Director of Special Services/LEA Supervisor

DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL SERVICES

Reports to: Assistant Superintendent

Dept./Campus: Special Services

Wage/Hour Status: Exempt

Length of Contract: 240 days

PRIMARY PURPOSE:

Direct and manage special education services for the district. Provide leadership to ensure high standards of instructional success.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education/Certification
• • Bachelor's degree
  • Master's degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum of 18 hours in intellectual disability, learning disabilities, physically handicapped, individualized testing, and other related areas
  • Special education certification

• Special Knowledge/Skills:
• • Thorough understanding of program management and budgeting skills
  • Ability to communicate with all levels of special needs students, their parents, and the community
  • Knowledge of the selection, training, and supervision of personnel
  • Knowledge of federal and state regulations for special programs
  • Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
  • Evidence of an understanding of system accountability, research, and development
  • Evidence of the ability to acquire, analyze, and report a variety of data
  • Patient and calm demeanor with students and others

• Experience:
• • Four years of teaching experience in special education
  • Two years of experience in a participatory leadership role

The Board may find appropriate and acceptable alternatives to the above qualifications.

EVALUATION:

Directors employed by this district will be evaluated annually.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• Demonstrate relentless commitment to the academic achievement of all students.

• Demonstrate effective customer service strategies to all district patrons.

• Foster collegiality and team building among staff; articulate a positive image of the school district and school district personnel.

• Communicate and promote expectations for high-level performance from staff; hold staff accountable for high performance; recognize excellence and achievement.

• Articulate a clear direction for all students and staff; articulate a positive image of the school district and school district personnel.

• Ensure that student progress is evaluated regularly and systematically, and the findings are used to make all special education programs more effective.

• Coordinate all district programs for children with disabilities and monitor their operation to ensure compliance with state-approved policies, procedures, and guidelines.

• Assist in supervising special education personnel in the district and provide in-service for staff to keep abreast of changing laws and procedures.

• Coordinate the educational component for the Juvenile Detention Center.

• Serve as district administrator for special education services/504 coordinator; designate appropriate professionals responsible for appraisal, programming, and implementation activities as specified by state guidelines.

• Initiate and administer programs to locate and evaluate students with suspected handicapping conditions.

• Provide quality assurance and control for all district reports, plans, surveys, external funding requests, and other areas as determined by the superintendent.

• Facilitate the analysis of all systems district-wide for continuous improvement.

• Obtain and use evaluative findings, including student achievement data, to examine the effectiveness of special programs.

• Evaluate employees' job performance to ensure effectiveness; Teacher Excellence Support System (TESS) certified.

• Make sound recommendations for personnel placement, transfer, retention, and dismissal.

• Implement the policies established by federal and state law, the Arkansas Department of Education, and the local board policy regarding special education and other special programs.

• Demonstrate responsible fiscal control over assigned program budgets.

• Compile, maintain, and file all required reports, records, and other documents.

• Provide leadership in formulating and implementing contracts for eligible students with disabilities receiving services outside the district.

• Respond appropriately to situations that could impair the teaching/learning process or threaten the safety and well-being of students and staff.

• Develop and monitor contracts with other districts, public and private agencies, and individuals providing services to students with disabilities in the district.

• Serve as a resource person in designing and equipping physical facilities for individuals with disabilities.

• Demonstrate/model support for the district's student management policies and expected student behavior related to instructional programs; serve as a consultative assistant to principals and teachers with children with disabilities.

• Conduct conferences with parents, students, and teachers concerning vital issues to establish and maintain open lines of communication.

• Develop professional skills appropriate to job assignments.

• To improve personal performance, use information from assessment instruments and the district appraisal process.

• Seek, accept, and respond positively to evaluative feedback.

• Actively participate in professional organizations; take the initiative to provide leadership in addressing the profession's challenges.

• Communicate district instructional practices, accomplishments, goals, and new directions to parents and the community; solicit input on these instructional issues.

• Work to develop a sense of community responsibility for the successful operation of the school.
• Serve as liaison for the district with governmental, community, and professional groups on matters related to students with disabilities.

• Use appropriate and effective techniques for community and parent involvement.

• Exercise strict professional confidentiality.

• Assist the superintendent and the Board of Education in developing short-term and long-term goals for the district.

• Be administratively responsible for the district's summer school, credit recovery, tutoring, and all other programs designed to close the achievement gap for all students.

• Work in conjunction with the superintendent on special projects.

• Other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Share supervisory responsibility with principals for professional staff.

Supervise diagnosticians, speech pathologists, contract consultants, and paraprofessionals.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:

Ability to communicate effectively (verbal and written); interpret policy, procedures, and data; coordinate district functions; maintain emotional control under stress

Frequent district-wide and state-wide travel; occasional prolonged and irregular hours; ability to lift and carry 50 lbs