Executive Director for Special Education

DuPage Regional Office of Education

  • USA
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 15 days ago
DEFINITION: The Executive Director for Special Education reports directly to the Assistant Superintendent of Education Services. The person in this position is responsible for planning, implementing and evaluating all aspects of the Special Education Programs.MAJOR POLICY RESPONSIBILITIES: The Executive Director for Special Education implements the policies of the District 200 Board of Education, the Illinois State Board of Education, and the federal government. This person ensures that all Special Education and support service programs are implemented according to these policies. The Executive Director for Special Education makes recommendations to the Assistant Superintendent for District policy revisions, development and deletions. The Executive Director for Special Education is expected to supervise Special Education Administrators.KEY FUNCTIONS
A. Human Resources
Authority/Responsibility: Recommend for hire, assign and evaluate employees in accordance with board policy and administrative procedures.Representative Activities: * Interview prospective personnel and make recommendations for employment.
  • Assign staff to programs and sites.
  • Evaluate certain staff as primary evaluator (Special Education Administrators and SSC secretary/clerical staff).
  • Develop yearly staffing projections each spring based on current and projected student enrollment.
B. Curriculum/Instruction
Authority/Responsibility: Supervise the development, implementation and evaluation of all special education curriculum as well as its integration with general education.Representative Activities: * Supervise Special Education Administrators in the development, coordination, implementation and evaluation of a sequential continuum of services, programs and curriculum for the regular school year and summer school.
  • Ensure the planning and programming for the entire continuum of special education services and programs is compliant with ISBE.
  • Ensure the provision of technical assistance to staff regarding instructional and behavioral techniques.
  • Supervise the development and approve technology plans for special education.
  • Support and monitor building leadership in implementing best practices in special education.
C. Compliance
Authority/Responsibility: Interpret all local, state and federal rules and regulations that govern Special Education. Identify any inconsistencies between District policies and practices and state and federal rules and regulations, taking action necessary to resolve the discrepancies.Representative Activities: * Lead and direct to ensure compliance of special education services, providing technical assistance and offering professional development for maintaining effective best practices in the field of education.
  • Interpret and implement state and federal Special Education regulations.
  • Ensure the delivery of all necessary services as delineated in student's Individualized Educational Plans.
  • Ensure the provision of leadership for consultative conference teams in pre-referral interventions, determination of eligibility, and placement of students in Special Education programs.
  • Ensure that IEP procedures are implemented and followed.
  • Monitor the accomplishments of the requirements of the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in its multi-year proactive review of the District's programs.
  • Serve as the District liaison for the DuPage West Cook Governing Board.
D. Professional Development
Authority/Responsibility: Direct the assessment, development, coordination and evaluation of staff development based on research and best practice in the fields of Special EducationRepresentative Activities: * Direct the annual survey of parents and school staff to assess the need for staff development.
  • Research and review best practices in Develop a long-range staff development plan for Special Education, including teaching assistants.
  • Participate on committees and collaborate with general education staff members, particularly the Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services on staff development.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of Special Education Programs.
E. Business Operations
Authority/Responsibility: Monitor business operations within Student Services programs.
Representative Activities: * Develop the Special Services portion of the District budget to include anticipated revenues as well as expenditures.
  • Identify expenditures for all special education services to include out-of-district tuition, supplies, and home-hospital services. This includes using Medicaid dollars, local funding and IDEA Grant funding.
  • Maximize the use of federal Medicaid dollars within the special education department via the rules governing the reimbursement towards school districts.
  • Ensure the coordination of transportation for all special education students which includes personal development for drivers, process for billing and communication for daily operations.
  • Direct the collection of all data related to child count. Supervise pupil and personnel reimbursement claims.
  • Ensure the collection, analysis and maintenance of temporary and permanent records for IDEA special education students.
  • Prepare federal and state grant applications (IDEA) or any additional grants, and supervise and approve expenditure reports.
  • Monitor and approve for payment all student out-of-district tuition bills as well as program expenditures.
  • Direct the development and processing of all tuition bills for other district students placed in District 200 programs.
  • Work collaboratively with partnering agencies to apply for federal and state grant applications.
F. School/Parent/Community Relations
Authority-Responsibility: Communicate and collaborate with school staff, parents, and community agencies. Resolve conflicts in regard to special education and the Americans with Disabilities Act.Representative Activities: * Respond inquiries, disputes and complaints.
  • Communicate and cooperate with public and private agencies in providing Special Education for students and their families.
  • Ensure the provision of parent education programs and resources.
  • Develop and monitor systems to enable building teams to mediate conflict situations.
  • Coordinate as appropriate/necessary the utilization of the ISBE mediation process, and participate on behalf of the District.
  • Coordinate as appropriate/necessary all due process proceedings and participate on behalf of the District.
  • Serve as the District liaison to all parent organizations in the community related to Special Education.
  • Collaborate and provide direct input and planning for strategic goals based on District 200 data.

DuPage Regional Office of Education