Position Description
POSITION TITLE: Director of Special Services
Department: Special Services
Reports To: Assistant Superintendent for Instruction
SUMMARY:
Responsible for enlarging the educational experience of students by
facilitating their best possible adjustment to school through a program of
special services through programs for the Special Needs students.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES. Other duties may be assigned.
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Implements and updates policy on all
aspects of the district's special services and ensures compliance with
standards, regulations, and state/federal laws.
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Coordinates and supervises all aspects of
special services programs and personnel.
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Supervises and coordinates activities of
school psychologists, speech therapists, physical and occupational therapists.
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Conducts regular meetings with
professional staff and other interested parties.
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Coordinates departmental operations with
other school district departments.
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Prepares and administers the departmental
budget.
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Serves on the district's committees for
the disabled and instructional improvement and other administrative committees
as needed.
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Participates in special consultations and
case conferences with psychologists, other student services personnel, building
administrators, teachers, parents, and as appropriate with students.
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Assists in the development of programs
for teachers relating to child behavior, child development, and conferences
with parents.
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Assists in the development of special
programs for students.
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Maintains liaison with community mental
health clinics, special schools, and other resources offering therapeutic
services.
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Acts as a liaison between schools and
consulting psychiatrists.
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Develops a program of assessment through
research and evaluation projects.
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Supervises the maintenance of case
records on students and the completion of all required reports.
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Interprets the school district's special
services to the public.
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Keeps abreast of developments in the
field and acts as a resource for psychological staff and other personnel.
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Assists in coordinating special
transportation for disabled students.
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Provides opportunities for staff
development.
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Performs other such tasks and assumes
other such responsibilities as may from time to time be assigned.
SUPERVISORY
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Supervises School Psychologists, Speech
Therapists, Special Education teachers and teaching assistants (in conjunction
with respective Principals), and Secretaries for the Special Services
Department. Supervises and coordinates
activities of school psychologists, speech therapists and physical and
occupational therapists.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To
perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each
essential duty satisfactorily. The
requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or
ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals
with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
EDUCATION
and/or EXPERIENCE:
Masters Degree with intensive course work and/or
experience in teaching, psychological services, testing, guidance, and/or
administration. Must have valid teaching
certificate, at least five years' successful experience in public school work
either as a teacher or in psychological services, testing, guidance, and/or
administration.
LANGUAGE
SKILLS:
Ability to read, analyze,
and interpret scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal
documents. Ability to write reports,
business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
Ability to effectively present information to administrators, top
management, public groups/community, and Board of Education.
MATHEMATICAL
SKILLS:
Ability to apply concepts such as fractions,
percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
REASONING
ABILITY:
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
OTHER
SKILLS and ABILITIES:
Must have experience in or have knowledge of the
various handicapped conditions, procedures for identifying these conditions and
program alternatives for handicapped children. Ability to develop effective
working relationships with students, staff and the school community. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely,
both orally and in writing. Ability to
perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and the Board of
Education policies.
PHYSICAL
DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that
must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of
this job. Reasonable accommodations may
be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential
functions.
While performing
the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to
walk, talk or hear. The employee must be
able to meet deadlines with severe time constraints and interact with the
public and staff in addition to meeting multiple demands from several
people. The employee is required to work
irregular or extended work hours.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics
described here are representative of those an employee encounters while
performing the essential functions of this job.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with
disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The
noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.
The information contained in this job description is for
compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an
exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the
individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be
assigned.