Educational Diagnostician

NM School for the Deaf•Santa Fe, NM

About The Position

Educational Diagnosticians at NMSD (1) have integral roles in education and are essential members of the school instructional and support services team, (2) assess and diagnose the learning problems of students and help students meet the performance standards of NMSD and the state by recommending appropriate modifications and accommodations, and (3) work in partnership with others to meet students' needs. It is anticipated and expected that all functions of this position will be performed in a positive and respectful manner, with a strong focus on advancing the mission and vision of New Mexico School for the Deaf. The duties and competencies listed are comprehensive yet not all inclusive of this position.

Requirements

A. or M.S. in an education-related field and completion of educational diagnostician or school psychology graduate program; specific experience in the area of the development of Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs).
Knowledge of special factors impacting education of deaf and hard-of-hearing students.
Licensure as an educational diagnostician with the State of New Mexico Education Department (Level II licensure and 3 years of experience as an educational diagnostician preferred), or the ability to earn such licensure prior to the beginning of the contract period.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
Ability to write reports and correspondence.
Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, and the general public.
Proficiency in or willingness to learn American Sign Language required.
Writes clearly and informatively; varies writing style to meet needs.
Must be organized and detail-oriented.
collects and aggregates data for program maintenance and improvement.
Seeks feedback to improve performance; pursues training and development opportunities; strives to continuously build knowledge and skills.
Competent in required job skills and knowledge; exhibits ability to learn and apply new skills; keeps abreast of current developments; requires minimal supervision; displays understanding of how job relates to others; uses resources effectively.
Adapts to new technologies; troubleshoots technological problems; uses technology to increase productivity. Has a working knowledge of Microsoft Office and Outlook.
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide into all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percentage and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Ability to think independently, solve problems and work with the whole team.
Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions; works in group problem solving situations.
Establishes and maintains effective relations; exhibits tact and consideration; offers assistance and support to co-workers; works cooperatively in group situations; works actively to resolve conflicts.
Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others’ views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; supports everyone’s efforts to succeed.
Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; educates others on the value of diversity; builds a diverse workforce.
Treats people with respect; keeps commitments; inspires the trust of others; works with integrity and principles.
Follows policies and procedures; completes tasks correctly and on time; supports organization’s goals and values.
Manages competing demands.
Dresses appropriately for position; keeps self well groomed.
Is consistently at work and on time; ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent.
Follows instructions, responds to management direction; takes responsibility for own actions.
Seeks increased responsibilities; asks for and offers help when needed.
Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; looks for ways to improve and promote quality.
Observes safety and security procedures; determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; reports potentially unsafe conditions.
The employee is occasionally required to drive for long periods of time; stand; walk and sit. Unless otherwise stated in this job description, the employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.

Responsibilities

Conducts individual psycho-educational assessment in the areas of intellectual ability, achievement, and adaptive behavior.
Collaborates with parents, teachers, and ancillary service providers to complete all Review of Existing Evaluation Data (REED) documents and facilitates REED meetings.
Facilitates all Eligibility Determination Team (EDT) meetings.
Facilitates IEP Amendments to add or remove ancillary services.
Observes and works with students.
Obtains written parental consent for all evaluations conducted at NMSD, including those conducted by all ancillary service providers.
Coordinates and collaborates with student’s instructional and support services team for evaluation, assessment, implementation of recommendations, and adherence to special education laws, rules, and regulations.
Provides evaluation oversight by tracking and ensuring that deadlines are met and that all types of evaluations (Academic Achievement, Adaptive Behavior, ASL, Audiology, Cognitive Ability, Functional Behavior Assessment, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Social/Emotional Skills, Speech-Language Therapy) are completed in a timely manner.
Provides diagnosis of relevant disabilities and impacting conditions, adhering to the New Mexico Technical Evaluation and Assessment Manual (NM TEAM).
Maintains Medicaid documentation as appropriate.
Works collaboratively with other assessment personnel, such as speech-language pathologists, occupational and physical therapists, and school psychologists, counselors, and social workers to determine eligibility for special education services.
Performs comprehensive evaluations for deaf and hard of hearing students for various NMSD departments including Early Intervention and Involvement Department (EIID) and Center for Educational Consultation and Training (CECT), as well as for the NMSD Preschool in Albuquerque, as needed.
Writes team-based, comprehensive, multi-disciplinary evaluation and re-evaluation reports, including individualized instructional recommendations that support the development of appropriate student Individual Education Programs (IEPs).
Provides input to the IEP committee regarding student’s academic strengths and weaknesses based on psycho-educational testing.
Monitors students’ educational progress in relation to their IEP goals and objectives, recommending appropriate modifications and accommodations to curricular content and instruction, as needed.