School
DuBois Integrity Academy
Description
The Special Education Director oversees the district’s development, implementation, and evaluation of special education programs. This role includes providing leadership, guidance, and coaching to special education teachers and the Special Education Coach to ensure high-quality instruction and support for students with diverse learning needs. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in special education, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to fostering an inclusive learning environment.
The Special Education Director will build relationships, promote collaboration, empower individuals to take ownership of their actions and provide support and guidance to district personnel. The director will ensure that educational programs for students with disabilities are implemented in compliance with IDEA and related federal and state laws, rules, and regulations.
The Special Education Director will assess training needs and establish and implement training, coaching, support, and monitoring systems, ensuring that students with disabilities receive research-based, specially designed instruction that meets their unique needs across the district.
Key Responsibilities:
- Program Development: Lead the design and implementation of special education programs that align with district goals and state/federal regulations.
- Staff Development: Provide ongoing coaching and professional development for special education teachers and the Special Education Coach to enhance instructional practices and improve student outcomes.
- Coaching Cycle (RELAY: Get Better Faster): Engage teachers in three main types of meetings:
- Planning Meetings: Ensure teacher readiness to provide high-quality instruction through collaborative planning sessions.
- Data Analysis Meetings: Analyze student performance data to inform and refine targeted intervention strategies that enhance teacher practice.
- Observation Feedback Meetings: Conduct routine post-observation discussions to facilitate teacher reflection and provide bite-sized action steps for immediate implementation, supporting continuous improvement.
- Collaboration: Work collaboratively with general education staff, administrators, and related service providers to promote inclusive practices and support student success.
- Assessment and Evaluation: Oversee the assessment processes for students with disabilities, ensuring compliance with IDEA and other relevant laws, and utilize data to inform program improvements.
- Resource Management: Manage the budget and resources allocated to special education services, ensuring efficient use of funds and materials.
- Family Engagement: Foster strong relationships with families of students with disabilities, providing support and resources to encourage their involvement in the educational process. To include parent conferences when necessary.
Essential Functions
The following duties are representative of this position. The omission of specific duty statements does not exclude them from the classification if the work is related or logically assigned to this classification. Tasks and responsibilities will align with the implementation of the school-wide plan. Other duties may be required and assigned by the Deputy Superintendent and/or the Executive Director.
- Provides leadership and support to the Principals, Assistant Principals, Instructional Coaches, MTSS Coordinator, etc., on Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) rules and regulations related to Individualized Education Programs (IEP), due process, discipline, and confidentiality.
- Participates in mediation sessions, due process hearings, and litigation proceedings; serves on various district-wide committees.
- Provides appropriate professional development opportunities for administrators and teachers concerning special education services and IDEA.
- Collaborates with parents, administrators, and district staff to address issues related to students with disabilities.
- Responsible for preparing state and federal reports in compliance with federal, state, and local mandates. Monitors the implementation of the District Strategic Plan and Consolidated LEA Improvement Plan (CLIP).
- Submits all required reports to the Georgia Department of Education and other agencies accurately and in compliance with all expectations by the relevant agency.
- Directs the resolution of complaints made to the Georgia Department of Education through due process hearings and mediations.
- Corresponds with private school systems, parent advocacy groups, and private evaluators regarding student issues.
- Partners with district personnel to assist in effectively planning and implementing district initiatives, ensuring that school and district staff can successfully provide educational programs for students with disabilities.
- Partners with the Principals, Assistant Principals, MTSS Coordinators, etc., to assist students with disabilities in accessing the state-approved general curriculum.
- Partners with the Principals, Assistant Principals, MTSS Coordinator, etc., with guidance from the Deputy Superintendent and Executive Director, to plan and develop appropriate curriculum and instructional support for students with disabilities to ensure that students with disabilities are fully considered and involved in appropriate school improvement initiatives.
- Works to ensure that, to the maximum extent appropriate, students with disabilities are educated with their non-disabled peers.
- Provides training, guidance, support, monitoring, and direct supervision as appropriate for district personnel to assist the school in implementing research-based, specially designed instruction for students with disabilities in the least restrictive environment, special education, and related services in compliance with the IDEA legislation and related federal and state laws, rules, and regulations.
- Implement training, support, and monitoring systems to ensure that students with disabilities are included appropriately in state-mandated assessments.
- Develop and monitor compliant and effective budgets to support students with disabilities.
- Provide leadership for developing the department’s budget, ensuring that budget decisions optimally support school-based needs. Also assists with developing and reviewing proposals for outside funding for special projects.
- Performs other duties as assigned by the appropriate administrator.
PHYSICAL ABILITIES AND WORKING CONDITIONS
The physical abilities, working conditions, and other conditions of employment listed in this document are representative of but are not intended to provide an exhaustive list of the requirements for positions in this classification. In the event of an emergency or situation requiring guidance from federal, state, local, or school district authorities, the requirements of this position may change temporarily or during the school year to best serve the needs of our students.
Vision: Ability to read small print and view a computer screen for prolonged periods.
Hearing: Ability to tolerate exposure to noisy conditions.
Speech: Ability to be understood in face-to-face communications, to speak with a level of proficiency and volume to be understood over a telephone or computer.
Upper Body Mobility: Ability to use hands to grasp and manipulate small objects; manipulate fingers, twist and bend at wrist and elbow; extend arms to reach outward and upward; use hands and arms to lift objects; turn, raise, and lower head.
Strength: Ability to lift, push, pull, and/or carry objects that weigh as much as 25 or more pounds on a frequent basis. Incumbents may be required to physically restrain parties involved in a conflict.
Environmental Requirements: Ability to encounter constant work interruptions; work cooperatively with others; work independently; work indoors.
Mental Requirements: Ability to read, write, understand, interpret, and apply information at a moderately complex level essential for successful job performance; learn quickly and follow verbal procedures and standards; give verbal instruction; rank tasks in order of importance; copy, compare, compile, and coordinate information and records. Understand how to manage stress.
Additional Work Conditions & Physical Abilities: Ability to be flexible and adapt as needed between in-person and various classroom learning environments.
This job description is intended to accurately reflect the duties, responsibilities, and requirements of the position. It is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of all the responsibilities, skills, or working conditions associated with the position. Management and administration reserve the right to modify, add, or remove duties and assign other duties as necessary.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, and references to Dr. Yusuf, Elementary School Principal, at lyusuf@diak8.org. In addition, candidates must complete all fields to the right.
All candidates are required to complete a criminal background check. DuBois Integrity Academy provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
