Special Education Specialist, 12 months

JOB SUMMARY

My job is divided between supporting best instructional practices and supporting compliance with special education law. My job is to be a resource to schools- teachers administrators and the larger school community to meet the needs of students with disabilities and their families in accordance with IDEA.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

The minimum performance expectations include but are not limited to the following functions/tasks:

• Maintain up to date on best instructional practices related to teaching students with disabilities;
• Create and disseminate information on best practices/instructional methods in areas of specialized instruction;
• Conduct and/or arrange for professional development sessions and/or provide support in the form of meetings or written communication on pedagogical content knowledge;
• Assist in the selection of curricular materials;
• Attend conferences at the national state and regional levels to remain up to date on best practices and to meaningfully disseminate information;
• Assist teachers in their understanding of formal and informal academic assessments;
• Model and assist in appropriate student data analysis to respond with appropriate individual goal construction for meaningful growth as defined by regulations (baseline screening formative progress monitoring and outcome/summative assessments;
• Collaborate/team with principals teachers consultants administrators to integrate and share ideas;
• Collect share and use elementary student performance data (SOL results informal assessment/progress monitoring data etc.) to assist teachers to increase achievement of students with disabilities;
• Coordinate early intervention/prevention activities;
• Lead eligibility meetings;
• Collaborate on school improvement teams;
• Collaborate and partner with universities (UVA VCU) to better impact schools through professional development partnerships;
• Collaborate with others to develop and improve division and school level instructional initiatives as needed/requested;
• Review draft IEPs and assist instructional personnel in appropriate IEP development;
• Attend/lead IEP meetings;
• Informal and formal professional development of staff;
• Observations of classroom instruction;
• Work with others to develop systems of professional development beyond the in person opportunities provided in the school calendar;
• Extended School Year point person;
• Literacy leadership for the Office of Special Education; and
• Performs other assigned

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK:

• Masters Degree in Special Education;
• Professional post graduate license in Special Education;
• Minimum 5 years successful experience teaching students with disabilities;
• Or equivalent training education and/or experience.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of collaborative professionalism.
• Knowledge of the requirements of IDEA and Virginia Special Education Regulations.
• Ability to develop policies long range plans and allocate funds.
• Ability to assist the teams with making educational decisions for students.
• Ability to build relationships with teachers staff and administrators to accomplish the long-term vision of better outcomes for students with disabilities.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

None

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Work is typically performed through frequent walking standing stooping lifting up to approximately 40 pounds and occasional lifting of equipment weighing up to approximately 50 pounds may be required. Other limited physical activities are required. Frequent walking within the school environment including outside on playground and bus area. Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; visual acuity is required for preparing and analyzing written or computer data determining the accuracy and thoroughness of work and observing general surroundings and activities.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work is typically performed through frequent walking standing stooping lifting up to approximately 40 pounds and occasional lifting of equipment weighing up to approximately 50 pounds may be required. Other limited physical activities are required. Frequent walking within the school environment including outside on playground and bus area. Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; visual acuity is required for preparing and analyzing written or computer data determining the accuracy and thoroughness of work and observing general surroundings and activities.

EVALUATION:

The supervisor will evaluate performance on the ability and effectiveness in carrying out the above responsibilities.

Required Experience:

Unclear Seniority