Director of Special Education

765 BROAD STREET, NEWARK, NEW JERSEY 07102

ROGER LEN, DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT

DIRECTOR SPECIAL EDUCATION

(Pending availability of funds and Superintendent's approval)

The Superintendent invites qualified and interested persons to apply for the position of DIRECTOR SPECIAL EDUCATION.

• Passionate belief that all students can achieve at high levels.
• Personal accountability for serving all students and ensuring their academic achievement.
• Ability to create, articulate, and build staff and community buy-in to a clear vision and mission.
• Effective team leadership builds and leads teams to achieve goals and objectives by:
• Managing and coaching a team of professionals to achieve ambitious goals.
• Assessing team and individual skills and development needs and providing feedback and coaching that assists others in maximizing their contribution.
• Prioritizing and aligning people, time, and resources to the most important issues.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, including ability to:
• Work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders at all levels, including but not limited to district personnel, students, families, communities, and/or advocacy groups.
• Solicit feedback while building consensus.
• Maintain positive relationships and build lasting coalitions of support.
• Skillfully navigate existing political structures/systems.
• Strong goal-orientation and focus on results; thrives in achievement-oriented and fast-paced environments.
• Outstanding critical thinking skills, including the ability to analyze data, identify trends, pinpoint problems and root causes, and develop innovative solutions.
• Excellent execution and project management skills, including ability to balance the big picture with detailed steps.
• Deep knowledge of services for students with special needs, including but not limited to:
• Proven ability to develop and deliver programming that drives improved academic performance in special education populations.
• Promising instructional practices and models.
• Federal and state regulations related to students with disabilities, including expertise in Section 504 and Assistive Technology.
• Five or more years of related experience required, including at least three years administrative experience at the school or district level.
• Master's degree in education or related field required.
• School Administrator Certificate/Certificate of Eligibility (CE) or Principal Certificate.

• Ensure that special needs students are provided with the highest quality supports, with the goal of increasing the numbers of students able to reintegrate into the traditional learning environment.
• Serve as an advocate and represent the needs of special education students in all major district decisions.
• Collaborate with Human Resources to identify the qualifications and skill sets needed of special education professionals and recruit, train, support and retain the most talented special education educators, advocates, aides and specialists.
• Lead the Special Education office staff in implementing a vision with a clear focus on providing strategic support for schools and students while ensuring compliance with all state and federal requirements related to special needs students.
• Evaluate and improve existing special education programs by disseminating knowledge and best practices across the district.
• Lead the selection and implementation of academic assessments appropriate for students with special needs; drive data-based special education program improvements.
• Build innovative programs that improve early supports, enabling differentiated and integrated learning and accelerating student achievement for all kinds of learners.
• Work to create district-wide professional development programs, ensuring a robust, systemic approach to meeting the needs of special education students.
• Oversee the support of district- and school-based teams in their understanding of learning and behavior disabilities and their manifestations in the classroom through staff coaching, site-based workshops, and district-wide professional development.
• Develop and lead strategic partnerships that serve the interests of the…