Director of Special Eduation

Position Description:

The Director of Special Education serves as a champion for students with disabilities in Haywood County Schools providing oversight for all special education students, programming, funding and compliance metrics.  The Director of Special Education ensures that all students with disabilities are correctly identified and receive appropriate services in the least restrictive environment. This role involves supporting teachers through training, curriculum and supply purchases, and decision-making assistance. The Director collaborates closely with school administrators, district leaders, and families, and develops relationships with district directors to ensure cooperation between general education and special education.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Oversees the special education and gifted programs. Contributes to setting the district's overall strategy and approach to these identified groups of students. Tracks student achievement and makes program improvements over time.
• Supervises staff establishing standards and effectively selects, trains, motivates, delegates, monitors, and evaluates performance to ensure targets and goals are met. Facilitates professional development and serves as coach and mentor.
• Visits schools to assess the effectiveness of exceptional children and related programs, shares information, acquires input from staff, and provides feedback.
• Works collaboratively with school and district leadership to formulate targets and goals for productivity, cost management, quality, and providing input on system-wide policy development as it relates to Special Education
• Provides vision and leadership in the area of Special Education to enhance instructional delivery, accelerate student learning, and increase operational effectiveness.
• Ensures the department meets all compliance guidelines, including, but not limited to, requirements for restricted funds, teacher-student ratios, curriculum standards, and others. Executes the responsibilities according to lawful and ethical standards.
• Develops and implements an effective district wide program of supervision and support for special education teachers, leaders, and central office supports.
• Monitors budget allocations, expenditures, and fund balances for the purpose of ensuring that allocations are accurate, revenues are recorded, expenses are within budget limits and/or fiscal practices are followed
• Performs other related duties as assigned or directed.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Master’s Degree from an accredited educational institution
• Active TN Certification in Special Education
• 5 or more years of teaching experience in the Special Education setting
• Knowledge of IDEA, Students with Disabilities federal, state, and local law, and programmatic requirements
• 2 or more years of school or district-level administration required

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Skill in developing data-supported solutions and using fact-based logic and the ability to translate complex analysis in an easy-to-understand manner and present to a broad audience
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to tackle the operational challenges in a complex, changing political and educational environment
• Ability to manage daily administrative tasks without losing sight of long-term goals and planning.
• Demonstrated ability in excellent execution and project management skills, including ability to balance the big picture with detailed steps
• Outstanding critical thinking skills, including the ability to analyze data, identify trends, pinpoint problems and root causes, and develop innovative solutions
• Knowledge of research and best practices in providing support to teachers
• Identify and resolve problems in a timely manner; gather and analyze information skillfully; develop alternative solutions; work well in group problem-solving situations; use reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Exhibit objectivity and openness to others' views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts success of team above own interests; able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; supports everyone's effort to succeed.
• Willingness to make decisions; exhibit sound and accurate judgment; supports and explains reasoning for decisions; include appropriate people in decision making process; make timely decisions.
• Adapt to changes in the work environment; manage competing demands; change approach or method to best fit the situation; able to deal with frequent change, delays or unexpected events.
• Follow instructions; respond to supervisory direction; take responsibility for own actions; keep commitments; commit to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; complete tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.
• Maintain a high level of ethical behavior and confidentiality when dealing with student, staff and/or parent information.