Special Education Director
The Menominee County ISD in Menominee, Michigan is hiring!
Position Summary:
The Director of Special Education is the immediate supervisor to a team of special education direct and support staff responsible for providing instructional services to students with special needs; Works in collaboration with district leaders, staff, and parents to ensure that all students are provided access to an optimal education within the least restrictive learning environment; Responsible for special education programming including compliance with all State and Federal rules/regulations; Serve as the point of contact liaison for all special education compliance matters throughout the MC-ISD; Serve as Child Find Coordinator.
Required Qualifications:
- Director of Special Education Full Approval
- Possess a master's degree or higher.
- Possess a valid full approval or endorsement in at least one area of special education from the Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education (MDE, OSE).
- Must have three years of successful professional practice or administrative experience in special education, or a combination of practice and experience.
- 30 semester or equivalent hours of graduate credit and a successful 200-clock-hour practicum in special education administration
- School Administration Certification
Preferred Qualifications:
- Five years of successful experience with instruction in special education and school administrative experience; Demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative manner with parents and professionals; Demonstrated experience improving student achievement for students with disabilities.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Coordinate and oversee referral, evaluation, and placement of students with disabilities
- Advocate for the rights and needs of students with disabilities
- Develop and administer special education programs consistent with district goals and applicable laws for children from birth through age 25
- Promote and assist planning of individualized instruction, cooperative curriculum development, instructional support, and the least restrictive placement for student learning
- Mediate special education issues, complaint resolutions, and IEPs with parents and school staff
- Coordinate Child Find activities to locate students suspected of having a disability
- Provide leadership to LEAs to apply all district policies and State/ Federal Laws as they pertain to special education and MARSE
- Provide input and guidance to LEA administrators and special education staff regarding case management, compliance, IEP writing, and documentation
- Review IEPs to ensure alignment with the student's identified needs and compliance with special education guidelines; Ensure implementation of IEPs; Chair IEP meetings; Supervise IEP process across the MC-ISD
- Attend student meetings as appropriate/requested by parents, staff, or LEA administration
- Oversee all Special Education programming, staffing, student placement, and compliance issues
- Create and abide by guidelines to establish a systematic approach to the identification of students with disabilities and implementation of IEPs
- Advise district and school administration on Special Education issues including State/Federal law and regulation
- Work collaboratively with the business office to manage Special Education funding, expenditures, and resources; Oversee budget requests
- Oversee assessment implementation and accommodations for Special Education students
- Regularly update the Superintendent and the Board of Education on applicable Special Education matters
- Keep informed of legal requirements governing Special Education and assure that staff and programs are in compliance with the law
- Supervise the recruiting, interviewing, hiring, training, and evaluating Special Education personnel
- Collaborate with school-based administrators regarding the discipline of students with disabilities
- Facilitate and/or participate in all matters of dispute resolution with the Michigan Department of Education and the Office for Civil Rights pertaining to students with disabilities
- Knowledge of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support and Positive Behavioral Supports and Interventions
- Maintain accurate database and files of former and current students served in special education
- Work with Child Study Committees in developing, implementing, and evaluating proper child study procedures
- Plan, implement, and facilitate professional development/in-services for school staff assigned the responsibility of delivering and overseeing the special education services/programs/process in their buildings
- Serve as the point of contact and communicates with parents and stakeholders regarding special education
- Ensure school districts are in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations including IDEA, MARSE, FERPA, and ADA
- Meet with students, parents and related school personnel regarding individual student needs
- Oversee proper documentation and collection of appropriate special education records including Medicaid billing and accurate pupil accounting membership
- Keeps school district staff informed of changes in laws or regulations in areas of responsibility
- Participate in all training as required to maintain awareness of changes in special education rule and laws
- Extensive working knowledge of legal matters related to special education compliance and school law
- Work collaboratively with LEA administration and staff to ensure effective delivery of special education programs and services
- Ability to develop training materials and conduct targeted professional development
- Use excellent written and verbal communication skills with parents, staff, and stakeholders to effectively assist with implementation of special education programs
- Ensure that student records are maintained and secured with accurate information, reporting capabilities, and confidentiality in accordance with applicable laws
- Assists with staffing, supervision, budgeting, data collection/reporting, staff development, instruction, continuous improvement monitoring, program implementation, and evaluation for identified special education programs
- Knowledge of or ability to learn multiple software database systems including EdPlan, Catamaran, PowerSchool
- Participate in Title IX and Threat Assessment training
- Perform other duties as assigned
REQUIREMENTS:
- Trained or willing to be trained in 5D Teacher Evaluation Framework
- Maintain confidentiality; Regular and reliable attendance; Daily travel
- Understand and embrace the inclusion of all students
- Possess valid driver's license and maintain all required professional licensure
- Pass all required background checks
- Demonstrated ability to work in a collaborative manner with parents and school professionals
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Ability to communicate effectively at all organizational levels; Excellent verbal and written skills
- Ability to multitask; Ability to carry out duties as assigned
- Ability to complete assigned tasks with and without direct supervision
- Ability to integrate technology into everyday workflow
- Ability to develop and maintain successful working relationships with students and school staff
- Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions
- Practice safe work habits; Adapt to frequent changes in work environment
- Prepare and maintain a budget and exercise proper budgetary control measures
- Comprehend, interpret and implement laws, rules, policies, regulations, and guidelines
- Ability to lift/carry items up to 30 pounds, frequent walking, standing, sitting, going up/down stairs
- Occasional irregular or extended work hours to meet multiple demands
- Carry out the mission and values of the MC-ISD
- Be student-centered and advocate for students
Conditions of Employment:
Employment Date: July 1, 2024
Terms of employment: 52 weeks per contract/fiscal year
Salary Range: $90,000-$105,000; Full Benefit Package; Salary & Benefits commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Click "Apply Now" to submit cover letter, resume, and application to Janene Salewsky — HR/Office Manager-Menominee County ISD.