Assistant Director Special Education Related Services

Job Summary

The Assistant Director, Special Education Related Services is responsible for assisting in the development, implementation, and oversight of Special Education Department and Sensory Services programs and services under the direction of the director of Related and Sensory Services and is based at the ASD Education Center.

This position requires a valid Alaska teaching, special services, or administrative certificate and has a retirement association with the Alaska Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS).

Job Requirements

The following are required :

• A bachelor's degree in special education or a related service field.
• A valid Alaska type B or F administrative certificate within two years of hire date.
• A minimum of five years of clinical or teaching experience in special education or a related services field.
• A minimum of two years of increasingly responsible teaching, administrative, or supervisory experience in special education;

school or district leadership; or any combination of experience and training that provides the applicant the knowledge, skills, and ability required to perform duties.

A minimum of one year of experience in a related services or district itinerant service position.

The following are preferred :

• A master's degree in special education, educational leadership, or a related field.
• Experience with supervision, mentoring, or coaching.
• Experience in the development and implementation of staff training / professional development.
• Evidence of exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, extensive experience with conflict resolution skills, and an understanding of and the ability to deal with family and school teams’ special education issues.
• Strong knowledge of school-based services, practices, and trends in the related services disciplines and special education.
• Strong knowledge of district, state, and federal special education policies, regulations, and laws.
• Ability to use technology for record-keeping and research.
• Extensive knowledge of ethical practices and professional standards of all programs assigned within related services and special education.

Essential Job Functions

• Works collaboratively with directors to share primary administrative responsibilities for the department.
• Serves as a liaison and facilitator in sensitive and difficult situations involving special education issues with families and teams.
• Provides instructional leadership and technical expertise to special education coordinators, instructional leads, department chairs, and related services staff members.
• Assists the program administration in preparing program budgets, annual reports, and public documents.
• Assists program administration in evaluating the performance of certificated and classified staff using performance standards established by ASD and the professional standards and ethical practices of various professional disciplines.
• Reviews individualized education programs (IEPs) to ensure the programs meet all state and federal compliance regulations in the area of related services.
• Co-leads in staffing and assignments for related / sensory services providers.
• Facilitates and monitors special education professional development activities to meet district, state, and federal compliance requirements.
• Facilitates staff meetings, advisory group meetings, and program development activities to improve skills or the efficiency of service delivery and documentation.
• Develops, reviews, and adjusts staffing assignments with the director.
• Recruits, interviews, and recommends certificated and classified staff for hire.
• Assists in providing supervision to specific programs assigned under related sensory services.
• Assists in preparing a variety of administrative reports.
• Provides consultation to school teams and assists with problem-solving and conflict resolution.

Physical / Mental Demands

The physical demands of this job require frequent standing, walking, sitting, speaking and hearing. Specific visual abilities are also required.

The employee is regularly required to reach with his / her hands and arms and occasionally lift items weighing less than 40 lbs.

Additionally, the employee must be able to understand vague and implicit instructions, be able to readily recall facts and details, handle conflict and make effective decisions under pressure.

The employee must have the ability to effectively manage the stress of working with students, parents, and other employees representing diverse cultures, personalities, and work styles in a dynamic work environment.

The Anchorage School District is committed to providing reasonable accommodations, according to applicable state and federal laws, to all individuals with a qualified physical or mental disability.

Work Environment

Work is performed in a professional environment with a wide variety of individuals having differing functions, personalities and abilities, including working with diverse groups of people in a variety of different settings.

While performing the duties of this job the employee may be regularly exposed to a video display. The employee may be exposed to outdoor weather conditions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.