Special Education Coordinator

Description

Woodbourne Campus is located on a historic site in the heart of Baltimore, Maryland, that has been helping kids in need for over 200 years, originally as an orphanage in the early 1800s.  In 2012, Nexus Family Healing affiliated with location, bringing our innovative trauma-informed practices to the youth of Baltimore.

Nexus-Woodbourne Family Healing is seeking passionate Special Education Coordinator dedicated to making a meaningful impact on students with diverse learning needs. In this role, you’ll deliver individualized instruction using effective teaching techniques while implementing behavior management strategies that support a positive, structured learning environment. You will collaborate with a supportive team to ensure each student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) is carried out successfully, helping them achieve both academic and personal growth.                  

At Nexus Family Healing, we embrace diversity, promote equity, and foster inclusion. As a national mental health organization, we serve a diverse group of youth and families, and we strive for our workforce to support and represent that diversity. 

Schedule/Location/Pay:  

Salary Range - $88,000 - $95,000 - Based on Experience & Certification 

Full Time - On-site opportunity (1301 Woodbourne Ave Baltimore MD)

Nexus’ Comprehensive Benefits Include:  

• Eight Days of PTO in First Year of employment.
• Seven Paid Holidays
• Spring, Summer, Winter Breaks
• Multiple options for health insurance coverage
• No-cost life insurance
• Short/long-term disability insurance
• 401k match
• NEW – Talkspace Therapy Benefit for the whole family
• NEW – Hinge Health Benefit for the whole family
• NEW – Carrot Fertility Benefit
• Tuition assistance and training opportunities
• Advancement pathways and internal promotion
• And much more!

Position Summary: The Special Education Coordinator supervises and facilitates the IEP process for all students placed in the school to ensure the special education program is achieving and maintaining a high-quality, therapeutic learning and treatment environment.  

Primary responsibilities:

Registration

• Coordinates Special Education services and registration processes at the school level and outside agencies.
• Coordinates Special Education teacher assignments, program design, training, and development of staff, and orients new staff members.
• Interacts with building staff regarding the Special Education program and regular classes and is an active member of the administration team.
• Responsible for handling minor discipline problems in tandem with the Dean of Students/Behavior Coordinator, and contact parents regarding placement, curriculum, and discipline problems.
• Establishes effective relationships with students, staff, and public, and responsible for disseminating the latest law and regulations to staff; remains current in state educational guidelines and requirements for the school.

Service Delivery & Compliance

• Monitors delivery of service to achieve compliance and provide suggestions and direction to staff in keeping aware of current trends in Special ED, and provides input, assists in class scheduling to implement plans. 
• Works with school therapists, Dean of Student/behavior Coordinator, and administration to develop departmental and school wide in services regarding Special Ed and related issues; remain current on the most current accepted teaching techniques to meet the needs behaviorally challenges students within a residential setting.
• Articulates with other districts and agencies agency programs regarding incoming students.
• Review attendance discipline and transcripts, and records.
• Chairs the IEP meetings, parent conferences and parent/staff meetings, and represents the school agency program needs to SELPA Liaison, and assurance compliance with the law.
• Assists in supervising the development and administration of services for students with special needs, in order to provide for diagnosis, evaluation, and education, that meet the vision, mission, core values, and goals of Nexus and also meet and/or exceed federal, and state, regulations.
• Assists in the accreditation process to ensure the school meets State Department of Education regulations.   
• Reviews federal and state legislation/regulations related to special education; identify and share with staff the impacts and changes on the school level, and interprets special education laws, rules, and regulations to students, parents, and staff.

Scheduling & Educational Support

• Ensures compliance in the administration, scheduling, and evaluation of Special Education service delivery process for the development of IEP’s as required by state and federal mandates and guidelines.
• Plan, prioritize and effectively manage multiple tasks and priorities; research and recommend policies and programs essential to the needs of special education students and keeps informed of current trends and legal requirements governing special education.
• Develops uniform procedures and evaluates the program to assist with incorporating special education programs, services, and personnel into the total educational community.
• Evaluates the special education program to ensure that objectives for student education are met.
• Develops annual goals for the Department of Special Education. Guides the development and implementation of long-range and short-range plans for achieving special education goals and objectives in alignment with the organizations strategic plan and state regulations.

Student Programming

• Assists in supervising student achievement programs for special needs students, work with building principals in analyzing results and in providing programs to address needs, and provide student achievement data at the school, classroom, and student levels that meet and/or exceed state standards.
• Participates along with the school leadership team, in the selection, supervision, training, & ongoing development and performance evaluation of assigned staff.
• Actively participates in the interview and selection process to satisfy organizational requirements.
• Works collaboratively as a team, using effective supervision and communicating expectations, shared goals outcomes; communicate with the entire educational staff on a regular basis through a variety of methods which includes scheduling regular meetings and conducting in-services for all education employees.
• Assist in supervising and approving the staff development programs for the school, regarding special education services.   
• Directs the preparation and maintenance of records and reports for programs and services as required and maintains and ensures a confidential and accurate database and files of former and current students in special education in accordance with federal, state and school board regulations.

Nexus Family Healing Policy and Procedure

• Provides crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques when appropriate; remain clam and using sound judgement in emergency situations.
• Maintain appropriate boundaries and relationships with students.
• Attends and participate in staff meetings and training sessions as required by the company. Attend relevant conferences for continued education. Understands and supports the company philosophy and treatment modalities.
• Remains current on all company policies, assigned trainings and/or certification requirements.
• Ensures confidentiality regarding students in compliance with HIPAA, all licensing agencies, company policies and accrediting bodies. 
• All other tasks and duties as assigned.

Requirements

Special Education Coordinator Required Education and Licensure:

• Master’s degree in Education
• Endorsement or certification in Special Education
• Maryland: Must meet MSDE’s requirement of Initial Professional License (IPL) or higher
• Minimum of five (5) years teaching experience and at least 2 - 3 years' experience in a leadership or administrator role.
• Must successfully pass a DHS/DCFS/CJIS/DHHS/ODHS or other federal and state criminal background check
• Valid driver’s license required. Must meet state regulating agency and Home Office driving requirements

Physical Demands

• Must be able to assist staff in physical interventions and restraints of clients
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds unassisted and up to 100 pounds with assistance
• Must be able to stand and walk for extended periods of time (2-4 hours)
• Must be able to twist, bend and stretch in a manner conducive to the execution of daily activities within a residential treatment facility
• All client-facing Nexus employees must successfully participate and complete a Handle With Care behavior intervention method exam and training  

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion: At Nexus Family Healing, our voices and actions will be focused on recognizing, affirming and respecting people of every race, ethnic background, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender expression and faith.

ICARE Values & Behavioral Competencies:

• Innovation: Leading the way and implementing creative, cutting-edge ideas and approaches.
• Compassion: Listening, honoring differences, and showing respect, kindness, empathy care, and concern.
• Agility: Exhibiting flexibility and adapting quickly.
• Responsiveness: Being quick, positive, and accurate.
• Excellence: Demonstrating quality results that surpass ordinary standards.

APPLY TODAY TO BE CONTACTED BY OUR RECRUITING TEAM! When you work at Nexus, you have the opportunity to change lives — including your own!