Zone Director of Specialized Services
Apply NowCompany: Rochester City School District
Location: Rochester, NY 14609
Description:
Position Type:
Supervisory / Administration/Supervisory Administration (ASAR)
Date Posted:
7/12/2024
Location:
Special Education
Date Available:
2024-2025
Closing Date:
07/16/2024 Position Information
Bargaining Unit
ASAR
Job Location
Special Education
Job Title
Zone Director of Specialized Services (12 months)
Hours
40
Bracket
II
Salary Range
$80,000 - $105,000 /yr
ABOUT RCSD: The Rochester City School District (RCSD), located in vibrant Monroe County on the beautiful shores of Lake Ontario serves over 26,000 students, of whom more than 85% are students of color, in 46 schools and 10 alternative programs. The RCSD Board of Education and Superintendent believe that each student has recognizable and untapped potential that we all strive to discover and fulfill. In a partnership of family, school and community, our mission is to provide all students equitable access to a high quality education and graduate students who are prepared to become productive members of society. The Rochester City School District's vision is to provide a high quality education that fosters the development of the individual talents and abilities of our students in a nurturing environment of equity. Students are our first priority and will drive each decision. Our work is centered in respect, trust, integrity and accountability.
PRIMARY PURPOSE: The four Directors of Specialized Services are critical members of an integrated instructional program and compliance team in the Division of Teaching and Learning. Each Director reports directly to the Executive Director of Specialized Services, and indirectly to the respective Chief of Schools to advise and assist them on the implementation of instructional services and program models of excellence, observation and assessment of performance indicators for building administrators and instructional staff, IDEA and Section 504-related compliance requirements, building-based data-driven monitoring and decisions, and student placement.
Additionally, the Directors are responsible for all CSE-related activities for students with disabilities attending schools within the zone, responding to parent inquiries, and assisting schools with mediations and in the resolution of state complaints. Teachers of the Committee on Special Education and Coordinating Administrators of Special Education report indirectly to the Directors. Additionally, each Director is responsible for the supervision and evaluation of a CSE team, and all CSE and sub-CSEs activities within the zone. The Directors interface regularly with, and seek guidance and receive advice and assistance from the Directors of Specially Designed Instruction and Programs, Assessment and Related Services, and Compliance; and advise their colleagues with regard to trends in buildings that are exemplars of excellence and/or areas in need of assistance.
CRITICAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION:
Supervisory / Administration/Supervisory Administration (ASAR)
Date Posted:
7/12/2024
Location:
Special Education
Date Available:
2024-2025
Closing Date:
07/16/2024 Position Information
Bargaining Unit
ASAR
Job Location
Special Education
Job Title
Zone Director of Specialized Services (12 months)
Hours
40
Bracket
II
Salary Range
$80,000 - $105,000 /yr
ABOUT RCSD: The Rochester City School District (RCSD), located in vibrant Monroe County on the beautiful shores of Lake Ontario serves over 26,000 students, of whom more than 85% are students of color, in 46 schools and 10 alternative programs. The RCSD Board of Education and Superintendent believe that each student has recognizable and untapped potential that we all strive to discover and fulfill. In a partnership of family, school and community, our mission is to provide all students equitable access to a high quality education and graduate students who are prepared to become productive members of society. The Rochester City School District's vision is to provide a high quality education that fosters the development of the individual talents and abilities of our students in a nurturing environment of equity. Students are our first priority and will drive each decision. Our work is centered in respect, trust, integrity and accountability.
PRIMARY PURPOSE: The four Directors of Specialized Services are critical members of an integrated instructional program and compliance team in the Division of Teaching and Learning. Each Director reports directly to the Executive Director of Specialized Services, and indirectly to the respective Chief of Schools to advise and assist them on the implementation of instructional services and program models of excellence, observation and assessment of performance indicators for building administrators and instructional staff, IDEA and Section 504-related compliance requirements, building-based data-driven monitoring and decisions, and student placement.
