Director of Special Services

Director of Special Services

As Director of Special Services, you will deliver measurable results while serving as the educational leader of the Special Services Department, responsible for articulating the department’s district-wide mission, vision, and educational goals to faculty, staff, families, students and the public. As the educational leader of the Department of Special Services, you will promote the Department’s initiatives and the development and sustainability of best practices as related to the effective implementation of Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), Section 504 Plans, Individual Language Acquisition Plans, and Gifted and Talented services within the framework of Board Policy and all legal guidelines. The Director of Special Services is responsible for coordinating alignment of materials and resources, instructional program evaluation, personnel management, department professional development, staff scheduling, and effective fiscal management of the Department of Special Services. The Director of Special Services provides leadership to coordinate and supervise the effective delivery of Special Education services Gifted and Talented Services, Multilingual Learner services , and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Reports to: Superintendent of Schools

Supervises: Directly supervises Assistant Director of Special Services, administrative office staff, Assistive Technology staff and all other Special Services staff including, Special Education staff, Gifted and Talented staff, Multilingual Learner staff and 504 Coordinator.

Qualifications: Love what you do, working at RSU 21 developing educational programs for teachers and students. Must have a Maine certification as Director of Special Education (030). Minimum of earned Master’s degree and at least five (5) years experience as a special educator and two (2) years of administrative experience. Evidence of strong skills in the following areas: budget/school finance, special education and school law, demonstrated interpersonal, collaboration and communication skills, community relations, curriculum and instruction, educational philosophy and theory, leadership, organizational management, creativity in individualized program development, personnel management, staff development, and supervision and evaluation of personnel.

Responsibilities:

The Director of Special Services will be expected to:

Leadership

• Collaborate with the Superintendent, and Building Principals, as well as district and building-level special services staff, to ensure that all students have equitable access to the support and services they require to attain academic success, as per the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Americans with Disabilities Act, Title 20-A, Chapter 311 and Title 20-A: Education
• Ensure that high quality and certified staff are hired, retained, and provided with ongoing opportunities for appropriate and pertinent professional development
• Ensure that all schools and staff adhere to state and federal compliance requirements
• Contribute to the development of the total school philosophy of education
• Keep informed of all legal requirements governing special education, Section 504, Gifted and Talented and Multilingual Learners
• Provide leadership in establishing new programs and developing improved understanding of existing programs
• Evaluate existing programs as an ongoing responsibility, and recommend changes and additions as needed
• Actively involved with the recruitment, selection, and recommendation for hiring of Special Services personnel
• Assume responsibility for compiling, maintaining, and filing all reports, records, and other documents legally required
• Develop and maintain complete and cumulative individual records of all children receiving special services and similar data necessary to reimbursement of funds, collecting of tuition for out-of-district students, and similar fiscal matters
• Develop budget for all special services annually to insure all individualized education needs are met including development of the Local Entitlement budget
• Interpret the objectives and programs of special services to the Board, the administration, the staff, and the public at large
• Establish procedures for requisitioning, ordering, and paying for special services equipment and supplies
• Approve all supplies, materials and texts used by special services personnel
• Assume responsibility for own professional growth and development; for keeping current with the literature, new research findings, and improved techniques; and for attending appropriate professional meetings and conferences
• Participate in the planning and implementation of special services staff professional development

Student Centered

• Implement strategies to optimize inclusion, high quality instruction and support strategies that meet students’ specific learning needs
• Ensure effective identification and implementation of research-based interventions designed to address specific needs of the students we serve
• Support the development of the learning environments necessary to meet the needs of the students
• Recommend policies and programs essential to the needs of exceptional children
• Establish procedures for evaluation, placement, identification assignment, and reappraisal of students with regard to the special services program
• Supervise and coordinate home instruction for homebound or hospitalized students
• Evaluate on an ongoing basis, the total special service programs, curriculums, procedures, and individual students’ needs and achievements
• Consult with parents of students enrolled in special services programs
• Possess strong knowledge of evidence based interventions strategies across all grade levels

Climate and Culture

• Cultivate and strengthen a trusting, transparent, engaging and goal-oriented district-wide climate and culture through deliberate and intentional strategies
• Incorporate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion goals into all Special Services programs, practices and policies

Cabinet Member

• Actively influence, shape and contribute to district-wide issues and Cabinet-level decisions by leveraging the unique perspective of Special Services
• Seek Cabinet input and perspective to inform Special Services Department goals and priorities
• Provide input and thought partnership to the Board of Directors on strategic decisions
• Coach and consult with district administrators

Key Competencies:

• Visionary: You keep your eye firmly on the future; you maintain a big picture, high-altitude view to ensure you are assessing short-term realities to inform long-term needs; you look and plan ahead with imagination and wisdom; your vision dictates the direction a team or district will take
• Commitment to management: You advocate for team members; you coach, share feedback and monitor work to ensure high quality performance; you ensure that people feel appreciated, and view mistakes as opportunities for learning; you model and inspire excellence
• Strategic prioritization: You take action on what’s most important and prioritize wisely; you drive work forward with an urgency to see results; you think strategically about staff time and capacity
• Accountability: You hold yourself accountable for your staff’s success or struggles; you hold staff accountable for their success or struggles; your staff know where they stand in relation to your expectations
• Subject expertise: You are seen as a leader in your field with notable knowledge and expertise; you stay abreast of all emerging trends in your field; you consider yourself a lifelong learner and maintain relationships with those you admire in your field in order to learn from them
• Critical judgment and decision-making: You apply informed judgment to resolve difficult issues; you confront emerging challenges and recommend thoughtful, creative, and impactful solutions
• Communication skills: You communicate clearly and logically; you can articulate complex concepts and the rationale behind them with intention; you can obtain the information you need effectively
• Problem-solving: You take a diligent, committed approach to addressing issues that require resolution; you identify and connect relevant stakeholders to solve the problem; you escalate issues appropriately as needed

Reasonable Accommodations: RSU 21 will provide accommodations to an individual with a disability, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or applicable law, who has made the district aware of their disability, unless doing so would cause an undue hardship to the district.

Terms of Employment: As per contract. Salary to be established by the Board.

Evaluation: The Superintendent manages the annual evaluation process of the Director of Special Services performance and results, starting with goal setting, periodic check-ins, and an end-of-year review, with ongoing communication and support.

Persons interested in this position can apply on the following link: https://rsu21.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/170?c=rsu21

RSU21 is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to be a welcoming and inclusive community that supports the safety and well-being of all of our students, faculty, and staff. We are committed to implementing programs and practices that support diversity, equity, and inclusion. As a part of this commitment, we welcome all applicants. RSU21 does not discriminate based on race, color, gender, gender identity, orientation, disability, religion, age, national origin, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law. If you are a person of color, LGBTQ , disabled, or belong to any protected class, we encourage you to apply. Our diversity strengthens our mission to produce global citizens.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $120,000.00 - $130,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: One location