Coordinator, Office of Specialized Services - Philadelphia, United States - The School District Of Philadelphia

Description

Title: Coordinator, Office of Specialized Services (Emotional Support)

Department: Specialized Services

Reports To: Administrative Superior

For forward-thinking administrators and educators, opportunities abound in the School District of Philadelphia. The School District of Philadelphia is committed to transforming the education opportunities it offers the city's more than 203,000 school-aged children. The District seeks leaders who have a passion for working with schools, principals and communities who are committed to ensuring all students achieve. Serving a population as diverse as ours requires creativity, commitment and vision. Will you join us?

Job Summary

Coordinates the elements involved in providing an appropriate educational program for students with disabilities in curriculum and instruction in the least restrictive environment. Provides direct and ongoing leadership to District and school personnel through participation in consultation, collaboration, professional learning activities, staff evaluation/assessment process, and curriculum planning and development of specialized instructional strategies and programs. Ensures that communication, functional academics and functional skills for daily living are merged with core standards. Plans, organizes, and coordinates the deployment of specific related services resources (speech, hearing, vision) across school-based programs. Utilizes level of service and enrollment data to inform equitable deployment of resources. Manages the delivery of related services by contracted providers and maintains data on contact delivery efficacy. Establishes and maintains partnerships and linkages with external public and private organizations, governmental agencies and other stakeholders as well as serving as a liaison to both internal and external parties on a variety of issues.

Essential Functions

For All Specialties

• Oversees, coordinates, and monitors the activities and programs in the assigned area of specialization; monitors the implementation of new and existing programs and initiatives designed to address the needs of schools and students.
• Ensures adherence to any mandated guidelines governing activities in the assigned area.
• Acts in a consultative role for field and central office based staff; provides consultative services in the planning, development, and implementation of services.
• Identifies effective practices for delivery of services within the assigned areas of concentration.
• Ensures the implementation of programs and practices that support the goals and objectives of the District
• Stays abreast of current developments and trends within the different specialties.
• Participates in training and professional development opportunities offered by Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE)/Bureau of Special Education (BSE) in order to develop train-the-trainer models.
• Serves in a liaison capacity; establishes and maintains partnerships with various public and private organizations, and governmental agencies; interacts and works collaboratively with other offices within the District as well as with external entities.
• Participates in the development of grant requests and proposals; implements and monitors grants pertaining to all areas of the Intermediate Unit (IU) Plan.
• Works collaboratively with other staff in the office.
• Provides support for and ensures compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) and PDE mandates such as, but not limited to training and data collection.
• Works collaboratively with personnel in other District offices to ensure the provision of training for both special and regular education teachers in the areas of curriculum and instruction, progress monitoring, compliance, and reading.
• Provides technical assistance in the areas of special education and compliance.
• Implements and evaluates training and professional development activities; provides training directly to staff members or through staff trainers.
• Assists the Executive Director with implementing the training and technical assistance areas of the IU Plan.

• Oversees support and training in all contracted Emotional Support programs.
• Provides professional development on best practices related to school-wide and positive behavior support interventions.
• Provides professional development and direct training on completing and implementing Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBAs), Measurable IEP goals, and individualized Positive Behavior Support Plans (PBSP).
• Monitors and support classroom progress monitoring protocols, including providing professional development and direct training on methods for progress monitoring both academic and behavioral goals.
• Supports coordination of IEP teams that facilitate interagency meetings, including the transition of students from alternate school/hospital placements.
• Supports parents and school teams with locating supports both within the school and local community to enhance the behavioral progress of students.
• Provides on-site support to school staff in supporting the emotional, social and behavioral needs of students in Emotional Support Programs.

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Five years of full-time, paid, professional experience in the field of special education, which included at least three years teaching students with challenging behaviors, and has involved developing and/or implementing support systems and services to children with emotional disturbance and their families in a large urban setting, and has included coordinating efforts with varied resources as well as designing and implementing training activities.

• Demonstrated ability to:
  • multi-task and be efficient in managing multiple programs and sites.
  • manage educational programs to meet the needs of special education students, particularly the unique communication/sensory/physical needs of low incidence populations.

• Possession of a valid Commonwealth of Pennsylvania instructional certificate for special education.