Liaison, Special Education

Job Summary:  Improve outcomes for students with disabilities through data analysis and implementation of targeted strategies. Serve as an ESC 7 liaison and provide assistance to Region 7 LEAs with the alignment of general education and special education programs/services to ensure the advancement of the achievement of students with disabilities.

Qualifications:   

Minimum Education/Training:  

Post Graduate Degree; major coursework in administration or related field is generally preferred.

Require a minimum of 5 years of experience as a Special Education administrator or a  diagnostician

Experience:       

10 years of educational experience in a professional capacity
Prefer central office or campus-level administrative experience.

Knowledge / Skills:

               Ability to build, develop and inspire teams

               Task execution (result oriented)

               Build and cultivate relationships

               Excellent communication
               Financial knowledge

Working Conditions:

Must be able to maintain emotional control under stress

Cooperate with staff members and outside customers

Ability to multi-task

Irregular hours; prolonged periods sitting at a desk

Occasional travel

Majority of working conditions will be indoors

Primary Essential Functions

1. Collaborate and support Region 7 districts and charters to meet compliance through program evaluations to ensure improved outcomes for students with disabilities.
2. Provide leadership in the implementation of regional functions, grants, statewide initiatives, Special Education statewide networks and projects, and the Commissioner’s Priorities, in reference to disproportionate representation.
3. Plan and facilitate regional professional development for Region 7 customers based on requests and needs assessment data from district/regional data sources, including local education school personnel serving students with disabilities in special education programs.
4. Provide leadership and technical assistance to Region 7 customers in understanding and maintaining compliance with current Special Education federal and state laws, rules, regulations, and guidance, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), Federal Accountability, Results-Driven Accountability (RDA), Differentiated Monitoring and Support (DMS), State Accountability (TPRS), and the State Performance Plan (SPP).
5. Analyze state and regional data to collaboratively develop the Special Education Continuous Improvement Plan (SECIP).
6. Demonstrate effective leadership in collaboration with LEAs, ESC 7 staff, other ESCs, and TEA through program assistance and activities designed to promote improved student performance.
7. Coordinate scheduled data analysis and implementation of targeted strategies that will have an immediate impact on outcomes for students with disabilities including Significant Disproportionality, appropriate identification, discipline, least restrictive environment (LRE), evaluation, and compliance.
8. Provide training and technical assistance to Region 7 Special Education directors in the areas of SPP 9 and SPP 10.
9. Successfully embed Design Thinking and 4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX) processes to meet goals outlined in ESC Special Education Liaison Grant performance measures 1 and 2.
10. Working primarily with LEA special education and campus leaders, increase the knowledge, skills, and motivation of LEA teams to analyze data relevant to students receiving special education services and supports; identify a problem; reflect critically on end-user input, root causes and potential solutions; create a plan for improvement that includes sustainability of progress; purposefully addresses change management, and maintain a cadence of internal accountability. 
11. Provide professional development and support utilizing observations and coaching to increase coordination among general education and special education programs to ensure cohesive services for students with disabilities. Working primarily with LEA special education special education services and supports and connect them to supports and resources that effectively meet those needs.
12. Deliver or facilitate regional professional development and support to LEAs regarding special education monitoring procedures and expectations, including review preparation and post-review follow-up, in coordination with TEA’s Department of Review & Support; and participate with TEA’s initiatives related to significant disproportionality, including training sessions with grantee, training sessions with LEAs, and other duties as assigned (e.g. pre-work, debrief sessions, attending coaching sessions). 
13. Prioritize, protect, and attend all required ESC Liaison week activities and participate in feedback loops and collaborative activities that connect policy and practice statewide. A maximum of three (3) Liaison-week days may be missed for reasons other than personal leave with advanced approval from TEA Grant Program Manager. These days are not required to be consecutive.
14. Complete one (1) observation that aligns to essential functions and follow-up debrief meeting with TEA Grant Program Manager annually in collaboration with the Assistant Deputy Director and the Coordinators for Special Education Services, as requested.
15. In collaboration with other ESCs, will research, develop, and produce professional development materials, tools, resources, and training-of-trainers guides that will be distributed to all 20 ESCs.
16. Collaborate with supervisors to maximize funding by monitoring expenditures to meet programmatic needs. 
17. ESSENTIAL FUNCTION #1: 80% of LEAs engaged in tailored support and assistance with ESC Liaisons show evidence of adequate improvement in targeted areas.

Activities:

1. Assess and agree to the support and assistance to be made available to each individual site and/or collectively to a number of sites.
2. Schedule virtual and onsite meetings based on the goals of the team and stakeholders.
3. Tailor support based on the needs of the team and systems stakeholders.
4. Assess the effectiveness of the level of support in meeting needs, goals, and context of the implementation effort.
5. ESSENTIAL FUNCTION #2: 80% of LEAs who engage in a reciprocal relationship with ESC Liaisons show evidence that connections are meeting intended needs.

Activities:

1. Connect individuals or groups by providing advice and serving as a relational resource.
2. Maintain ongoing communication with people or groups whose connections are vital for the success of the implementation efforts.
3. Assess the effectiveness of connections in meeting the intent of the implementation efforts.
4. Regular and reliable attendance.
5. Daily monitoring of QMS procedures, including Center, Department, and individual work instructions to ensure they reflect actual practice and assist employees in making needed changes.
6. Other duties as assigned.

Funding

All Region 7 employees are at-will employees.  Because your assignment is funded by grants, federal funding, and/or special funding, your continued employment is expressly conditioned on the availability of funding for the position.  If funding becomes unavailable due to loss of state/federal funding or due to financial constraints of Region 7 ESC, your position is subject to immediate termination.