Supervisor of Special Education

Please apply by noon Thursday, May 3, 2012 

TITLE:           SUPERVISOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION

QUALIFICATIONS:

1.        Experience teaching special education students, required.  

2.        Supervisor of Special Education certification from Pennsylvania Department of Education , required.

3.        Experience in leadership positions.

4.        Demonstrated knowledge of PA Chapter 14, 15 and Chapter 16 Regulations.

5.        Such other alternatives to above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable.

REPORTS TO:            Superintendent of Schools

JOB GOAL:                 Directly support and coordinate the implementation of student service programs while maintaining an efficient and effective level of compliance with State and Federal regulations. Coordinate special education funding sources:  IDEA and ACCESS.   

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Respond to parents, community agencies, local educational agencies, administrators, professional staff members and students in relation to the provision of counseling, health services, special education, gifted and other student service programs with the Kane Area School District. 
2. Recruit, chair interview teams, and recommend to the Superintendent the following personnel:  Special Education professional and support staff, KISS facilitator, guidance counselors, nurses, psychologist, Speech therapists, Gifted teachers, and other staff associated with the provision of special education and related services.
3. Communicate with and update contracts for the provision of related services for students via contracts with outside agencies such as Unit, Center for Caring, etc.
4. Monitor and maintain communications with outside providers for students placed in alternative programs outside the Kane Area School District; approved private schools, residential rehabilitative treatment centers, partial hospitalization programs, etc.
5. Coordinate processes and procedures to assure the implementation of the child find, evaluation, individualized educational program, and re-evaluation process for students identified as eligible for special programs; i.e., Chapters 14, 15 and 16.
6. Assist the principal with supervision of all programs related to student services and students with disabilities.
7. Assist the principal with supervision of the gifted program
8. Direct the compliance of required PDE submissions of Pennsylvania Information Management System data in relation to child find, Office of Civil Rights, and Penn Data Child Count.
9. Assist in the coordination of the School Based ACCESS program working with the Superintendent, Student Services Secretary and Leader Services for the enrollment, training and billing process to recover costs associated with providing medically related services to eligible students as part of their Individualized Educational Program (IEP) plans.
10. Assist with developing appropriate spending plans for the use of IDEA (individuals with disabilities education act federal funda; and ACCESS revenues) in conjunction with superintendent and business manager.
11. Respond to the Pennsylvania Department of Special Education related to required special education program and compliance issues.
12. Respond to the office of Civil Rights in regard to required data collection or complaints pertaining to the rights of students with or who are thought to have disabilities.
13. Recommend and update board policies related to Chapters  14, 15, and Chapter 16 programs.
14. Work with the elementary principal coordinating the Early Intervention program in conjunction with outside providers.
15. Conduct dispute mediation conferences relative to the provision of services to student who have individualized educational plans, student service plans or who may be in need of the aforementioned.
16. Coordinate and organize documentation, and prepare district personnel for participation mediation or due process hearings.
17. Submit required special education plan submissions, assurances, and revision to the Department of Special Education on an annual basis and when department personnel or special education program organization changes.
18. Analyze student enrollments, facility spaces, and programs to assure that student needs will be met in accordance with Chapters  14, 15 and 16.
    1. Annual assessment of enrollments
    2. Annual assessment of professional needs and assignments
    3. Annual assessment of para-professional needs and assignments.
    4. Work in conjunction with principals on the development of special education class lists and / or caseloads
    5. Recommend facility needs and classroom needs.
    6. Recruit and / or provide necessary staff development/training/workshops in order to assure that staff have appropriate tools to be able to address student needs.
    7. Monitor and make sure that staff development for para-professionals is provided in accordance with Chapter 14 requirements (20 hours of in-service annually.
19. Maintain effective communication with administrators, professional staff, parents and students.
20. Meet consistently with PDE Staff, Consultants, IU staff, attend workshops to secure updates in the field of educating students with diversified learning needs, who demonstrate at risk behaviors and disseminate information accordingly.
21. Monitor revenues associated with the operation of Student Service programs to assure revenues are spent according to guidelines.

22.   Cooperate with the business manager in the preparation of needs for the development of the district operating budget in the areas of  counseling, nursing, special education, psychological  services and student services. 

23.   Collect and use data analysis (PSSA, PASA,PASA-M, LRE and the District Special Education Report Card) to assist administrators in understanding implications of relevant data trends for administrators and teachers to develop goals, plans and processes for addressing instruction in student deficit areas and least restrictive educational issues.  

24.   Recommend resources necessary to operate the Alternative Education Program.

25.   Develop and maintain resources for the operation of the Alternative Education Program.

26.   Monitor progress of student involvement in the Alternative Education Program and report results.

27.   Assist in the development and revision of the strategic plan.

28.   Interpret and implement Board policies and administrative directives. 

29.   Participate in administrative meetings, liaison meetings, and such other meetings as are required and or appropriate.

30.   Effectively communicate departmental needs or concerns with the superintendent.  

31.   Keep abreast of changes and developments in the profession by attending professional meetings, reading professional journals and other publications, and discussing problems of mutual interest with others in the field.

32.   Any other duties assigned by the Superintendent or his/her designee.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret literature, periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and administrative regulations.  Ability to write reports, correspondence, and procedures.  Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from individuals, groups of colleagues, students, and supervisors.

MATHEMATIC SKILLS:

Ability to calculate, problem solve and apply mathematic concepts of courses assigned to teach.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variable in situation where only limited standardization exists.  Ability to interpret a variety of instructions  furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory in a specific field. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff and the community. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in both oral and written form.  Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Board of Education policies.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and talk and hear.  The employee will occasionally sit and walk, and reach with hands and arms.

            The employee must occasionally push and / or move up to 50 pounds such as a TV/VCR/Computers.

             Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

The employee continuously interacts with the public and other staff and occasionally meets multiple demands from several people.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics describe here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Most work is performed indoors.

The information contained in this job description is in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and is not an exhaustive list of duties performed for this position.  Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:  Subject to the provisions of the employment contract between the employee and the Kane Area School Board of Directors over a 12 month period consisting of 229 work days.

EVALUATION:    Performance will be evaluated annually in accordance with Pennsylvania Department of Education guidelines.