Director of Special Education and Student Services

Duties and Responsibilities

• Plans, administers, and directs the division's special education programs ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations governing special education programs, services and reporting requirements.
• Develops and administers the division's annual plan for special education.
• Formulates proposals for the development and revision of policies pertaining to special education programs.
• Establishes and monitors procedures for the screening, placement, evaluation, assignment, and reevaluation of students with regard to the special education program.
• Provides effective and responsive customer service to schools in navigating special education processes.
• Assists school administration with planning and implementing effective school-based special education programs.
• Serves as a facilitator for the Special Education Advisory Committee.
• Assesses and identifies special education program needs and provides recommendations regarding future special education equipment, programs, and personnel requirements.
• Supervises the implementation of professional development for special education personnel.
• Facilitates a collaborative approach to support student success through programs and services involving family and community engagement.
• Coordinates and oversees key student services areas including residency, attendance and truancy, homebound and home-based instruction, and alternative student placements. 
• Provides leadership and oversight for student behavior systems and supports, including serving as or supervising the discipline hearing officer and ensuring due process in disciplinary actions. 
• Evaluates the total program effectiveness for areas of direct oversight (related services, post-secondary transition programming, child find and eligibility, data, and discipline processes for students with disabilities).
• Models the WPPS Strategic Plan Values: Relationships, Innovation, Student-Centered, and Excellence
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills and/or Abilities Required)

• Possess a Master's degree with an endorsement in Administration and Supervision (K-12).
• Has extensive experience in the field of special education to include a minimum of 5 years of classroom experience and at least 5 years of administrative experience supervisory/administrative experience.
• A minimum 3 years experience as a building administrator is required.
• Possess a comprehensive knowledge of the principles, practices, and current issues in the provision of a special education program.
• Demonstrate knowledge of state and federal regulations governing special education programs to include Section 504 and IDEA.
• Ability to plan, organize, and direct a comprehensive special education program
• Maintain excellent leadership, supervisory, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Demonstrate the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with parents/guardians, the community, and administrative staff.
• Budget planning experience preferred.

Supervision Exercised

Supervises Special Education staff.

Supervision Received

Performs duties under the supervision of division leadership.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

Duties are normally performed in an office environment.  Frequent contact with parents, students and staff.  Must have the ability to sit for extended periods of time; exhibit manual dexterity to enter data into a computer; to see and read a computer screen and printed material with or without vision aids; hear and understand speech at normal levels and on the telephone; speak in audible tones so that others may understand clearly in person and on the telephone; physical ability to lift up to 25 pounds.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.