SPECIAL EDUCATION MONITOR FOR ACCOUNTABILITY & PROGRAM IMPROVEMENT

Position Goal:

The intent of this position is to make incremental progress towards the system change necessary to provide a continuum of programs and services in St. Joseph County that meets the needs of all students, assures a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), and produces positive outcomes for students. 

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree (M.A.) or equivalent.
• Full approval as a Special Education Supervisor.
• Four to ten (4-10) years related experience and/or training.
• Preferred experience in administration.
• Responsibility of employee to obtain and maintain all training(s), certificate(s), approval(s), etc. and provide documentation to the business office before expiration date of said document(s).
• Must be able to lift up to 20 pounds.
• Required to have a physical presence at the designated job site each scheduled work day.
• Must have regular and reliable job attendance, performance and the physical ability to do the job.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

1. Embraces and supports St. Joseph County ISD’s philosophies related to diversity, inclusiveness and anti-racism.
2. Ability to interact effectively with individuals from a wide range of cultures.
3. Work to create a culture of excellence in a compassionate, trustworthy, and respectful manner.
4. Work to understand the impact poverty has on students, families, and learning and also understand the uniqueness and differences between the local districts and center-based programs of St. Joseph County.
5. Effectively present information and engage audiences.
6. Excellent written and oral communication skills, including being an active listener.
7. Continual drive to solve problems in an innovative, collaborative, and trustworthy manner.
8. Ability to approach people, situations and challenges with an open mind.
9. Excellent organization and project management skills.
10. Delegate work assignments appropriately.
11. Ability and desire to seek, receive, and provide feedback positively in order to build stronger professional relationships and higher levels of performance.
12. Ability and desire to read and clearly interpret and summarize reports, legislation, regulations, contracts, and other key written material.
13. Ability to efficiently use computer and applicable software.
14. Ability to solve problems in alignment with St. Joseph County ISD values.
15. Ability to analyze and interpret data to ensure St. Joseph County ISD effectively engages in continuous improvement processes and program evaluation.
16. Ability to analyze, interpret, and use date to inform and improve programs/services and instruction.
17. Develop and support innovative strategies to achieve goals.
18. Maintains confidentiality in order to develop high levels of trust.
19. Displays willingness to support and make decisions with sound judgment in a timely manner.
20. Persistent work ethic to perform responsibilities with excellence.
21. Ability to assess one’s own strengths and limitations or challenges and integrate this understanding into interpersonal interactions.
22. Adapts to frequent changes in the work environment.
23. Uses equipment and materials properly.
24. Practices positive, safe and inclusive work habits.

Performance Responsibilities:

1. Collaborate with local districts, center-based programs, families, and community agencies of St. Joseph County to support:

• State complaint facilitation, dispute resolution, and problem solving.
• Proactive monitoring and compliance processes.
• Professional development/coaching and technical assistance.
• Program design/service delivery planning and program improvement/evaluation.
• Data collection, data analysis, and the use of data to continuously improve/make decisions.

1. Provide an important communication link between the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), other information sources, St. Joseph County ISD and local districts.
2. Support local districts and center-based programs in developing and implementing a continuum of programs and services intended to meet the needs of all students in the least restrictive environment, assure FAPE, and produce rigorous student outcomes.
3. Establish effective relationships and communication avenues with local district special education directors/supervisors, center-based program administrators/principals, and other school leaders.
4. Collaborate with advocacy groups, parents, community agencies, members of the community, and local districts and center-based programs to problem solve around issues impacting students, families, and the quality of programs and services.
5. Work collaboratively and actively with general education and the overall educational system to help eliminate the separation between special education and general education.
6. Assist the MDE with state complaint facilitation to ensure an accurate representation of information between local districts and center-based programs, the complainant, and the state complaint investigators.
7. Support families, local districts and center-based programs, and the community with dispute resolution processes to encourage proactive solutions that result in positive outcomes for students.
8. Engage local districts and center-based programs in proactive monitoring processes to ensure FAPE and educational benefit exists for students with IEPs.
9. Understand and be able to interpret legislation, rules, and regulations in the context of how they relate to systems of support and outcomes for students.
10. Provide professional development/coaching and technical assistance to support positive system change and assurance of FAPE for students with IEPs.
11. Know and be able to utilize the necessary data sources at the local, county, state and national level to support systems improvement.
12. Assist local districts and center-based programs with the activities, data collection, and data analysis necessary to support continuous improvement.
13. Work to align system change and improvement efforts in special education with school improvement efforts in local districts and center-based programs.
14. Actively engage with the MDE, Region 3, MAASE, and other information sources/connections in order to effectively communicate/disseminate important information to local districts and center-based programs in a timely way.
15. Assist the state assessment coordinator for St. Joseph County ISD center-based programs.
16. Collaborate with the Medicaid Coordinator regarding Medicaid service capture activities for local districts and center-based programs and communication related to Medicaid school-based services with vendors and the business office.
17. Collaborate with the Executive Assistant for Special Education Student Data Systems and Pupil Accounting to support the online special education management system, student information system(s), and the data integration processes necessary between systems.
18. Partner with ISD staff to ensure quality and compliance in the special education management system and facilitate communication with end users about improvements made to the system.
19. Oversee services to local districts and center-based programs to facilitate data collection for state reporting.
20. Supervise and evaluate performance of assigned staff.
21. Maintain regular and consistent attendance.
22. Participate in ISD leadership committees and meetings: Board of Education, Cabinet, Supervisor and others as requested by the Director. Serve on standing and ad hoc committees as necessary.
23. Perform additional duties assigned by the Director of Special Education.

Reports to:  Executive Director of Special Education

PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS:  Executive Director of Special Education

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:   Salary, terms and other conditions of employment established by the Board of Education.