Academic Coordinator, Office for Exceptional Children

Position: Academic Coordinator, Office for Exceptional Children

Reports To:   Chief of the Office for Exceptional Children

Salary Schedule / Grade:   Refer to Administrator Salary Schedule

F.L.S.A Status:   Exempt

SUMMARY

The Academic Coordinator will supervise the delivery of educational services to special needs students with various handicaps, ensuring that all students receive appropriate educational and support services in the least restrictive environment that are consistent with the mission statement and instructional goals of the district. This is a 260 - day twenty six pay Administrator contract with paid vacation, holidays, and personal days.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Recommends changes to programs and services as necessary.
• Consults with district staff to identify ongoing/emerging special education needs of students.
• Assists in identifying and developing partnerships that enhance district services. Assists in providing staff leadership and consensus development. Advances the change process. Implements strategies and time-frames to accomplish organizational objectives. Helps resolve problems.
• Helps ensure that policies/procedures support non-biased assessment and program planning activities.
• Helps manage the instructional program. Evaluates and recommends instructional practices.
• Encourages program innovations. Pursues funding opportunities. Prepares grant/foundation applications. Implements funded proposals and complies with reporting requirements.
• Provides leadership for instructional modifications and interventions that enhance student learning and improve test performance. 
• Serves as the liaison between the Dayton City Schools programs and other community agencies working to transition special education students to adult life.
• Works cooperatively and maintains communication with other departments and external parties to resolve problems and exchange information.
• Maintains current knowledge of state and federal mandates related to instruction of students with special needs.
• Complies with state policies/procedures for the education of students identified as having a disability. 
• Advocates for all children and provides support to school teams on improving meaningful student access to the curriculum (differentiated instruction, flexible service delivery, etc. 
• Assists and supports building principals in understanding and responding (including potential teacher discipline) to district, state and federal compliance matters. 
• Reviews/monitors/approves requests for home instruction, supplemental support services, extended school year services, and out of district referrals.
• Trains and consults with building–based case coordinators, intervention specialists, transition coordinators and other support personnel. 
• Conducts compliance reviews in the areas of service delivery and SPP indicators.
• Collaborates with principals regarding strategies for improving teachers’ use of best instructional practices. 
• Provides leadership and direction through collaboration, observation, and evaluation to building principals, teachers, and support staff regarding the delivery of services to students with disabilities.
• Conducts compliance reviews, provides feedback and training regarding State Performance Profile indicators.
• Serves as an instructional role model and supports the development of a professional learning community within the department. Supports best practices regarding instruction of students with disabilities.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s Degree in Special Education, Psychology, Social Work, or a closely related field with an emphasis in Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
• Must hold both a valid Ohio Intervention Specialist license and an Administrators License. 

PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES/DEMANDS

• Frequently required to sit, stand, walk, hear, see, read, speak, reach, stretch with hands and arms, crouch, kneel, stoop, and climb stairs
• Occasionally lift and/or move lightweight items up to 40 lbs.

WORK ENVIRONMENT 

• Work will be split between office and school buildings
• Occasional exposure to blood, bodily fluids, and tissue
• Work may be subject to frequent interruptions
• Some assignments are subject to completion within strict timelines
• Frequent travel for meetings, professional development activities, and work assignments

The Dayton Public School District provides equal educational and employment opportunities for all people without regard to race, gender, ethnicity, color, age, disability, religion, national origin, creed, sexual orientation, or affiliation with a union or professional organization.