Exceptional Children Program Director

Exceptional Children Program Director

910-220-1975 ext. 228

The overall responsibility of the director is to administer the exceptional children program within local, state and federal guidelines, rules, regulations and laws. Indicators of competency fall in the areas of leadership, planning and improving curriculum and instruction, policy and procedures, community relations, personnel practices, and fiscal management.

The Director, Exceptional Children Programs, is part of the local leadership team and works under the general supervision of the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction. The director maintains a cooperative relationship with the principals, school personnel, related service agencies and parents. The following functions are included within the general job description.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT The Director provides effective leadership in developing comprehensive program plans and implementing and evaluating the planned programs.

· Manages the Exceptional Children program for the purpose of achieving organizational objectives while ensuring compliance with the established requirements.

· Collaborates with a wide variety of internal and external groups (e.g. principals, supervisors, auditors, school assistance teams, IEP teams, preschool local interagency coordinating council, school staff, other community and parent organizations, etc.) for the purpose of implementing program components, creating long and short term plans; and addressing departmental objectives to provide continuous improvement of the EC program.

· Participates as a member or facilitator in meetings, workshops and seminars that involve a range of issues (conflict resolution, personnel and staffing, state and federal regulatory requirements, adapting curriculum, financial regulations, professional growth and professional associations, information management systems, etc.)

· Implements programs and projects for the purpose of improving student outcomes, communicating information, developing recommendations and guiding and supporting staff.

· Makes recommendations for long term adjustments, changes, additions and deletions in EC programs for the purpose of meeting changing trends and needs of students.

· Oversees and directs the EC Department for the purpose of ensuring that EC initiatives meet the mission and goals of the school system and are within local, state and federal guidelines.

· Participates in the planning of EC preschool service intake and coordination of staff and services with outside agencies ensuring that students are evaluated and served in a timely manner.

· Plans for instructional improvement, through a continuous improvement model, obtaining stakeholder input and involvement from the planning process through the execution phases of implementation.

· Researches a wide variety of topics related to special education (e.g. policies, best practices; trends, legislation, etc.) for the purpose of ensuring compliance with established requirements, securing general information for planning, taking action and or responding to requests.

· Coordinate and arrange special education related services including the provision of transportation for students with disabilities.

FISCAL MANAGEMENT The Director assists/prepares budgets, coordinates with other department or agencies to assure maximum services, maintain records/reports/inventories in accordance with local/state/federal policies.

· Works closely with the Chief Financial Officer to manage the budget for the EC department including providing schools with staff allotments, developing and fulfilling contracts, departmental payroll, ordering supplies, materials and technology for the purpose of meeting the needs of EC curriculum and instructional needs.

· Manages budget allocations, expenditures and related financial activities for the purpose of ensuring that allocations are accurate, revenues are recorded, expenses are within budget limits and that fiscal practices are followed.

· Writes federal grants that fund the EC program

· Maintains and oversees all Medicaid programs including fee for service, Medicaid Administrative Claiming and Cost Reports for the district.

· Participates in regular financial and Medicaid program audits.

· Maintains EC technology inventory

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT The Director shares information about programs with various publics, serves as a liaison between the school system and other agencies and assists in the development of in-service staff development. The Director accomplishes personal growth objectives and demonstrates professional ethics.

· Manages all EC student records providing records for parents, students and state agencies who request records.

· Maintains confidentiality, as allowable by law, relative to student or employee records and procedures for the purpose of following regulatory and privacy guidelines.

· Prepares a wide variety of often complex materials (e.g. records, plans, budgets, audit documentation, etc.) for the purpose of documenting activities an issues, meeting compliance requirements, providing audit references, making presentations and /or providing support materials for requested actions.

· Recommends solutions to a wide variety of complex issues involving special education programs and initiatives for the purpose of addressing the curriculum and education needs students with disabilities.

· Facilitates meetings involving a range of issues (e.g. personnel and financial procedures, regulatory requirements, curriculum and instruction, EC and IEP team meetings, parent and outside agency requests).

· Provides continuing education for various groups including EC teachers, general education teachers, principals, teacher assistants, parents and community groups for the purpose of providing information on current trends and best practice, educational and regulatory changes and meeting professional growth requirements.

· Develops, reviews and submits reports to the state or other agencies as necessary for the purpose of meeting requirements for EC funding, program development and continuous improvement including: graduation rate, dropout rate; post-secondary outcomes, compliance, student progress and proficiency, disproportionality, and student placement and services.

· Develops a wide variety of documents and presentation materials (e.g. plans, proposals, policies, budgets, grants, procedures, forms, etc.) for the purpose of implementing programs, policies and procedures and maintaining the EC department.

· Represents the school system and the community in a positive manner. Follows all board policies, school system rules and administrative regulations for the purpose of meeting the professional standards of the system.

· Responds to a wide variety of inquiries from internal and external sources for the purpose of identifying relevant issues and recommending or implementing action plans.

· Responds to issues and inquiries from school system administrators, educators, staff and the community regarding development, implementation and evaluation of special education programs for the purpose of identifying the relevant issues and recommending or implementing a plan of action that will efficiently resolve the issues.

PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT The Director assists in selection and placement of personnel, delegates and supervises staff responsibilities and assists in evaluating staff.

· Performs a variety of personnel functions (e.g. recruiting, interviewing, evaluating, supervising, allocating EC staff positions to schools, etc.) for the purpose of maintaining adequate staffing, enhancing personnel productivity and achieving objectives within budget.

· Performs personnel administrative functions (e.g. hiring, counseling, training, supervising, evaluating, providing professional development opportunities, etc.) for the purpose of maintaining necessary staffing, enhancing productivity of staff, retaining effective staff members and ensuring that necessary departmental outcomes are achieved.

If you have any questions about any of the following call the Exceptional Children Program Director:

· All Special education issues and concerns

· State and Federal regulations relating to students with disabilities

· Continuing Education programs related to Exceptional Children

· EasyIEP

· Special education processes and compliance

· Corrective Reading and Reading Mastery

· Reading Foundations

· Employment as related to vacant EC position

· EC staff allotments

· Referral process for students suspected of having a disability (2.5- 22 years of age)

· Special education and evaluation for students in private school

· Special education student record requests

· Special education student data

· Ordering materials for special education students

· State Improvement Project for literacy (SIP)

· EC Continuous Improvement Performance Plan (CIPP)

· Medicaid programs

· Random Moment Time Studies

· Related services for students with disabilities (Transportation, Occupational, Speech and Physical therapy, counseling and behavioral intervention)