Regional Special Education Director - Des Moines, United States - State of Iowa

Description

Iowa
Education's vision is building an excellent education system that empowers all students to achieve their full potential.

To accomplish our vision, the Department relies upon talented, passionate professionals working together to serve Iowa's students, families, and teachers in partnership.

The Iowa Department of Education seeks a dedicated, expert Regional Special Education Director to ensure all students with disabilities experience a world-class education that meets their needs, inspires them, and prepares them for bright futures.

The Regional Special Education Director will provide regional leadership and engagement to improve educational results and functional outcomes for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families (IDEA, Part C known as Early Access) and children with disabilities (IDEA, Part B including 619.)

Your Responsibilities:
Provide regional leadership and engagement to:

improve educational results and functional outcomes for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families (IDEA, Part C known as Early Access) and children with disabilities (IDEA, Part B including 619), and

ensure that the relevant Area Education Agencies (AEA), local educational agencies (LEAs), and early intervention service (EIS) programs and providers meet the requirements under IDEA, state law, and all relevant federal and state regulations and guidance.

Provide general supervision and direct oversight consistent with OSEP guidance, including the Iowa Department of Education's (Department) relevant duties under federal IDEA law to:

inform on special education requirements and evidence-based best practices, including directing the accuracy and fidelity of implementation across the Central Rivers AEA and all system providers,
direct the prevention of noncompliant practices or those that are inconsistent with evidence-based best practices,
inspect and detect such practices through ongoing data and on-site observation monitoring of Central Rivers AEA and all system providers,
ensure the correction of noncompliant practices or those that are inconsistent with evidence-based best practice for all system providers, and

review and approve long-term goals set by the Central Rivers AEA, LEAs, and EIS providers, including reviewing, approving, and submitting to the Division Administrator of Special Education Compliance and Continuous Improvement and Deputy Director of Special Education all Central Rivers AEA and LEA IDEA applications, and ensure continuous evaluation of progress towards those goals.

Supervise and direct the work of regional Department special education compliance experts.

Oversee and approve the policies, procedures, and practices of Central Rivers AEA, LEAs and EIS providers to ensure each child with a disability in the region receives a Free and Appropriate Public Education in the Least Restrictive Environment prioritizing academic, physical, and social inclusion.

Ensure integrated systems of special education evaluation and appropriate identification (Child Find), IEP team formation and function, IEP development and implementation with fidelity, special education services and supports, high-quality specially designed instruction, and postsecondary transitions, including through the approval, provision, and quality assurance of evidence-based professional learning addressing needs identified through data analysis.

Supervise and direct the work of regional Department special education professional learning and continuous improvement experts.
Ensure the appropriate use of special education finances and compliant and timely reporting, including by:

Assigning appropriate weights for each child requiring special education programs or services in coordination with the Central Rivers AEA, and

Providing each school district within the region with a certified special education weighted enrollment count in coordination with Central Rivers AEA and the Department of Management.

If you wish to review a copy of the Position Description Questionnaire, please contact

Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday, occasional nights and weekends, in-state travel and occasional out-of-state travel
A successful candidate will bring or have the ability and desire to learn:
Passion for accomplishing common goals in pursuit of public service
Ability to work collaboratively on, and provide leadership for, high-performing teams
Ability to work independently, moving projects forward with minimal supervision
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Ability to interpret and break down highly technical and regulatory language, and present information in an understandable manner
Strong interpersonal skills
Desire to work with diverse teams and stakeholders
WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?
Opportunities to make a transformational impact in the lives of children, families, teachers, and Iowa communities
Collaborative, positive work environment
Dedicated, talented colleagues that will learn and grow with you
Opportunities to collaborate with experts from across the country
Employee discounts from a variety of vendors

Competitive salary and benefits package:
(Download PDF reader)
This is a non-merit position with the Iowa

Office of the Ombudsman

. Candidates must follow the instructions in the "To Apply" section.

Positions in this class are exempt from the screening and referral requirements of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services - Human Resources Enterprise.

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

1) Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university, and experience equal to six years of full-time, professional-level work in special education, program administration, development, management, or operations.

2) A combination of a total of ten years of education and full-time experience (as described in number one), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work may substitute for one year of full-time experience.

3) Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree in special education, therapy (physical, occupational, speech/language, or other education-related area), social work, law, education, or public or business administration, and experience equal to four years of full-time, professional-level work in special education, program administration, development, management, or operations.

Director of Special Education OR
Professional Services Administrator OR
Special Education Supervisor/Instruction OR
Pk12 Principal/Supervisor Special Education OR
Special Education Consultant OR
School Psychologist OR
Teaching License with a Special Education Endorsement OR
Professional Service License OR
Superintendent

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