Director of Student Personnel Services

Director of Student Personnel ServicesThe Pawtucket School Department is seeking a dynamic and transformative director to lead the school departments programs related to special education social services OT/PT TA psychological assessment homebound and outofdistrict DESCRIPTION:Under the direction of the Superintendent serves as the Director responsible for leadership and management of student support services. The main focus of the position is special education services but also includes psychological services counseling and social services student personnel services health services and preK DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:The Director of Student Personnel Services will:Serve as a member of the Leadership TeamInterpret federal and state statutes and regulations and oversee the implementation of laws statues and regulations related to special educationProvide technical assistance and information relative to special education needs and services to the School Committee district staff parents students and the community; Prepare pertinent information and/or testimony for the legislature School Committee and other official entities as requested;Prepare documents and assist the Superintendent or serve as the district representative relative to Office of Civil Rights or Office of Protection and Advocacy complaintsDevelop and implement special education services regulations and procedures to ensure that the rights and welfare of students with disabilities are guaranteed and that they are provided an appropriate education in the least restrictive environment as determined by the needs of the individual studentDevelop and recommend goals objectives budgets grants and programs in assigned areasEnsure that a system of procedural safeguards due process and other legal involvements relative to special education issues is conducted in accordance with state and federal statues and regulations as well as district proceduresServes as District representative responsible for administrative review of the appropriateness of services delivered investigation of due process complaints and legal hearingsFormulate procedures for processing special education confidential records in accordance with federal state and district requirementsSupervise and evaluate the performance of assigned staff in accordance with district procedures; recommend staffing requirementsCollaborate with district recruitment and retention of special education staff efforts; provide for the selection orientation training development and maximum utilization of assigned staff;Develop and administer an equitable system for the allocation and coordination of special education teacher assistants and aidesOversee counseling activities and the activities of related service providers such as adapted physical education teachers social workers occupational physical and speech and language therapists and special education teacher assistantsImplement professional growth and other training for special education staff related services personnel teaching assistants and aides site administrators support staff and regular education staff as appropriate; facilitate collegial meetings for special education personnel in the various areas of exceptionality and related servicesServe on pertinent committees and coordinate activities with district departments divisions schools and other agenciesServe as administrative liaison to the various special education interest groups ad hoc committees state special education administrative groups and the Rhode Island Department of Education; cooperate and coordinate services with other District administrative sections and departments such as psychological services police transportation counseling health services elementary and secondary education and DCYF as neededOversee transition responsibilities as it related to students with disabilities; oversee Child Find activities in accordance with district policies state and federal regulationsCollect synthesize and analyze special education data and submits it to appropriate entitiesIn collaboration with Teaching and Learning initiate and facilitate the development and revision of curriculum for students with learning and behavior problems who meet eligibility requirements as individuals with disabilitiesConduct parent and surrogate parent training as needed to ensure that the rights of students with disabilities are metCollaborate with the technology department to utilize instructional technology tools to best serve students with disabilitiesNetworks with other similar school districts to share best practices and to continually upgrade and improve student support servicesMaintains current knowledge of best practices trends new developments legal mandates and court rulings related to education and preK12 academic practices particularly in urban settings; implements changes to programs services and/or operations as as a Leader of Leaders. Motivates and develops a high performance student personnel services team. Serves as a role model for effective human capital management that delivers measurable costeffective results toward the districts goal and with other district leadership and departments to coordinate activities and programs resolve issues and conflicts and exchange information to achieve the most effective environment for academic QUALIFICATIONS:Masters degree in Educational Administration Policy Leadership or related field and Masters degree in Special Education or more years of progressively more responsible educational administrative experience including experience dealing with diverse and economically disadvantaged populations. Experience in an urban school district is knowledge of urban educational challenges as well as accrediting and regulatory standards and school funding related to students with disabilities gifted and talented students and other assigned of conducting special education services supervision of personnel and assigned responsibilities; principles of effective management staff supervision and administration; special education federal and state laws including procedural safeguards FERPA and 504/ADA regulations effective inclusion practices and Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) guidelines special education funding sources general knowledge of testing counselor social worker and school psychologist at establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work; working with people staff supervision and administration; grant development budget oversight mediation skills meeting facilitation staff professional development implementation and action research techniquesDemonstrated success leading strategic educational initiatives that result in measurable improved student supervisory skills to effectively manage the daily operations and administration of assigned ability to lead the design implementation and management of large scale knowledge and successful implementation of researchbased best practices for curriculum instruction assessment and staff development is ability to develop the vision and direction of the districts educational programs and services consistent with the mission statement and instructional goals of the district as well as related Federal and state skills necessary to communicate effectively and work productively with all levels of District staff students parents and the general written and verbal communication skills including effective presentation aptitude necessary to develop an annual budget and monitor skills necessary to maintain various departmental records documents and to participate in and facilitate group organizational skills with demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex roles and record of championing continuous learning and professional growth and demonstrated success of developing and retaining high demonstration of continuous ability to resolve problem situations in a tactful courteous and respectful ability to effectively manage limited resources to support strategic organizational goal record of program degree from an accredited college or university in special education or related fieldAbility to qualify for a Rhode Island District Level Administrator Special Education CertificateFive (5) years of experience in a supervisory or administrative capacity with responsibility for special educationPossession of or ability to obtain a valid State of Rhode Island driver license with a diving record acceptable to the DistrictCOMPENSATION: Full year contract; full benefits packageTHIS JOB SPECIFICATION SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED TO IMPLY THAT THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE THE EXCLUSIVE STANDARDS OF THE POSITION.

Required Experience:

Director