Special Education Program Specialist

JOB DESCRIPTION

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Special Education Program Specialist will assist in Special Education Department professional development, compliance, high profile cases, and special education staff training and support. This position reports to multiple school sites for ongoing special education compliance support.

RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES: This list is illustrative only and is not intended to be a comprehensive list of tasks performed by this classification. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

• Work on special education projects under the direction of the Special Education Leadership team
• Serve as a knowledgeable professional in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) planning and implementation processes
• Facilitate high profile Individual Education P meetings
• Observe, consults with, and assists special educators, designated instruction providers, services instructors, and paraprofessionals
• Perform internal audits of IEP files and provide feedback to special education teachers
• Plans programs, coordinates curricular resources, and evaluates effectiveness of programs for individuals with exceptional needs
• Participate in Special Education Department staff development, program development, and innovation of special methods and approaches
• Provide coordination, consultation and program development including those related to inclusion practices
• Responsible for assuring that pupils have an educational opportunity aligned with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
• Provides assistance and resources to the site level staff.
• Assist site level special education and site personnel through supporting, training and coaching
• Make recommendations relative to the selection of new staff and placement of special education personnel
• Develop data collection systems, monitors data collection and provides programmatic recommendations based upon results
• Consistently provide supportive guidance for regional special education lead teachers
• Attend meetings, school events as requested
• Perform administrative duties, responsibilities, and activities may be assigned or changed from time to time.

SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, ETC:

• Knowledge of public Special Education
• Organizational and planning skills
• Ability to work with various levels of employees and management

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Valid California Education Specialist Teaching Credential: Mild-Moderate or Moderate-Severe required
• Experience as an Education Specialist serving students with special needs required.
• Leadership experience performing Special Education duties (i.e. lead teacher or department chair) in a school or clinical environment including work with children, adolescents, and special education programs and services required
• Experience as a Program Specialist in a school setting serving students with special needs, and the faculty and staff providing special services preferred
• Masters Degree in Special Education or related field preferred
• Currently working toward or holds a valid California Administrative Services Credential preferred
• Experience with Charter schools and Independent Study settings preferred
• Proficient in using student information data systems
• Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)

TRAVEL: Ability to travel in performance of job duties is required

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Mental Demands: high workflow management, high project coordination.
• Finger Dexterity: using primarily just the fingers to make small movements such as typing, picking up small objects, or pinching fingers together.
• Talking: especially where one must convey detailed or important instructions or ideas accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Average Hearing: able to hear average or normal conversations and receive ordinary information.
• Average Visual Abilities: ordinary acuity necessary to prepare or inspect documents or operate machinery.
• Physical Strength: sedentary work. Sitting most of the time, and occasionally exerts up to 10 lbs. of force (almost all office jobs).
• Frequent multi-tasking, changing of task priorities, repetitious exacting work required.
• Working in a noisy, distracting environment with frequent deadline pressures.