Program Officer, Program for Students With Exceptionalities (PSE)

Program for Students with Exceptionalities

Certified - Position - Valid PA Certificate

Job Number
4600264606

Start Date

Open Date
09/13/2022

Closing Date
12/11/2022

The Program Officer, Management and Compliance will supervise special education programs in assigned regional cluster of schools through consultation, coordination, evaluation, and planning. Assists staff to provide equal and inclusive educational opportunities to special education needs children in accordance with federal and state law.

Reports To
Assistant Superintendent of PSE

Salary

Support Administrator Salary Schedule - Level 2, Step 11 (Starting at $107,886)

12 month work calendar

FLSA Status: Exempt

City of Pittsburgh Residency not required

Qualifications

Candidates must be enthusiastic about the fundamental goal of advancing student achievement in an urban public school district. Candidates must be comfortable working on a team committed to better meeting the needs of our student population by providing exceptional support to our students, families, and staff. We are a hard working team focused on results and expect the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of the organization. In addition, we are seeking candidates with:

- Master's Degree and Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) issued Supervisor of Special Education Certification OR Master's Degree and Principal K-12 certification with 5 years Special Education experience required;

- Five years of special education experience that includes classroom and supervisory/administrative experience; Five Seven years of supervisory experience preferred.

- Relevant management experience, supervising staff, overseeing programs, designing high-quality special education programs, and designing professional development programs.

- Knowledge of Pennsylvania standards, initiatives and assessments.
- Extensive knowledge of special education programs.

- Demonstrated success in the design and implementation of innovative, rigorous in-school, after-school, weekend and/or summer programs to support students with disabilities.

- Demonstrated ability to leverage relationships and resources with community partner organizations.

- Demonstrated ability to manage and lead teams and the execution of large-scale projects.

- Experience in project management or leading producing major events with multiple community and professional partners that improve special education.

- Working knowledge and experience in the practical application of educational research.

- Working knowledge and experience with supporting underrepresented students.

- Demonstrates strong cultural competence and culturally responsive pedagogy/education

- Exceptional time management and analytical skills.

- Experience working within a public school system preferred.

- Experience supervising and directing an educational program maintaining effective interpersonal and communication skills that foster positive working relationships with families, the community, and other departments.

- Ability to exercise a high-degree of confidentiality, professionalism, poise, tact, and diplomacy to accomplish objectives.

- Ability to work collaboratively as a team player, under pressure with multiple competing deadlines, and with culturally, educationally, and racially diverse internal and external customers.

- Ability to innovate, research and think creatively.

- A capacity to solve problems, to stay organized and manage multiple priorities.

- Excellent presentation and writing skills.

- Demonstrated proficiency in MS Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Word.

- Values, demonstrates, and promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Residency Requirements
No Residency Requirement

Essential Job Functions

1. Supervise and administer all district programs for children with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) including staff.

2. Support the Local Education Agency (LEA) representative in observing students, coordinating specialized transportation, attending IEP meetings, determining Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) and coordinating programs and services.

3. Serve as the LEA representative in the absences of the school-based LEA.

4. Supervise and support special education classrooms to ensure compliance.

5. Provide guidance, support, and direction to building administrators on personnel actions of employees in special education compliance.

6. Provide technical assistance to schools regarding program and placement concerns for students

7. Conduct formal state evaluations for centrally assigned Special Education employees.

8. Provide information related to due process and dispute resolution procedures and IDEA requirements to administrators, teachers, and parents in accordance with federal and state law.

9. Collaborate with school and district level committees to develop, review, and revise plans and recommendations for the inclusion of students with disabilities in all aspects of the educational program.

10. Collaboratively and actively participate and support all special education related initiatives, including but not limited to PASA, ESY, Transition to Kindergarten.

11. Research and remain abreast with new knowledgeable about the developments and trends in special education.

12. Exercise a high-degree of confidentiality, professionalism, poise, tact, and diplomacy to accomplish objectives while attending meetings and trainings.

13. Design and implement PPS procedures to adhered to Child Find state and federal processes.

14. Provide on-going, regularly scheduled consultation, coaching, mentoring, and support to special and regular education personnel in the district.

15. Support all teachers who have students with disabilities in regular education classes.

16. Serve as liaison to public and private agencies that serve PPS including maintaining information and records.

17. Participate and provide leadership, as appropriate, in the development of the district special education programming and special education budget for approval by the district superintendent.

18. Serve as a local liaison with parents and with parent organizations, including school-based parent events when possible.

19. Work collaboratively with all stakeholders to support relative teacher evaluation.

20. All other duties as assigned by Supervisor.

Additional Job Information

Work Environment:

1. Frequently required to work at fast pace.
2. Required to be able to physically implement restraints as directed through specific restraint training when a student is in danger of hurting self or others.
3. Requires considerable concentration and creativity.
4. Subject to stress caused by a changing environment, diversity in the organization, tight deadlines and work load.

ADA: The employer will make reasonable accommodation in compliance with the American with Disabilities Act of 1990.

The Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, creed, religion, gender (including gender identity or expression), sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, marital status, pregnancy or disability in its programs, activities, career and technical education programs or employment and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. It is the policy of the Pittsburgh School District to make all services, programs and activities available and to provide reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities. Please make requests for accommodations at least 72 hours before the scheduled event. For more information regarding accommodations, civil rights grievance procedures, please contact Employee Relations, Office of Human Resources, 341 S. Bellefield Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 or 412-529-HELP (4357).