Exceptional Children - Program Specialist

Program Specialist

Exceptional Children Department

Job Description

General Statement of Job:

Under the general supervision of the Exceptional Children''s (EC) Program Director, the EC Program Specialist provides ongoing monitoring, training, and instructional support for the Exceptional Children''s Program, ensuring compliance with federal and state guidelines as outlined in the Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities and alignment with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. The employee acts as the designee of the EC Director at the school level, serving as a liaison between schools and the central office. In addition to compliance oversight, the employee coaches EC and general education teachers in strategies for instruction and assessment, assists with curriculum alignment and materials selection, and supports administrators in evaluating program effectiveness. Work performance is reviewed and evaluated by the EC Director or designee.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor''s degree from an accredited institution required; Master''s Degree in Special Education, Education, or School Administration preferred
• Must be licensed/certified to teach in the State of North Carolina, with licensure in the area of Special Education, and hold a current North Carolina Professional Educator''s License
• Must possess a valid North Carolina Driver''s License Five to seven years of teaching or EC program experience, including program coordination and delivery of professional development
• Exemplary leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skills
• Exemplary knowledge of and ability to complete required federal and state EC paperwork
• Or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities

Minimum Qualifications or Standards Required to Perform Essential Job Functions

• Interpersonal Communication: Requires the ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information, including giving instructions, assignments, or directions to subordinates, assistants, teachers, and parents.
• Language Ability: Requires the ability to read a variety of correspondence, reports, forms, IEPs, and test results, and to prepare correspondence, reports, presentations, and forms using prescribed formats and conforming to rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style. Requires the ability to speak before groups of people with poise, voice control, and confidence.
• Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; and to deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information, explain procedures, and follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in Standard English.
• Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; add and subtract; multiply and divide; utilize decimals and percentages; and apply basic principles of algebra, trigonometry, geometry, calculus, and descriptive statistics.
• Interpersonal Temperament: Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions, and to remain adaptable when performing under stress or in emergency situations.
• Specialized Knowledge: Must be knowledgeable of Exceptional Children''s law, IDEA, DPI paperwork and procedures, and EC best practices.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

Compliance & Program Oversight

• Ensures EC compliance issues are met at assigned school sites per state and federal guidelines
• Assumes responsibility for initial and re-evaluation timelines according to DPI regulations
• Ensures EC paperwork is completed accurately and in a timely manner as a provision of FAPE
• Completes all federally mandated paperwork (except the IEP) to give teachers more time for planning and instruction
• Serves as liaison between schools and central office, and as a designated LEA Representative Serves as a consultant and contact resource for schools, administrators, teachers, students, and parents on EC issues (referrals, paperwork, compliance, placement, behavior, etc.)
• Assists school personnel with disciplinary paperwork (Manifestations, Functional Behavior Assessments, Behavior Intervention Plans) while ensuring FAPE
• Maintains continuous updates on the status of EC students and facilitates obtaining EC records for transferring students
• Assigns and monitors compliance of school caseloads and class size per DPI regulation
• Monitors teacher schedules for Title II and Highly Qualified (HQ) status compliance
• Receives and monitors all referrals through completion (initial, re-evaluations, and placements)
• Completes all evaluation meetings and required paperwork (except the IEP); monitors compliance/completion of IEP annual reviews by EC teachers
• Serves as EC system administrator (e.g., ECATS) for assigned schools; provides system training and updates to EC teachers; closes and finalizes EC paperwork online
• Facilitates all initial referrals and re-evaluations prior to state Periodic Child Count deadlines and prepares related funding reports
• Audits EC records for compliance and prepares data for grants and funding sources (e.g., Special State Reserve, Risk Pool)
• Develops and plans budget proposals for specific EC programs; prepares/oversees required reports and records to ensure maximum federal and state funding

Instructional Support & Curriculum Coordination

• Assists EC and general education teachers with improving instructional techniques and overall student achievement; provides instructional strategies and tools; observes teachers and provides feedback and/or demonstration lessons
• Provides support to teachers in classrooms through coaching, modeling, and mentoring; offers informal feedback regarding instructional practices
• Ensures teachers and principals are informed of changes to the North Carolina Curriculum as they relate to EC students; assists with course offerings and student placement guidelines
• Assists with the development of district assessment tools and reviews testing data for instructional implications
• Assists with the acquisition of appropriate textbooks, teacher guides, and instructional materials and equipment for EC students
• Designs and conducts staff development on compliance, programming, and instructional topics
• Collaborates with other curriculum specialists and academic coaches to provide an integrated program

Coordination, Planning & Communication

• Assists administrators with development of the school master schedule for the EC department and student schedules based on IEP mandates
• Assists in planning for the next school year by completing student projections and staff allotments
• Confers regularly with administrators, teachers, other specialists, coordinators, and directors regarding Exceptional Children
• Coordinates with Student Success Teams for at-risk students; with EC teachers to schedule IEP and re-evaluation meetings; with Related Services personnel; with School Data Managers on EC student status; and with School Psychologists for eligibility determination
• Coordinates with outside agencies as needed for state agreements, and collaborates with feeder schools for transitioning students with disabilities
• Serves as a liaison to interpret parent rights and mediate parent concerns and conflicts at the school level
• Keeps parents, administrators, and community members informed about district initiatives affecting EC students
• Facilitates regularly scheduled EC departmental meetings at assigned schools; participates in regularly scheduled departmental meetings
• Serves as an active member of the EC Leadership Team; assists in development and delivery of the departmental organizational plan under the LEA plan
• Works to maintain the Continuous Improvement Performance Plan for state submissions
• Assists in implementing the district''s goals and strategic commitments
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Exceptional Children''s Director

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of Exceptional Children''s law, IDEA, and DPI paperwork and procedures
• Thorough knowledge of theories and principles in specific content areas and the North Carolina State Curriculum
• Considerable knowledge of current literature, trends, and developments in special education and general education
• Considerable knowledge of the principles of supervision, organization, and administration
• General knowledge of County and School Board policies, procedures, and standards regarding education
• General knowledge of the organization and communication channels of the school system
• General knowledge of ethical guidelines applicable to the position as outlined by professional organizations and/or federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations
• Skilled in coaching and leadership
• Ability to review and evaluate testing/compliance data and develop a plan of action based on conclusions
• Ability to select appropriate and effective instructional resources and materials
• Ability to develop innovative and effective instructional materials
• Ability to use application software (e.g., ECATS and other data systems)
• Ability to maintain complete and accurate records and statistics and develop meaningful reports from that information
• Ability to effectively express ideas orally and in writing, and to make effective presentations before large groups
• Ability to exercise considerable tact and courtesy in frequent contact with the public
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive student and family information

Reports to: Exceptional Children''s Program Director

Term of Employment: 10 or 11 Months, unless otherwise specified

Salary:

• North Carolina Teacher Salary Scale
• Local salary supplement
• Benefits

Disclaimer:

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees of this job.