Director of Special Services - Springfield, Vermont

Vermont Learning Collaborative is working with Springfield School District to fulfill their Director of Special Services vacancy. Nestled between the scenic Black River and Connecticut River, Springfield, Vermont offers a picturesque setting in the heart of the Connecticut River Valley. With easy access to I-91, Springfield is perfectly positioned for those looking to enjoy the charm of Brattleboro, the beauty of the Quechee and Woodstock area, and explore nearby destinations in western New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts. Join a dedicated and dynamic team committed to providing exceptional support to students across four schools and a vibrant school-based preschool program. This is an incredible opportunity to make a lasting impact in a collaborative and supportive community! Job Summary: The Director of Special Services is responsible for the day to day provision of all special education, psychological, behavioral and evaluation services. Primary responsibility is to assure that all identified special education and 504 students receive a free and appropriate public education in compliance with all state and federal rules and regulations. The director is the primary person responsible for providing necessary financial and program information to the Agency of Education and the SSD Chief Financial Officer under law, regulation and SDD policy. The Director serves on the SSD Leadership Team, working collaboratively with the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, the CFO, and the Superintendent to fulfill administrative responsibilities. Essential Duties: - Administers the provision of services to all children in the Springfield School District (birth-21), according to federal and state law. - Develops, manages, evaluates, and ensures all district Special Education programs, including curriculum, budgeting and fund disbursement, are in compliance with all appropriate state and federal regulations. - Develops and implements policies and procedures for the provision of Special Education services. - Develops and implements the Local Education Agency Plan for Special Education, as required by IDEA. - Conducts, coordinates, and ensures Special Education training for all personnel as needed. - Determines appropriate staff development to be provided and available for all district staff, regardless of position, for the effective implementation of Special Service Programs. - Advises, consults, and assists building level administrators on the implementation of Special Service programs. - Coordinates with administrators on the assignment and workload of Special Services personnel. - Assists building level administrators in the supervision and evaluation of Special Services staff. - Recommends to the Superintendent the proper staffing and structure of the department. - Creates annual reports or special reports as needed. - Participates in appropriate local, state and national professional meetings/seminars, and reads relevant literature to improve techniques in specialized areas. - Recruits, screens, and recommends Special Education personnel for hire in conjunction with Administrators and Superintendent. - Develops and implements goals and programs for Special Education services which include a timeline for accomplishments that are measurable and reportable for dissemination to the public, staff, administration and board. - Completes the annual applications for IDEA-B Basic, IDEA-B PreSchool, ECSE, and Medicaid, and evaluations for these programs, chairing appropriate committees and recommending appropriate expenditures for these programs to the Superintendent. - Consults with curriculum development committees (or designates a staff member to do so) to represent - Student Support Services in the development of curriculum. - Communicates with other Special Education Directors to implement appropriate individual student IEPs and to share general knowledge and ideas. - Establishes effective liaisons with the various offices and agencies within the community and state that may provide specialized or professional help to students and their families, and serves as the referral agent to those offices and agencies when deemed appropriate. - Develops collaborative partnerships with local mental health and medical agencies while understanding their systems and resources - Contacts and collaborates with school district attorneys in regard to matters of due process in Special Education. - Assesses, evaluates, and collects student needs data in each school and reports findings, recommendations, and budgetary impact to the administration, board, state and federal agencies as deemed necessary and required. - Attends staff, team, and IEP meetings to function as the LEA representative as necessary. - Advises, prepares, and manages the Special Education budget(s) and the disbursement of Special Education funds in accordance with district policies and procedures. - Provides coverage, consultation and support to building administrators. - Attends school board meetings, at the request of the Superintendent. Essential Responsibilities - Responsible for Child Identification and Child Count Activities. - Ensures proper collection of data for evaluating student progress, program effectiveness and resource utilization. - Responsible for transportation services for eligible Special Education students. - Oversees Special Education Coordinators work with individual students’ case management and learning plans for out of district placements. - Oversees and supports administrators with the implementation of accommodations and supports for students protected by Section 504. Ensures diagnostic procedures identifying students’ eligibility for Special Education services. - Responsible for the maintenance of confidential files of Special Education students in locked file cabinets at the Central District Office, and monitors confidentiality of electronic files used by each building. - Ensures the district receives all special Education related revenue (grants and reimbursements) it is entitled to, by communicating all necessary data with the business office. - Responsible for the oversight and management of independent contractors including alternative delivery models. Performs other duties or assignments as deemed necessary and directed by the Superintendent.