Assistant Director of Special Education

Assistant Director of Special Education
 
Purpose Statement
The job of Assistant Director of Special Education is done for the purpose/s of providing assigned administrative and supervisory duties; directing special education programs and services; providing information and serving as a resource to others; achieving defined objectives by planning, evaluating, developing, implementing and maintaining services in compliance with established guidelines; ensuring effective support and operation of special education services in USD 475; and serving as a member of the leadership team.
 
This job reports to Executive Director of Special Education.
 
Essential Functions

• Assist the Director in maintaining and improving communication with community agencies (e.g. DCF/JJA, Court service, Mental Health Agencies, Exceptional Family Member Program, etc.) for ensuring optimal communication, cooperation, and coordination.
• Collaborate with internal and external personnel (e.g. other administrators, auditors, public agencies, community members, etc.) for implementing and/or maintaining services and programs.
• Compile data from a wide variety of sources (e.g. staff, public agencies, SPED program in USD 475; KSDE processes, etc.) for analyzing issues, ensuring compliance with organization policies and procedures, and/or monitoring program components.
• Coordinate program components, support needs and material (e.g. staff development throughout the District regarding special education programs, etc.) for delivering services which conform to established guidelines and SPED regulations, IDEA requirements, and USD475 requirements.
• Develop a variety of SPED processes (e.g. staff professional development, orienting new staff, working with building principals, etc.) for providing services within established timeframes and in compliance with related requirements.
• Facilitate meetings, workshops, seminars, etc. (e.g. due process hearings, district liaison, special education parent groups, etc.) for identifying issues, developing recommendations, supporting other staff and serving as a District representative.
• Implement assigned programs and/ services (e.g. coordinating special education services within district boundaries for private schools, serving as LEA representative for IEP meetings, coordinating district Gifted education services, overseeing district-wide Extended School Year services, etc.) for ensuring implementation of activities, conforming to district and state curriculum and/or instructional objectives.
• Monitor program compliance (e.g. reviewing Federal and State rules, maintaining adequate records of required reports for all state and federal agencies, monitoring legal requirements governing special education; guiding IEP process, district wide, etc.) for ensuring that compliance factors and regulations are observed and implemented accurately.
• Participate in activities of selected departments (e.g. resolving and managing conflict, arranging student transportation, developing strong professional relationships with regular education administrators and teachers, attending district-level meetings involving special education, assessing regular education components relationship to special education, etc.) for providing leadership and conveying and/or gathering information required to perform functions.
• Prepare a wide variety of often complex materials (e.g. plans, budgets, funding requests, reports, analyses, recommendations, program and instructional changes, etc.) for the purpose of documenting activities and issues, meeting compliance requirements, providing audit references, making presentations, and providing supporting materials for requested actions.
• Present information (e.g. legal requirements governing special education, programs of guidance, consultation, and support, ongoing professional development, etc.) for communicating information, gaining feedback and ensuring adherence to established internal controls.
• Provide parent support (e.g. serving as advocate for parents and students; implementing support to parents of students with disabilities, etc.) for assuring that special programming is provided for each child in the least restrictive environment.
• Research a variety of topics required to manage assignments (e.g. relevant policies, new federal and state statutes, staffing requirements, financial resources, etc.) for developing new programs/services, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, securing general information and/or responding to requests.
• Respond to issues involving staff, conflicts in policies and regulations, community concerns, parental requests that may result in some negative impact and/or liability if not appropriately addressed for identifying the relevant issues and recommending or implementing a plan of action that will efficiently resolve the issue.
• Serve as liaison (e.g. VI/HI district services, KSD/KSB, etc.) for providing collaboration and leadership that conform to established guidelines.
• Supervise SPED itinerant related service providers and home instruction (e.g. speech, gifted, psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists; hospitalized SPED students, etc.) for monitoring provision of services.

 
Other Functions

• Performs other related duties, as assigned, for ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of the work unit.

 
Job Requirements: Minimum Qualifications
Skills, Knowledge and Abilities
 
SKILLS are required to perform multiple, technical tasks with a need to periodically upgrade skills in order to meet changing job conditions. Specific skill-based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include operating standard office equipment including using a variety of software applications; planning and managing projects; preparing and maintaining accurate records; applying assessment instruments; applying curriculum and instructional techniques; classifying data and/or information; comparing results; conducting meetings; counseling and mentoring employees; critical observation; and planning agendas/meetings.
 
KNOWLEDGE is required to perform advanced math; review and interpret highly technical information, write technical materials, and/or speak persuasively to implement desired actions; and analyze situations to define issues and draw conclusions.  Specific knowledge-based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include pertinent laws, codes, policies, and/or regulations; personnel processes; standard business practices;
program planning and development; concepts of grammar and punctuation; instructional procedures and practices; age appropriate student activities; safety practices and procedures; conflict resolution; and stages of child development/ behavior.
 
ABILITY is required to schedule a significant number of activities, meetings, and/or events; routinely gather, collate, and/or classify data; and consider a number of factors when using equipment. Flexibility is required to independently work with others in a wide variety of circumstances; analyze data utilizing defined but different processes; and operate equipment using a variety of standardized methods. Ability is also required to work with a significant diversity of individuals and/or groups; work with data of widely varied types and/or purposes; and utilize a variety of types of job-related equipment. Independent problem solving is required to analyze issues and create action plans. Problem solving with data requires analysis based on organizational objectives; and problem solving with equipment is moderate to significant. Specific ability-based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job
include adapting to changing work priorities; communicating with diverse groups and individuals; meeting deadlines and schedules; setting priorities; working as part of a team; working with detailed information/data; accuracy and attention to detail; analyzing issues and determining appropriate course of action; being available on-call; diffusing argumentative behavior; displaying tact and courtesy; maintaining confidentiality; and organizing tasks.
 
Responsibility
Responsibilities include working independently under broad organizational guidelines to achieve unit objectives; managing a department; supervising the use of funds. Utilization of significant resources from other work units is routinely required to perform the job`s functions. There is a continual opportunity to impact the organizations services.
 
Work Environment
The usual and customary methods of performing the job`s functions require the following physical demands: occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling, some climbing and balancing, some stooping, kneeling, crouching, and/or crawling and significant fine finger dexterity. Generally, the job requires 70% sitting, 25% walking, and 5% standing.  This job is performed in a generally clean and healthy environment.
 
Experience: Job related experience within a special education is required.
 
Education: Masters degree in job-related area.
 
Equivalency:
 
Required Testing                                           

Certificates and Licenses
Designated Subject Matter Endorsement
Building or District Level Leadership Endorsement
 
Continuing Educ. / Training                            
Maintains Certificates and/or Licenses

Clearances

Criminal Background Clearance 
                                                                       
FLSA Status                          Approval Date                                   Salary Grade
Exempt                                                                                Commensurate on experience and education
                                   
Notice of Nondiscrimination
Geary County USD #475 does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and/or activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. For questions or complaints based on race, color, national origin, sex or age, please contact the USD 475 Executive Director of Personnel Services, 123 N. Eisenhower, Junction City, KS 66441. Telephone: 785.717.4000. For questions or complaints based on disability, please contact the USD 475 Executive Director of Special Education, 123 N. Eisenhower, Junction City, KS 66441. Telephone: 785.717.4000.

 

Benefits Information

Salary Information

Employer Information