Special Education Coaching Specialist

Special Education Coaching Specialist Purpose of Position/Summary

The Special Education Specialist serves as an instructional champion for our special education cooperative supporting students with special needs and staff by providing direct instructional support to assigned schools. This is a 10-month, Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) position with the potential for additional paid days.

The Special Education Specialist model represents a change in the way time and expertise is used, and will result in a renewed focus on student achievement and more individualized support for special education teachers and students with disabilities. We expect that Specialists will spend the majority of their time in their assigned schools partnering with the principal to drive instructional strategy and providing instructional and behavioral support to increase student achievement of our students with special needs.

The remainder of the Specialist's time will be used for staff support, department meetings, collaboration with special education administration/staff, and ensuring assigned buildings maintain compliance with special education rules, regulations, and procedures.

• Spends the majority of his/her time in collaborative work with special education teachers, school leaders, and other experts to improve learning outcomes for students with disabilities. This collaboration includes but is not limited to direct instructional coaching, professional development, analysis of progress data, seeking out academic and behavioral instructional strategies, and assisting with implementation;
• Understands and engages in collaborative work with general education personnel, including building-based staff, to improve achievement and growth for all students, while carrying out their primary responsibilities of improving learning and behavior for students with disabilities;
• Develops and empowers teachers to write strong IEPs, collect effective data on behavior intervention, suspensions, and for manifestation determination reviews.
• Attends weekly/monthly collaboration team meetings and professional development. Travels to multiple districts and/or buildings as an itinerant staff member to adequately provide support for staff and students.
• Works collaboratively with school psychologists, assistant directors, director, and other special education providers to coach and support special education staff.
• Consistently revisits special education program and service procedures to ensure continuity services and foresight of potential issues;
• Communicates effectively, and in a timely manner, with parents and guardians of special needs students to address complaints, issues and concerns;
• Performs duties assigned by the Special Education Director.

• Highly-developed communications skills (written/verbal) with good interpersonal relationships
• Results/action-orientation; project management skills
• Organizational agility; developed negotiation skills
• Unquestionable personal code of ethics, integrity, diversity and trust
• Able to successfully navigate within varying degrees of ambiguity in a fast-paced environment
• Strong strategic analysis skills

• Kansas professional license or eligibility
  
  Special Education certification;
• Working knowledge of federal and state special education rules, regulations, and practices (IDEA);
• Broad knowledge of the theories, principles, practices and methodology of special education;
• Working knowledge of special education policies, procedures and programs;
• Ability to be creative in developing alternatives to meet special education needs at each school;
• A track record of developing and maintaining strong working relationships with and among a diverse group of individuals;
• Excellent communication skills and strong analytical and writing capabilities;
• Close attention to detail coupled with the ability to exercise good judgment;
• Strong organizational, oral and written communication, and interpersonal skills;
• Proactive nature; able to anticipate conflicts before they arise;
• Ability to work well independently as well as collaboratively;
• Ability to execute meetings, calls and emails…