Director of Special Services

Director of Special Services

The Director of Special Services will have responsibility for the administration of special education, guidance and school nursing services throughout the district. The Director will function effectively as part of the administrative team and have excellent problem solving and decision-making skills. The Director must have effective leadership qualities and personal characteristics necessary for interacting with students, teachers, parents and other administrators.

The minimum performance expectations include, but are not limited to, the following functions and tasks:

Special Education Services

• Formulates and implements special education programs and procedures relating to the education of students with disabilities.
• Maintains compliance with federal and state special education regulations.
• Submits State reports in order to secure state and federal funding for special education programs.
• Coordinates, supervises, and evaluates members of the child study team and special education teaching staff members assigned to the Office of Student Services.
• Plans and implements professional development for special education staff members so they are informed of the requirements and regulations for disability identification, eligibility and program development.
• Ensures that Individual Education Programs for students are implemented in compliance with regulations.
• Supervises the accurate maintenance and confidentiality of student special education records.
• Ensures that the child study team, speech-language specialists and special education teaching staff and instructional aides have the supplies needed.
• Coordinates instructional services provided to students with disabilities with the Curriculum Director.
• Serves as the Section 504 coordinator for the school district.
• Assists in developing the district's budget for programs related to special services.
• Serves as a resource to the Special Education Parent Support Group.

Nursing Services

• Coordinates health services provided for all students with the school nurses.
• Coordinates, assigns, supervises, and evaluates school nurses.
• Maintains compliance with the state nursing regulations.
• Works with building administrators to provide appropriate health services.
• Supervises the accurate maintenance and confidentiality of student health records.
• Ensures that the school nurses have the supplies and equipment needed.
• Plans professional development for school nurses so that they are informed of the requirements, best practices and regulations for maintaining student health.

Other Responsibilities

• Write, submit, and manage grant applications dealing with special education, nursing, and others as directed.
• Manage contracted vendors providing support in the areas of mental health, student wellness, and related areas.
• Oversee process for home instruction.
• Collaborate with the Director of Curriculum to ensure continuity of services related to tiered systems of supports, Intervention and Referral Services, and academic programming for students with Individualized Education Plans.
• Provide for and/or assist in the supervision and evaluation of staff as assigned.
• Design and implement a continuous evaluation of all programs in his/her domain.
• Perform other duties, which may be within the scope of his/her employment and certifications, as may be assigned by the Superintendent of Schools under the authority of the Board of Education.
• Adhere to New Jersey school law, State Board of Education rules and regulations, Board of Education policies and regulations, school regulations and procedures, and contractual obligations.