Position Type:
Certificated Administration/Director AK State School for Deaf/Hard of Hearing

Date Posted:
12/18/2020

Location:
SPECIAL EDUCATION

Date Available:
07/01/2022

Bargaining Unit: Exempt
Work Year: 12 months
Work Day: 8 hours per day
FTE: full time, 1.0 FTE
Salary: $115,000 - $122,400, DOE

Job Summary
The AKSD director is responsible for the administration and oversight of the Alaska State School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AKSD) from preschool through the high school grades. The director is also responsible for the direct supervision and evaluation of various AKSD special education staff and related services providers. This position will research, develop, and implement curriculum and programs related to Deaf Education, as well as collaborate with the school principal in the evaluation of certificated and classified special education/related services (AKSD) staff. Hiring and assignments will be reviewed with the school principal to assure appropriate input and alignment with school staff. This position requires a valid Alaska type B administrative certificate and reports to and is evaluated by the senior director of the Special Education Department. This position has a retirement association with the Alaska Teachers' Retirement System (TRS).

Job Requirements
The following are required:

1. A bachelor's or master's degree in deaf education, or certificate endorsement in deaf education.
2. Fluency in English and American Sign Language, demonstrated by the advanced level or above on the American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) or comparable sign language skills assessment.
3. A valid Alaska type B administrative certificate within three years of hire.
4. A minimum of three years administrative experience.
5. A minimum of five years of experience in deaf education.

The following are preferred:

1. Knowledge of program development.
2. Evidence of experience with:
   1. Program evaluation
   2. Curriculum implementation
   3. Staff training and supervision
   4. Intensive Needs funding requirements
   5. Deaf-Blind
3. Evidence of:
   1. Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
   2. Extensive experience with conflict resolution skills.
   3. An understanding and the ability to deal with family and school teams' deaf education/special education issues.
4. The successful candidate will demonstrate a:
   1. Strong knowledge of school-based services, practices, and trends in the related services disciplines, special education, and deaf education.
   2. Strong knowledge of district, state, and federal special education and deaf education policies, regulations and/or laws, diagnostic prescriptive techniques, and curriculum development.
   3. Ability to use technology for record-keeping and research.
   4. Extensive knowledge of ethical practices and professional standards of all programs assigned within related services, special education, and deaf education.

Essential Job Functions
The responsibilities listed below are representative of the special functions of this position. The successful candidate:

1. Collaborates with school principals to provide administrative direction, supervision, and support to the AKSD program at each of the designated school sites.
2. Provides leadership for the AKSD program including staff development, planning, and implementation in conjunction with general education and special education departments.
3. Provides for interpreter and related services coordination, teacher assistant supervision, and administration support.
4. Provides for continued development and implementation of the AKSD strategic plan with involvement of all stakeholders.
5. Collaborates with school sites and the Assessment and Evaluation department on the administration of standardized state and federal tests.
6. Supervises the AKSD coordinator and provides assistance regarding their duties.
7. Communicates regularly with identified stakeholders, including building administrators, teachers, staff, parents, Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED), and the Alaska Deaf Council.
8. Represents AKSD at statewide meetings including the Deaf Education Board (DEB) and Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) board.
9. Collaborates with principals of school sites to support training and supervision of staff and inclusive programming for students.
10. Attends IEP meetings as schedule allows, oversees IEP compliance, and supports training for IEP compliance as needed.
11. Supports teachers in the monitoring of student profiles, progress, and achievement.
12. Serves as a resource person to local and state education agencies concerning services for deaf and hard of hearing students statewide.
13. Develops and maintains a database of all deaf and hard of hearing students; serves as a resource as needed.
14. Develops and maintains a statewide database of all teachers and related staff working with deaf and hard of hearing students.
15. Develops, maintains, and monitors the state ILP or EHDI coordinator to monitor and develop transition plans for children ages 0 through 3 who may attend AKSD at preschool or kindergarten age.
16. Reports data and staff qualifications (SLPI levels) to the designated districts and DEED on an annual basis.
17. In conjunction with the senior director of Special Education, develops and manages both general and grant budgets as they relate to AKSD and statewide educational interpreters.
18. Coordinates, develops, and maintains a plan with EHDI and infant learning programs statewide to assist deaf and hard of hearing students transition to AKSD/ASD and other local school districts for services acting as a liaison between agencies.
19. Plans and oversees family sign classes, annual retreat(s), deaf artist in residence, MJ Phillips Art competition, Extended School Year services, and other AKSD extra-curricular and cultural events with AKSD staff involvement.
20. Coordinates with the Student Living Center administration to facilitate students' school enrollment and jointly resolve student issues. Assists administration and principals in the assignment and evaluation of certificated and classified staff when appropriate.
21. Is involved in the selection and procurement of a variety of contracted services.
22. Attends deaf community activities, including those in the evening, as appropriate.
23. Assists the senior director of Special Education in the development, provision, and monitoring of sensory service programs for BVI, audiology, hard of hearing, and assistive technology within ASD.
24. Directly supervises BVI, audiology, hard of hearing, and assistive technology sensory service programs for students district-wide
25. Supervises and evaluates AKSD, BVI, audiology, hard of hearing, and assistive technology program staff, including certificated related service providers, classified, and clerical support staff.
26. Works collaboratively with other ASD administrators and principals on issues pertinent to the provision of AKSD and sensory services.
27. Works collaboratively with other special education directors on division planning, compliance issues, and provision services.
28. Works closely with ASD counsel on legal issues, including due process hearings.
29. Prepares, implements, and maintains department budgets.
30. Works with the senior director of Special Education and other directors to comply with state and federal mandates including corrective actions as a result of the state auditing process.

Physical /Mental Demands
The physical demands of this job require frequent standing, walking, sitting, speaking and hearing. Specific visual abilities are also required. The employee is regularly required to reach with his/her hands and arms and occasionally lift items weighing less than 40 lbs. Additionally, the employee must be able to understand vague and implicit instructions, be able to readily recall facts and details, handle conflict and make effective decisions under pressure. The employee must have the ability to effectively manage the stress of working with students, parents, and other employees representing diverse cultures, personalities, and work styles in a dynamic work environment.

The Anchorage School District is committed to providing reasonable accommodations, according to applicable state and federal laws, to all individuals with a qualified physical or mental disability.

Work Environment
Work is performed in a professional environment with a wide variety of individuals having differing functions, personalities and abilities, including working with diverse groups of people in a variety of different settings.

While performing the duties of this job the employee may be regularly exposed to a video display. The employee may be exposed to outdoor weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Additional Job Information
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job related duties as requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments.

Anchorage School District (ASD) employees must possess the ability to read and write in English. This also includes the ability to communicate in English with school staff, co-workers, and the public; as well as have the ability to comprehend and carry out oral and written directions and understand and follow English instructions and written documents.

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a satisfactory criminal background check in addition to the background check conducted through the certification process with the Alaska State Department of Education and Early Development (DEED).

This position may be required to work in ASD facilities on the military installations (JBER). Please visit https://www.dhs.gov/real-id-enforcement-brief for additional information.

The Anchorage School District is an equal employment opportunity employer.