EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN

Executive Director of Exceptional Children

Reports to: Chief of Student Support Services

Term of Employment: 12 Months

Purpose

The Executive Director of Exceptional Children provides district-level leadership, supervision, and administrative oversight for the implementation of programs and related services for students with disabilities. This position ensures compliance with local, state, and federal requirements while promoting high-quality instructional programming, appropriate supports, and equitable access to services for students ages 2 through 21.

The Executive Director supervises the Exceptional Children support team, including but not limited to Program Compliance Specialists, Transition Coordinator, Behavior Specialists, Preschool Coordinator, School Psychologists, and Related Service Providers. The Executive Director also collaborates with schools, families, community agencies, district leaders, and state-level partners to support the successful implementation and continuous improvement of Exceptional Children services across the district.

Qualifications

The successful candidate must meet one or more of the following qualifications:

• North Carolina certification as an Exceptional Children Program Administrator; or
• Master's Degree in an Exceptional Children's area; or
• Sixth Year Degree in School Psychology; or
• Master's Degree in Administration, Curriculum and Instruction, or a related field.

Administrative experience, supervisory experience, and successful leadership in Exceptional Children programming are preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The Executive Director of Exceptional Children should demonstrate:

• Thorough knowledge of North Carolina public school laws, policies, and procedures governing programs and services for students with disabilities.
• Thorough knowledge of federal regulations, including IDEA, Section 504, ADA, FERPA, and other laws governing services for students with disabilities.
• Knowledge of the North Carolina Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities.
• Knowledge of ECATS, compliance timelines, child count reporting, service documentation, and state and federal monitoring requirements.
• Knowledge of CCIP system and understanding of all IDEA and other NC DPI grants that fund the Exceptional Children Department, including how to develop, budget and monitor the awarded grants
• Strong understanding of fiscal expenditures and rules governing all PRC's
• Strong understanding of Medicaid funding, billing and use of funds
• Strong background in curriculum design, instructional delivery, specially designed instruction, accommodations, modifications, and inclusive practices.
• Knowledge of the North Carolina Standard Course of Study, Extended Content Standards, transition planning, related services, assistive technology, and the continuum of services.
• Demonstrated success in the design, development, and delivery of staff development programs and activities appropriate for Pre-K-12 special populations.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and use data to evaluate program effectiveness and guide continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated successful leadership, supervision, evaluation, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated experience with hiring district staff and contract staff from agencies
• Ability to communicate effectively with students, families, teachers, principals, district leaders, outside agencies, attorneys, and state-level officials.
• Ability to support conflict resolution, parent communication, IEP team problem-solving, and complex decision-making.
• Ability to respond to facilitated IEP and mediation requests, hold resolution sessions and respond to state complaints, OCR and Due Process filings on behalf of the district
• Ability to prepare small contracts under independently
• Ability to present contracts to the Board of Education
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

The Executive Director of Exceptional Children shall:

• Administer, supervise, monitor, and evaluate all special education programs and services for students with disabilities.
• Provide leadership for the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of a comprehensive district-wide Exceptional Children program aligned with student needs, legal requirements, district priorities, and state and federal guidelines.
• Coordinate services for students with disabilities to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal guidelines, rules, regulations, procedures, and laws.
• Ensure the district maintains a continuum of services and placement options while promoting access to the least restrictive environment and appropriate supports for students with disabilities.
• Supervise the Exceptional Children support team, including Program Compliance Specialists, Transition Coordinator, Behavior Specialists, Preschool Coordinator, School Psychologists, and Related Service Providers, including Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy.
• Assist with the recruitment, selection, supervision, evaluation, assignment, and retention of Exceptional Children personnel and related service providers.
• Provide technical assistance and consultation to principals, EC teachers, related service providers, school psychologists, IEP teams, and district staff regarding evaluations, eligibility, reevaluations, IEP development, placement decisions, accommodations, modifications, service delivery, and implementation of student supports.
• Monitor compliance with Exceptional Children procedures, including referral, evaluation, eligibility, IEP development, reevaluation, service implementation, progress monitoring, and documentation requirements.
• Oversee ECATS data integrity, compliance timelines, service documentation, child count reporting, and required state and federal indicator reporting.
• Supervise and coordinate Exceptional Children data for December 1 and April 1 headcounts.
• Collect, interpret, and prepare data for the LEA Assessment and Action Plan and other required district, state, and federal reports.
• Monitor implementation of the Exceptional Children Program and use data to evaluate program effectiveness, identify areas of need, and make recommendations for improvement.
• Prepare, submit, and monitor state and federal budgets related to the Exceptional Children Program.
• Allocate resources, including staffing and related services, to individual school sites within state and federal funding requirements.
• Select and support the implementation of curriculum materials, instructional resources, assistive technology, and interventions appropriate to meet the needs identified in students' Individualized Education Programs.
• Provide effective leadership in developing and implementing curricula and services that facilitate the academic, behavioral, social-emotional, functional, and post-secondary development of students with disabilities, ages 2 through 21.
• Schedule, organize, and facilitate professional development for EC teachers, related service providers, administrators, and other staff to ensure effective implementation of services and compliance requirements.
• Collaborate with outside agencies such as TEACCH, behavioral health providers, ARC of Rowan, the Autism Society, community mental health agencies, and other service providers to support students with disabilities and their families.
• Collaborate with community mental health agencies and other partners in providing appropriate services and supports for students with disabilities.
• Meet with representatives from regional offices, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, and other state-level agencies to discuss policies, procedures, monitoring, and requirements governing services for students with disabilities.
• Provide leadership and support for due process hearings, mediations, state complaints, resolution sessions, OCR complaints, and other legal matters related to Exceptional Children services in collaboration with district leadership and legal counsel.
• Communicate with families to address concerns, support problem-solving, resolve disputes, and promote collaborative partnerships that support student success.
• Assist principals with personnel, parent, student, and compliance concerns related to Exceptional Children programming and service delivery.
• Prepare reports, updates, data summaries, and recommendations regarding the Exceptional Children Program as requested by the Chief of Student Support Services, Superintendent, Board of Education, district leadership, or state agencies.
• Support schools in implementing behavior supports, transition services, preschool services, related services, and other specialized programming for students with disabilities.
• Maintain current knowledge of changes in laws, policies, procedures, and best practices related to Exceptional Children services.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the position. Duties and responsibilities may be revised as needed to meet district needs.