The Director of Special Education acts as a visionary and leads the continuous growth and development of our Special Education and ENL programming in Camden. Beyond compliance the Director of Special Education safeguards that our schools provide equitable opportunities for all learners, through innovative and supportive programming, inclusive policies, and supported daily instructional and operational practices. Directors of Special Education are viewed as  instructional, operational, and compliance experts in all areas of Special Education and English Language Learner programming, as given such, are provided opportunities to inform best practices with other regional leaders around Special Education and ENL programming in each region. They are viewed as a regional leader, serve as key partners to the ASUP and ACOO roles in each region, and are informed and able to provide relevant and accurate data and supporting information around major drivers of school culture and success. These drivers are inclusive of, but not limited to: school policy, external partnerships, staffing considerations, budgeting determinations based on the needs of the region and needs of individual students, curriculum design and implementation, and coaching and professional development of Special Education and ENL staff.Duties & Responsibilities:Data Analysis, Budgeting and Planning:Collect, analyze and present student achievement data using measures to identify trends, areas of strength and areas for improvement.Analyze student work and interventions to identify both student, teacher and support staff areas of support.Track progress of training for each special education coordinator on caseload.Make decisions based on opportunities presented in the data.Collaborate with the Data & IT Team to create or procure a data platform to house enrollment data, IEP data, staffing data and progress monitoring information.Examine historical special education and English language learner data to predict staffing needs and costs throughout the year and year over year.Implement planning procedures to accommodate the growth of Uncommon’s special education and English language learner student population and staff.Build out structures to support the most thorough and post-secondary educational outcomes for students with disabilities and English language learners.Regional and School-based Management and Development:Lead and manage a team of associate directors for special education and English Language Learners and Related Services, dependent on region size.Train, support, and coach Regional and school-based administrators in the areas of special education, English language learner instruction, and at-risk student services.Train, support, and coach general education teachers in the areas of special education, English language learner instruction, and at-risk student services.Provide direct management to a group of school-based special education coordinators.Lead all aspects of professional development of school-based special education teachers and English New Language Teachers.Coordinate, in collaboration with the Uncommon Schools Content Development and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Teams, the development of content related to instruction for special education and English language learners.Coordinate, in collaboration with the Uncommon Schools Recruitment Team, the recruitment of full-time and part-time staff.Consistently review and collaborate with regional leadership (ASUP & ACOO) the data and student population needs for continued innovation efforts, inclusive of program expansion, curriculum improvements, and innovation in instructional practiceExternal Partner Engagement:Maintain our relationship with each external districts of residency, and our authorizer, on matters related to special education and English language learners.Maintain relationships with related service providers and agencies for speech, occupational therapy, physical therapy, vision, hearing, and paraprofessional services.Represent our schools at meetings and conferences with large national organizations and funders.Serve as the region’s primary liaison with outside counsel for legal matters regarding special education and English language learners.Compliance and Risk Management:Ensures that students receive the instruction and services required by IDEA, Section 504 or the Rehabilitation Act of 1974 and Title II of the ADA Act of 1990.Maintain IEP database (e.g., IEP Frontline or ED Plan) for all IEP functions.Provide regional and school based support to special education coordinators in the following areas:Conducting “Child Find” activities in accordance with State and Federal law.Identifying incoming students’ needs for special education, English language learner instruction, and at-risk student services as indicated by family questionnaire responses.Reviewing the results of intake assessments of new students to identify students in need of special education, English language learner instruction, and at-risk student services.Pre-referral and referral processes for special education, English language learner instruction, and at-risk student services.Coordinating classroom observations and testing (i.e. psychological) as needed.Providing information to and from IEP Teams as needed.Participating in the development and maintenance of IEPs by the CSEs.Implementing IEPs, including managing the provision of direct services by the CSE.Ensuring that all general education teachers know, understand, and implement all classroom accommodations and modifications required by IEPs.Providing special education, English language learner instruction, and at-risk student services.
