Primary Purpose:

Directs the district’s special education evaluation and related services systems to ensure provision of needed services for special needs students. Collaborates with district and outside personnel to formulate, develop, implement, and evaluate special education programs based on research, best practices, and current trends in special education.

Education / Certification:

1. Master’s degree from an accredited college or university required.
2. Valid Texas certificate or licensure as a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology, Educational Diagnostician, Speech Language Pathologist or similarly credentialed professional.
3. Valid Texas Mid-management or other appropriate Texas certificate and/ or experience as a coordinator preferred.

Special Knowledge / Skills:

1. Knowledge of federal and state special education law.
2. Knowledge of special education programs, regulations, and specific areas of disability.
3. Ability to evaluate program effectiveness and program compliance.
4. Ability to coordinate district functions.
5. Ability to interpret policy, procedures, and data.
6. Ability to interpret evaluation data with regards to program planning and implementation.
7. Strong organizational, communication, public relations, and interpersonal skills.
8. Ability to establish and maintain relationships with CISD, other districts, state and federal agency personnel who are involved with the research, administration, and coordination of Special Education programs.

Experience / Other Requirements:

1. Three years of experience in special education.
2. Licensed Specialist in School Psychology, Educational Diagnostician, and/or other relevant evaluation experience.

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

Program Planning Development

1. Establishes systems and processes to identify evaluation activities used to meet the needs of students with disabilities age 0-22.
2. Provides leadership for campus administration, evaluation team, and case managers in understanding the relationship between disabilities, eligibility, curriculum, instruction, and state assessment.
3. Establishes district processes and procedures for evaluation services in order to identify students who are eligible and in need of special education services.
4. Establishes processes to align evaluation in a related service area with other evaluation requirements for students eligible for one or more of these activities.
5. Reviews districtwide evaluation data to manage timelines, allocate resources, and arrange for contract vendor support during high-volume periods.
6. Manage and authorize family requests for Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs) and coordinate expectations with outside providers.
7. Oversee the submission of state compliance metrics, for State Performance Plan (SPP) Indicators 11 and 12 which govern timely initial evaluations and early childhood transitions.

Instructional Management

1. Establishes systems & processes for continuous and systematic procedures for professional growth for district staff through workshops and demonstrations pertinent to methods and materials that will ensure success for students with behavioral challenges.
2. Collaborates with district level teams on matters relating to social, emotional learning.
3. Attends appropriate professional meetings and workshops to maintain proficiency and to acquire new ideas. Informs administration of the effects of current and impending legislation.

Organization, Implementation and Evaluation of the Instructional Program

1. Serves as consultant in the identification, evaluation, selection, and application of appropriate curricula and materials to be used in implementing special education programs.
2. Serves on the Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) Committee upon request.
3. Collaborates in the development of the district’s operating guidelines consistent with policies established by federal law, state law, and local board policy.
4. Trains campus leaders on the legal requirements for assigning students with disabilities to disciplinary placements, specifically managing the Manifestation Determination process.

Policy, Reports, and Law

1. Supervise the security, maintenance, and retention schedules of highly sensitive psychological and educational records.
2. Complies with policies established by federal and state law, State Board of Education rule, and the local board policy.
3. Assists administration in the resolution of parent concerns and complaints with regards to Special Education programming.

Staff Development

1. Plans, supervises, and conducts professional learning for a variety of personnel providing services to students with disabilities.
2. Ensures professional learning is provided to administrators, counselors, special and general education teachers, and itinerant personnel regarding laws, changes, effective intervention strategies, and any other important characteristics of the special education program.
3. Attends appropriate professional meetings and workshops to facilitate program improvement in the area of evaluation and provision of special education services.

School and Community Relations

1. Participates in district level meetings as required to communicate the purposes and progress of the instructional program(s).
2. Demonstrates awareness of district-community needs and initiates activities to meet needs.
3. Responsible for properly maintaining district records, adhering to all policies set forth by the district for records maintenance and learning the records retention schedule for department records.

Communication and Community Support

1. Participates in district level meetings as required to communicate the purposes and progress of the instructional program(s).
2. Demonstrates awareness of district-community needs and initiates activities to meet needs.
3. Responsible for properly maintaining district records, adhering to all policies set forth by the district for records maintenance and learning the records retention schedule for department records.
4. Other duties as assigned.