Additionally, the Directors are responsible for all CSE-related activities for students with disabilities attending schools within the zone, responding to parent inquiries, and assisting schools with mediations and in the resolution of state complaints. Teachers of the Committee on Special Education and Coordinating Administrators of Special Education report indirectly to the Directors. Additionally, each Director is responsible for the supervision and evaluation of a CSE team, and all CSE and sub-CSEs activities within the zone. The Directors interface regularly with, and seek guidance and receive advice and assistance from the Directors of Specially Designed Instruction and Programs, Assessment and Related Services, and Compliance; and advise their colleagues with regard to trends in buildings that are exemplars of excellence and/or areas in need of assistance.
CRITICAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Running all day-to-day operations of special education and Section 504 for all schools within the zone.
- At the direction of the chief of schools, and with models and guidance from the Director of Specially Designed Instruction and Programs, assist schools with the implementation of research-based programs and specially designed instruction designed to meet the needs of students within each building and/or zone.
- With guidance from the Director of Compliance, implement procedures and protocols for ensuring IDEA, Section 504, and district mandated compliance requirements and standards within each building and/or zone.
- Oversee a Committee on Special Education and the zone's sub-Committees on Special Education to ensure recommendations are based on consensus, that parents participate in and are valued members of the CSE, and all required written correspondence is sent and received in a timely manner. Additionally, with support of the Chief of Schools, monitor the quality of the IEPs written by sub-CSEs, advise principals of any compliance- or quality-related trends, and assist schools in making improvements thereto.
- In collaboration with principals, student placement, and chiefs of schools, assist in grouping students with disabilities by similarities of needs; using data to make recommendations for locations of programs with a goal of promoting equitable services and distribution of programs, and ensuring that students with disabilities remain in their school of choice/home school to the maximum extent possible.
- With guidance from the Directors of Administration and Specially Designed Instruction and Programs, assist schools with behavior interventions and discipline, including the implementation of the district's regulations for disciplining students with disabilities.
- In collaboration with all members of the Department of Specialized Services, coordinate professional development for TCOSES, CASES and building-level intervention teams and, at the direction of the Chief of Schools, assist principals with the evaluations of those groups.
- In collaboration with all members of the Department of Specialized Services, including other Zone Directors, provide significant training and guidance to CSEs and sub-CSEs around effective decision-making by consensus, parent participation, writing quality IEPs, and key compliance indicators.
- Assist buildings within the zones with staffing for related services.
- Provide buildings with training and support in accordance with a phase-in plan to move all CSE-related activities to the buildings.
- Use data to monitor initial referrals, referrals for more restrictive environments, removals and suspensions, provision of IEP services and programs, instructional outcomes, attendance trends by various sub-groupings (i.e., race/ethnicity; program; classification) of all schools within the zone, and provide support and guidance to the chiefs of schools and principals of schools at risk of not meeting special education-related performance targets.
- Implement all child-find related activities for the public schools within the zone, including the supervision and evaluation of child development assistants.
- Review and approve as appropriate all proposed Section 504 plans in accordance with district policies and procedures.
- In conjunction with Specialized Services Directors and other departments within the Division of Teaching and Learning, assist schools with the development and operation of effective educational support services teams.
- Monitor the assignment of all one-to-one paraprofessionals, taking into consideration available resources in the proposed program, classroom, and building to which the student is assigned.
AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
- Use of data to advise and assist in the implementation of effective instructional and program models and compliance indicators in schools
- Collaboration with all members of the Specialized Services department, Chiefs of Schools, Principals, and Academic Intervention Services to ensure seamless services for students with disabilities and students at risk of being identified as a student with a disability.
- Implementation of effective training for CSEs and sub-CSEs, and TCOSES and CASES, as measured by key performance indicators.
- Ensuring high-quality IEPs, and compliance with district and state guidelines and regulations within the zone.
- Assisting Chiefs of Schools with all areas of instruction and compliance-related needs within the zone.
- Assisting building administration with behavior intervention and discipline of students with disabilities and students at risk of being identified as a student with a disability.
EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION:
- At least five (5) years of effective special education teaching experience as evidenced by accelerated student achievement.
- Demonstrated expertise in major areas of special education including instruction and programs, compliance, CSE-related activities, parent communication and engagement, and professional development.
- Demonstrated expertise in oral and written communication and strong interpersonal skills.
- Demonstrated ability to function effectively with all levels of management throughout the district.
- Master's Degree in Education.
- NYS Teacher's Certification in Special Education.
- New York State Certification for School District Administrator (SDA) or School District Leader (SDL).