Special Education Advisor
OFFICE OF SPECIALIZED SERVICES
440 N. BROAD STREET
PHILADELPHIA, PA 19130

Central Office

Job Number: 4600164396

Start Date:

Open Date: 09/05/2018

Closing Date:

Job Summary
Serves in an advisory capacity to the Principal regarding special education in addition to serving as the Principal's designee for special education compliance, student and parent concerns and interagency collaboration. Supports and facilitates differentiated and rigorous instruction for special education. Works with school staff to connect the core curriculum, specially designed instruction, inclusive practices, and interventions to the academic goals of students' Individualized Education Program (IEPs). Supports staff in developing functional behavioral assessments and behavioral support plans. Coordinates and communicates with related service providers, other support staff and parents regarding programs and services. Receives ongoing targeted professional development with the expectation of providing turnaround training and support at the school level.
Essential Functions

• Serve as the key point of contact for stakeholders and provides leadership as it pertains to supporting special education initiatives, teaching and achievement.
• Develops models of service delivery to students with disabilities, for example, inclusion, and co-teaching.
• Coordinates all initial placement activities and transition meetings and processes involving other schools, regions, central office, and the state.
• Participates in the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) team or maintains communication between the MTSS team and psychologist (PTE and gifted PTE checklists).
• Attends all SEL meetings and provides information/training to school staff; participates in interagency meetings.
• Support schools in identifying appropriate programs and/or services for students identified as eligible for special education services.
• Develops and communicates to appropriate staff members a schedule of reevaluations and IEPs due; conducts observations for reevaluations.
• Provide quarterly combined monitoring reports to the Office of Specialized Services; maintains the Penn Data reports.
• Disseminates compliance lists to special education teachers; monitors corrective action procedures.
• Assists in developing and assigning caseloads, focusing on the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE); ensures that caseloads meet state requirements.
• Assists the principal in developing the school's Program Profile.
• Maintains a list of students with an Intellectual Disability to ensure that the two year reevaluation timeline and specific disciplinary exclusions are followed.
• Coordinates and serves as the point of contact for potential litigation matters.
• Coordinates documentation for pre-hearings, due process hearings and out of District placements.
• Maintains a list of students requiring 1:1 support (District-provided or TSS).
• Participates in in ACCESS billing and in writing ACCESS proposals.
• Coordinates state, local and alternate testing.
• Maintains a consistent focus on teaching and learning to standards across all content areas.
• Provides training at assigned schools and district-wide.
• Support staff in developing functional behavioral assessments and behavior support plans.
• Provides direct assistance to school staff through lesson demonstration, observation, constructive feedback and coaching; identifies systems for ongoing teacher support.
• Reviews, selects and adapts course materials for a variety of staff development sessions.
• Works with Transportation Services as needed.

Minimum Requirements

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Three years of full-time, paid professional experience as an appointed, certified, special education teacher.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Demonstrated knowledge of:

• the modern methods, principles, and practices of special education.
• core curriculum, specially designed instruction and inclusive practices.
• federal and state special education regulations, consent decrees and District policies.
• District data systems, in particular SchoolNet, EasySystem and the District's student information system.
• state, local and alternate assessments.
• research-based interventions and standards-based IEPs.

Demonstrated skill in:

• research-based interventions.
• developing functional behavior assessments and positive behavior support plans.
• collecting, analyzing and using data to develop and implement standards-aligned IEPS.

Demonstrated ability to :

• provide interventions and support differentiation.
• design and facilitate school led workshops for staff development on instructional and regulatory topics.
• support the writing and interpretation of evaluation reports.
• communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Disclaimer
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.
Certificates/Licenses
Possession of a valid Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Certificate to teach special education.

Additional Job Information: This is a PFT represented position. Qualified candidates will participate in a two-step selection process. All candidates selected must pass the first phase, which includes candidate presentations and group activities, in order to participate in the second level interview. Please note that not all qualified candidates may be selected for an interview.

The selected candidate must have no anecdotal record on file and have not been subject to any disciplinary action within the past eighteen (18) months, and have an excellent record of attendance and punctuality during the last three (3) years (defined as no more than eighteen (18) occasions of lateness or absence for personal illness in the last three (3) years with the exception of one extended long-term absence).