need to get directly involved and attend LEA meetings that are experiencing difficulties and/or are challenging. 2.Acts as a resource for community and other social services agencies. 3.Provides Administrators with procedures dictated to us by the state Special Education Law as applied to educationally disabled students (discipline, handicapped access, etc.). Program Quality Control: 1.Monitor the programs and processes of identifying educationally disabled students and the implementation of all Special Education programs are in compliance with state and federal laws. 2.Monitors and revises District Special Education Plan as required by the state. 3.Helps observe and evaluate staff performance, in either a primary or secondary role. 4.Acts as a clearing house for all Special Education applicants. 5.Aids with the hiring of staff for all Special Education programs in the District, as well as diagnostic and related service personnel. 6.Collaborates with the Director of Student Services in coordinating appropriate professional development opportunities for special education and student services staff. 7.Collaborates with the Director of Student Services for court involved students that are identified special education. 8.Completes end of year statistical reports as required by the State. 9.Monitors and maintains the Special Education Information System (NHSEIS) for the District. 10.Monitors and maintains files for the State Medicaid billing system.