Special Education Liaison

Reports To:Director, Special Programs

Salary: This is a full-time, twelve (12) month position at 232 days with a salary in the range of $81,352 to $88,729.00.

Job Summary (Primary Purpose):

• Support Local Education Agencies (LEAs) through the coordination of data analysis and implementation of targeted strategies that will have an immediate impact for serving students with disabilities.
• Assist LEAs with the alignment of general education and special education programs/services to ensure the advancement of the achievement of students with disabilities.
• Serve as a liaison among local LEAs, ESC Region 13 and the Texas Education Agency to identify statewide and region-specific high-leverage and high-impact opportunities in the area of special education.

Required Qualifications (Experience, Education and Certificates):

• Bachelor's degree
• Special Education certificate or license (Teacher, SLP, School Psychologist, or Diagnostician)
• Minimum of five years in a local education agency, regional education service center, or Texas Education Agency leadership position
• Experience in program development and project management in special education and/or general education programs as an educator, and/or administrator, with quantifiable and clear results for student achievement.
• Experience leading collaborative teams and facilitating adults.
• Experience in a data driven process that analyzed data effectively to inform necessary change.
• Successful experience in effective written and verbal communication, collaboration, and learning from multiple sources paired with the ability to reflect strong leadership capacity.
• Experience developing and providing professional development

Knowledge and Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to design, implement and ensure the delivery of products or services.
• Knowledge of TEA (Texas Education Agency) Statewide initiatives for special education, funding streams, legislative requirements related to products/projects, and protocols for product development.
• Effective job-related skills that model the integration of technology resources and tools.
• Demonstrated leadership skills.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data effectively to inform necessary change.
• Demonstrated ability to align programs to support high achievement for students with disabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage the implementation of complex, multi-phase plans.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in written and oral forms.
• Demonstrated effective interpersonal and collaboration skills with both internal and external clients.

Major Job Responsibilities/Essential Functions:

• Successfully embed Design Thinking and continuous improvement strategy implementation through focus, leverage, engagement and accountability to meet goals outlined in the ESC Special Liaison performance measures 1 and 2.
• Working primarily with LEA special education and campus leaders, increase the knowledge, skills, and motivation of LEA teams to analyze data relevant to students receiving special education services and supports; identify a problem; reflect critically on end-user input, root causes and potential solutions; create a plan for improvement that includes sustainability of progress; purposefully addresses change management; and maintain a cadence of internal accountability.
• Working primarily with LEA special education and campus leaders, identify target LEA needs relevant to students receiving special education services and supports and connect them to supports and resources that effectively meet those needs.
• Deliver and/or support regional professional development to LEAs regarding Differentiated Monitoring and Support procedures. Conduct check-ins with LEA teams to support continuous improvement in collaboration with TEAs Department of Review and Support staff and resources.
• Liaisons will prioritize their time to prepare for active participation and attendance at monthly PLCs, attend check-ins with TEA Grant Manager, and complete onboarding requirements within timeline.
• Annually, each ESC SPED Liaison team conducts one presentation that aligns work from an Essential Function or Program Requirement during PLC time.
• Serve as a representative of ESC Region 13, displaying courtesy, tact, consideration, and discretion in all interactions with other members of the educational community and with the public.
• Collaborate and actively participate with ESC Region 13 teams across departments and divisions to improve student performance and to meet the established goals and objectives of ESC Region 13 and TEA.
• Participate as a member of the Region 13's Special Programs Department in analyzing data for all local education agencies within the region related to special education
• Participate as a member of the Compliance Team, and Special Education Team to implement the Region 13 Special Education Plan.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTION 1: 80% of LEAs engaged in tailored support and assistance with ESC Liaisons show evidence of adequate improvement in targeted areas. 

Activities:

• Assess and agree to the support and assistance to be made available to each individual site and/or collectively to a number of sites.
• Schedule virtual and onsite meetings based on the goals of the team and stakeholders.
• Tailor support based on needs of the team and systems stakeholders.
• Assess the effectiveness of the level of support in meeting needs, goals, and context of the implementation effort

ESSENTIAL FUNCTION 2: 80% of LEAs who receive technical assistance and support from ESC liaisons show evidence the LEA's need was met as evidenced in the LEA Survey.

Activities:

• Provide Technical Assistance to LEA Stakeholders by connecting them to resources, individuals, and/or providing support.
• Maintain ongoing communication with LEAs to support implementation efforts.
• Assess the effectiveness of the level of support in meeting needs, goals, and context of the implementation effort

Working Conditions (Physical/Mental Demands & Environmental Factors):

• Public Speaking
• Follow policies and procedures
• Maintain emotional control
• Prolonged or irregular hours
• High volume of communication
• Travel independently
• Frequent travel in region
• Some statewide travel
• Competing demands for service
• Lift and carry up to 20 pounds

Equipment Used:

• Proficiency with PC computers to include desktop management, operations, and working on a network environment.
• Proficiency with standard functions of Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
• General office equipment to include copiers, printers, and video-conferencing equipment.