Director of Special Education and Wellness

Basic Function : The Director of Special Education and Wellness will evaluate the needs of special education students within the network and support the instructional programs in meeting the students’ education goals by providing coordination and management of all special education programs and services in the network. They will recommend the development and/or expansion of services and programs, recommend policies, planning, implementing and working with staff; serving as a resource of information to ensure that procedures are appropriate in relation to policies required by state and federal regulatory requirements to ensure the academic and socio-emotional success of our students.

Essential Duties:

Special Education

• Establish and communicate a philosophy of least restrictive environment for serving special education students

• Guide the development and implementation of long-range and short-range plans for achieving special education goals and objectives in alignment with the network strategic plan

• Develop, implement, and monitor policies, procedures, guidelines to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal special education statues

• Monitor the development and implementation of all aspects of the special education program process

• Coordinate and facilitate meetings amongst special education and other related staff

• Collaborate with Student Success staff to support an integrated special education program

• Oversee the Extended School Year (ESY) Program

• Collaborate with site administrators and Director of Student Services around student discipline of students with disabilities

• Interfaces with local agencies, facilities, or institutions including the El Dorado SELPA; school districts; county offices of education; or private vendors to procure services for students with exceptional needs.

• Develops and monitors contracts for outside services

• Participate in the recruitment and retention of Special Education staff in collaboration with Human Resources

• Supervise and evaluate all daily activities of assigned staff members

• Monitors and supports sites in meeting the needs of special education students

• Plan, implement and facilitate professional development for school staff both certificated and classified employees assigned the responsibility of delivering and overseeing the special education services

• Provide coaching to staff as assigned

• Facilitate and/or participate in all matters of dispute resolution with the California Department of Education and the Office of Civil Rights pertaining to students with disabilities; manage mediation and due process procedures.

• Develop, implement, and monitor policies, procedures, guidelines to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal Section 504 requirements

• Provide accurate and timely data to the California Department of Education’s State Performance Plan for evaluating outcomes for students with disabilities

• Develop, monitor, supervise and manage all aspects of the annual budgets for special education

• Develops or oversees and submits all required state, federal and SELPA reports

• Ensures special education data is kept up to date in student information systems

• Maintain accurate database and files of former and current students served in special education

• Manage and maintain inventory of all special education materials and supplies

• Monitor assessment plans in conjunction with caregivers and staff

• Interprets assessment results to ensure the proper placement and IEP development

• Provides required training, legal compliance, and support to educational specialists as needed in the IEP process and forms

• Oversee Education Related Mental Health Services (ERMHS) for students with IEPs

• Oversee all Non-Public Schools (NPS) placements and related services

• Participates in IEPs as necessary

• Participates in site and network meetings and committee as assigned

• Provides program updates as assigned

Wellness Program

• Create opportunities for collaboration between Network and site Special Education and Wellness Teams

• Oversee the coordination of mental health services (ERMHS) to students with IEPs

• Mobilize & coordinate family, school, and community resources to support student learning and wellness

• Work with Wellness Counselors to collaboratively set and monitor progress toward goals

• Oversee the coordination, development, and provision of a range of therapeutic mental health services and programs responsive to students’ education-related needs and goals

• Manage and oversee the clinical in providing clinical supervision to LPS mental health services providers

• In collaboration with the clinical supervisor, organize and co-facilitate network-wide professional development for mental health providers 5-6 times/year

• Oversee the implementation of weekly site team meeting(s) and professional development opportunities for Wellness Team

• Oversee the document services and monitor student growth and progress utilizing provided data tools and practices

• Monitor and collaborates with school leaders and teams to continually improve support for students

• Maintain external relationships to bring services to the students

Other Duties

• Perform related duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience

Any combination equivalent to:

• a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university

• Minimum of 5 years direct development of IEPs and implementation

• 5 years administrative/supervisory experience involving special education and instructional programming,

• Work experience in a school district or charter management organization required

Licensing and Other Requirements

• Valid California Education Specialist credential with English Learner authorization

• Valid California Administrative Services credential

• Employment eligibility that may include fingerprints, tuberculosis and/or other employment clearance

• Valid California Drivers’ License

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of organization, management, budget preparation, expenditure control, personnel administration, supervision and training

• Special education law and regulations

• Current special education issues, trends, best practices, and research

• Behavior management

• Special education instructional programs, methods, and practices that accelerate student learning and achievement

• Leadership development practices and effective supervision and performance evaluation

• California standards, curriculum frameworks and current research-based practices and trends as they relate to work scope

• Culturally-responsive pedagogy

• Adult learning principles and change management theory

• Effective professional development practices, including data-based inquiry

Skills and Ability to:

• Support, monitor and evaluate special education instructional program effectiveness

• Maintain accurate records

• Use, and analyze data to develop action plans

• Implement collaborative and team building processes

• Plan, implement, and monitor high-leverage professional development

• Facilitate dissent and conduct difficult and constructive conversations effectively

• Provide timely and actionable feedback, including officially evaluating staff performance

• Provoke, inspire and motivate people to make progress toward goals

• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing

• Work effectively across diverse communities

• Manage various projects and/or demands demonstrating flexibility and effective time-management skills

• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing

• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others

• Determine appropriate action within clearly defined guidelines

• Work independently with little direction

• Maintain records and prepare reports

• Plan and organize work meet schedules and timelines

• Provoke, inspire and motivate others to achieve goals

• Work effectively across diverse communities

• Manage various projects and/or demands demonstrating flexibility and effective time-management skills

Working Conditions:

Environment

• Instructional environment which includes indoor and outdoor activities

• Office environment

• Itinerant

• Driving a vehicle to conduct work

• Work variable hours

Physical Demands

• Mental acuity

• Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard

• Hearing and speaking to communicate

• Seeing to observe and read materials

• Sitting or standing for extended periods of time

• Pulling, pushing, lifting and/or carrying instructional materials and equipment

Leadership Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity at all levels.

Notification of Non-Discrimination Policy

Leadership Public Schools prohibits discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying based on actual or perceived race, religion creed, color, national origin, ancestry, age, parental, family, or marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sex (sexual harassment), or sexual orientation, or association with a person or a group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. Complaint forms are available at school sites and on the network webpage at www.leadps.org.

For inquiries or concerns regarding LPS nondiscrimination policy or the filing of discrimination complaints please contact:

Chris Harrell, Director of Student Services, Title IX Coordinator

99 Linden Street

Oakland, CA 94607

email: charrell@leadps.org

Phone: 510-830-3780 x115

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