Assistant Director of Special Education

FRAMINGHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Department of Special Education

TITLE:

Assistant Director of Special Education

School Year

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Department of Special Education is composed of: special educators paraprofessionals speech and language pathologists occupational therapists physical therapists board certified behavior analysts applied behavior analysts team evaluation coordinators and additional specialists. The primary function of this position is to assist the Director of Special Education in the implementation of local state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to Special Education.

OUR MISSION:

Framingham Public Schools is committed to excellence for all students. Our mission statement guides our work: Through a comprehensive education we aim to create and empower freethinking responsible citizens who can participate equally in our rich and diverse community. FPS and the community stand united in our core values: Providing a safe inclusive culturally responsive teaching and learning environment; Engaging antiracist and responsible civic advocates; Respecting diversity of thought learners cultures and community; Fostering learning and healthy growth of all students and staff; Ensuring every school will be an active participatory equitable community.

Diversity among teachers undoubtedly advances the academic achievement of students. Compliance obligations establish a baseline which we seek to exceed. As a district Framingham Public Schools is committed to achieving developing and maintaining a workforce reflective of the rich racial linguistic and cultural diversity of our students. Framingham Public Schools aims to teach our children and ourselves to be culturally proficient and inclusive in order to live learn and work together in a vibrant and diverse world.

Indeed Framingham Public Schools is committed to inspiring our school community to be accepting and willing to learn from individuals with differing backgrounds. Our goal is to reflect the diverse community we serve and create a great place to work for everyone by embracing the individual skills perspectives and experiences our people bring to the workplace and harnessing these for high performance and improved service delivery. We want our employees to feel included valued and respected and have access to equal opportunity which supports full participation at work. Framingham Public Schools seeks to retain the diverse talent in our workforce and support our people to maintain a long and productive working career.

Framingham Public Schools is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment and strongly encourages applications from persons with disabilities and who identify as members of historically underrepresented groups.

CERTIFICATES LICENSES REGISTRATIONS:

At least three years of administrative experience in Special Education. Current and valid DESE license as a Special Education Administrator and SEI Endorsement for Administrators or Special Education Supervisor/Director and SEI Endorsement for Administrators or evidence of application for DESE license and progress towards attaining. Please note that licensure requirements are subjected to change at the discretion of DESE.

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

• Masters degree in special education educational leadership or a related field
• Licensure as a Special Education Administrator
• Experience in special education administration or leadership
• Knowledge of federal and state special education laws and regulations
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders including students families staff and community members
• Strong organizational and management skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with others to achieve common goals
• Strong problemsolving and decisionmaking skills
• Bilingual (Portuguese or Spanish) skills are preferred.

Framingham Public Schools seeks candidates whose background teaching or service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to diversity inclusion and belonging in all aspects of education. Also we are interested in candidates who will bring to their professional practice the perspective that comes from a nontraditional educational background or an understanding of the experiences of those underrepresented in the educational field.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as an illustration of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if work is similar related or a logical assignment to the position. This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and the requirements of the job change.

• Assist the Director of Special Education in the supervision of the identification referral evaluation and program planning for all students in need of special education services.
• Oversee systems and procedures in special education data collection
• Assist the Director of Special Education in ensuring current student records are maintained in line with Chapter 766 regulations.
• Assist the Director of Special Education in program development
• Collaborate with the District transportation office and vendors to ensure all services related to transportation are processed and implemented.
• Ensure that Special Education programs including location and class size and related procedures are in compliance with the Special Education Regulations.
• Assist in the supervision of special education staff
• Assist the Director of Special Education in the application and implementation of state and federal grant funds
• Assist in coordinating the planning and implementation of professional development needs for staff and programs.
• Collaborate with district leaders in planning district wide strategic prioritization areas of focus
• Assist the director in collaborating with the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (FSEPAC).
• Assist the Director of Special Education in the development of policies and procedures to maintain compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Assist in the coordination of all DESE monitoring activities as required: Tiered Focused Monitoring MidCycle Reviews Proportionate Share and preparation of all Federal State and local reports for special education.

• Provide educational leadership for Special Education program assessment Special Education program developments and research and methodology for Special Education.
• Participate in coordination and planning meetings with Special Education Team Evaluation Coordinators.

• Assist and facilitate the transition of Special Education students from within the district as well as from other public and private schools including hospitals DCF and DYS facilities and other institutions to the public schools.

• Prepare other reports assigned or requested by the Director of Special Education.

• Assist in the recruitment interviewing and recommendation of personnel for special education programs.
• Perform other tasks and assume other responsibilities as the Director of Special Education
• Coordinate the use of consultation for student support services including but not limited to identifying contracted service providers managing scheduling and monitoring expenditures.
• Consult and coordinate with the Student Registration Department with school placements for movein students class list process for incoming Kindergarten students and monitoring special education numbers at each school.
• Collaborate and participate in interdepartmental initiatives in support of the Departmental and District strategic priority and initiatives (District MTSS Planning Team crossinstructional collaborative teams etc).

PHYSICAL WORKING CONDITIONS:

The work environment characteristics described 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.

Work is primarily sedentary performed in an office setting. While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to stand walk talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to use hands; to finger; to handle or feel objects tools or controls; and to stoop kneel crouch and crawl. The employee is occasionally required to sit and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include peripheral vision and close vision such as reading typewritten material. The work typically requires occasional indistrict travel to attend meetings.

REPORTS TO:

Director of Special Education

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Assists in the supervision and evaluation of Special Education District staff

FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT (FLSA) CLASSIFICATION:

This position is classified as Exempt (Professional).

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

Per the FAA collective bargaining agreement. This is a 12month position.

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Framingham Public Schools provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race color religion sex national origin age disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements Framingham Public Schools complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the District has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment including recruiting hiring placement promotion termination layoff recall transfer leaves of absence compensation and training. Framingham Public Schools expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race color religion gender sexual orientation gender identity or expression national origin age genetic information disability ancestry marital status or veteran status.

Rev. 2023