Director of Special Services

Position Type:
Administration/Director

Date Posted:
11/21/2024

Location:
Special Education OfficeDirector of Special Services

Deadline : December 1, 2024

Position Details :

The Director of Special Services will oversee and manage all aspects of special services programs within Van Dyke Public Schools, ensuring the delivery of high-quality services and support individuals with diverse needs. This role is responsible for designing, implementing, and evaluating programs related to special education, disability services, and other specialized support services for students. The Director will lead a team of professionals, and collaborate with internal departments, to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations and best practices.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of special services programs
• Determine staffing needs of the department including all teaching staff, support services including SSW, Occupational THerapy, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy and paraprofessionals.
• Interview, hire, and supervise staff within the department.
• Develop training for personnel in the areas of compliance, instruction, intervention, IEP development, functional behavior assessments, REED development, METs, and use of the PowerSchool special programs to build capacity in staff to ensure the highest standard of delivery to students with IEPs.
• Promote a culture of collaboration, professional development, and high performance.
• Ensure all special services programs comply with federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including ADA, IDEA, 504, and other relevant legislation.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of changes in laws, policies, and best practices affecting special services programs.
• Attend monthly County meetings with the intermediate school district to collaborate with County Directors.
• Develop and implement systems for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of special services programs.
• Collect and analyze data to access the needs, outcomes, and satisfaction of service recipients.
• Use of evaluation results to recommend and implement continuous improvements to program delivery.
• Design and implement corrective action plans to improve systems, policies and procedures.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, including administrators, faculty, social workers, and health professionals, to ensure comprehensive support for individuals receiving special services.

Qualifications:

• Education
  • Teaching Certificate in at least one area of special education or equivalent, Administrative Certificate, central office
  • Director of Special Education Certificate, or willingness to take additional coursework to obtain the endorsement.
• Experience
  • At least 5 years experience in an educational setting as a social worker, psychologist, or other service provider in a special education department.
  • Extensive knowledge of federal, state, and local laws related to special services, including ADA, IDEA and 504 compliance.
• Skills and Abilities
  • ?Strong leadership, organizational, and management skills with the ability to motivate and guide teams.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships and influence diverse stakeholders.
  • In-depth understanding of the challenges and best practices in special education and disability services.
  • Ability to analyze complex data and make data-driven decisions to improve program effectiveness
  • Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Catamaran and PowerSchool Special Programs preferred