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Executive Director of Special Services

Employer
ANACORTES SCHOOL DISTRICT
Location
Skagit County, Washington State
Salary
Annual Salary: $129,915

Job Title:                  Executive Director of Special Services                                                                            

Reports to:               Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning

Work Schedule:       8.0 hours per day - 260 days per year (includes 28 vacation days and 12 holidays)

 

Annual Salary:        $129,915

 

 

 

Background

Anacortes School District provides about 300 students across schools with special services through an Individual Education Plan. The Director helps shape the system to provide maximum support to individuals and families receiving such services. The district’s strategic plan calls out special education as a targeted opportunity for growth in the next five years, with students accessing rich learning opportunities that challenge and inspire them. This position is central to that effort. The Director also oversees coordinated student health, Student 504/ADA, and counseling.

Position Goal

The Director will lead and implement special education programs and services for students with disabilities in accordance with federal and state regulations. The role includes:

  • Working with the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent to provide instructional leadership for student learning
  • Working with principals and staff to form an instructional leadership team that improves student learning, including support for curriculum, assessment, and professional development for staff
  • Providing leadership in development, implementation, and evaluation of special education staff

Desired Skills

  • Work with building principals, staff, and district-level administrators to plan, develop, and implement a continuum of special education and related services
    • Ability to create an on-going system for developing and evaluating high quality IEPs
  • Collect and maintain required reports, records and documentation for Section 504 and special education
  • Work with building administrators and staff to evaluate the effectiveness of special education based on data and best-practice research to develop new options to address current needs
  • Assess staff development needs and facilitate training opportunities for special program staff
  • Facilitate district level parent involvement activities for special education
  • Prepare and manage department budget
  • Prepare annual grant applications for all program funding including Safety Net
    • Demonstrated familiarity with support services, service delivery models, and needs/challenges
    • Demonstrated knowledge of the spectrum of disabilities evidenced in a public school setting
    • Demonstrated ability in developing strategies teachers can use to increase student learning
    • Demonstrated knowledge and skills in budget development, fiscal management, and program compliance; instructional leadership; dispute resolution; time management and organization; effective decision making, problem solving, and group facilitation; and interpersonal relations and collaboration
    • Knowledge of the roles of school-based specialists (Occupational Therapists, Physical

Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, School Psychologists)

 

  • Understanding of mental health and ability to shape systematic response to student needs
  • Broad knowledge of new technology that supports special programs

Essential Job Functions

  • Develop and implement a data-driven program to increase student achievement and meet individual student goals
  • Develop and manage multiple budgets in conformance with local, state and federal funding
  • Hire, supervise, and evaluate staff to promote effective performance
  • Ensure timely response to federal, state, and local grants and reporting requirements
  • Supervise district’s nursing, mental health and counseling services
  • Assist instructional staff in aligning curriculum, instruction, and assessment with relevant standards and learning goals
  • Review and approve student files for special education eligibility and placement
  • Work with principals on placement of all K-1 students before start of school year
  • Work with principals to develop an atmosphere of respect, interest, and enthusiasm in delivering services to students
  • Work positively with a diverse range of parents, staff, agencies, and community members to establish healthy involvement in planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs pertaining to special education students
  • Effective oral and written communications
  • Develop robust professional learning program to support staff in meeting student needs
  • Develop and maintain liaison with surrounding districts, training institutions, local, state, and national professional organizations, OSPI, and related community agencies as District representative
  • Attend ESD level and state meetings relating to special education and appropriate categorical programs
  • Participate in and coordinate responsibilities of District health program/committee
  • Provide leadership for long-term planning related to improving categorical programs
  •  Attend all meetings of the Board of Directors as required by the Superintendent
    • Comply with all district policies and procedures
    • Comply with the Code of Professional Conduct
    • Perform related duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

  • Valid Washington State Administrator certificate
  • Valid Washington State Teaching certificate or Educational Staff Associate certificate
  • Valid Washington State driver’s license or evidence of mobility
  • Experience in working with students and families with special needs such as autism, behaviors disorders, cerebral palsy, etc.
  • Successful Washington State Patrol and Federal Bureau of Investigation Fingerprint Clearance
  • Proof of Immunization (if born 1/1/57 or later)
  • I-9 Employment Eligibility in compliance with the Immigrations Reform and Control Act
    • Completion of all district-required trainings within sixty (60) calendar days from hire date

Work Environment: 

The work environment characteristics described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The employee will have flexible hours and some evening meetings are required.  Leadership initiative will structure job hours and environment. Work environment will include a wide variety of school, management, and community settings.  Meetings will be held with many diverse constituency groups including staff, students, parents, and community members networking in the region. Environments requiring sensitivity, expertise in investigations, and skills in conflict resolution will likely occur. The noise level in the work environment is acceptable to this particular environment and can vary depending upon daily activity but will remain within acceptable ranges.  The employee may be confined to a work area; required to have precise control of fingers and hand movements; experience constant interruptions and inflexible deadlines; and must be able to stoop, crouch, crawl, bend, kneel, stand for periods of time, and.  The employee is required to deal with distraught and/or angry persons and is exposed to infectious diseases carried by children.

Evaluation

Ongoing formative evaluation through regular 1:1 meetings with supervisor. Annual performance review, completed at the end of the school year, to assess progress towards annual goals.

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