Exceptional Children Program Specialist

Catawba County Schools•Newton, NC

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Serves as a designee of the EC Program Administrator in providing direct contact with schools and other service providers in the county to facilitate, monitor and support Child Find, initial referral, eligibility and the implementation of all services and supports required for students with disabilities. This role requires adherence to the NC Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities, local district protocols, and BOE policies, while advocating for and protecting the rights of students with disabilities. The specialist will guide practices based on objective data and the specific needs of students with disabilities, collaborating with professionals, parents, and community agencies to develop supports and programs. Key responsibilities include managing referrals, eligibility processes, and out-of-state transfers within established timelines, providing training to staff on special education paperwork and software systems, and participating in internal audits and monitoring for procedural compliance. The role also involves participating in educational planning conferences, department staffings, and various forms of communication with stakeholders. Additionally, the specialist will assist with planning and implementing inservice activities, act as a liaison between parents and school personnel, communicate with principals and central office staff to facilitate cooperative planning, conduct needs assessments, and assist in compiling data analyses. The position also supports gathering data for district, state, and federal reporting, assists with disciplinary procedures for students in the EC program, and attends/assists with documentation for IEP team meetings, serving as an LEA/PSU representative upon request. The specialist is expected to organize responsibilities, seek out research on effective programs and practices, seek feedback for professional growth, and maintain professional conduct regarding attire, communication of absences, punctuality, attendance, and confidentiality.

Requirements

Certification in Special Education, preferably with additional hours in special education law and or school administration
Five or more years experience teaching exceptional children
Certification in Mentor and NCEES Training
Strong interpersonal and conferencing skills
Must be able to use a variety of equipment such as computers, copiers, and a variety of audiovisual equipment etc.
Must be able to exert up to 20 pounds of force frequently and constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
Light Work usually requires walking, standing and bending to a significant degree.
Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or composite characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
Requires the ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, assignments and/or directions from superiors.
Requires the ability to read a variety of correspondence, reports, handbooks, forms, newsletters, journals, procedures, lists, etc.
Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, simple reports, forms, instructional materials, etc., using prescribed format.
Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; and to deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently standard English.
Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; multiply and divide; utilize decimals and percentages; and to apply the principles of descriptive statistics, statistical inference and statistical theory.
Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.
Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using office and audiovisual equipment.
Requires the ability to handle a variety of items such as office and audiovisual equipment. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with emergency situations.
Must be able to talk and hear: (Talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words. Hearing: perceiving nature of sounds by ear). Must be able to communicate via telephone.

Nice To Haves

additional hours in special education law
additional hours in school administration

Responsibilities

Base professional actions, recommendations and decisions on the most current edition of the NC Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities, in addition to local district protocols and BOE policies
Understand, advocate for and promote/protect the rights of students with disabilities
Guide practices and decisions on objective data in combination with the specific needs of the SWD
Effectively collaborates and uses a problem solving approach with other school professionals, parents, and community agencies to assess needs and develop supports, services and programs for students with disabilities
Processes and manages all initial referrals, initial eligibility and out of state transfer processes for students being referred to special education within the established timelines
Provides direct support and training to school based staff on special education paperwork and use of the software management system
Participates in internal audit and monitoring processes to ensure procedural compliance is being implemented at assigned schools
Participates in educational planning conferences and department staffings
Engages in a variety of forms of communication that is timely, positive, professional, and confident with a variety of stakeholders including: other staff members, administrators, parents, community/agency members, Exceptional Children’s program staff, and state or federal agencies
Assists with the planning and implementation of inservice activities for special education program compliance, eligibility, case management and leads groups of teachers through training sessions, as needed
Acts as liaison between parents and school personnel for interpretation of district, state, and federal guidelines
Communicates with building principals and staff through routine visits to schools to facilitate their leadership in providing programs serving students with disabilities
Communicates with other central office staff to facilitate cooperative planning between regular and special education
Conducts needs assessments and helps design growth plans for teachers
Assists in compiling data analyses for decision making and prioritizing program goals
Facilitates application of school law and local, state, and federal statutes pertaining to the education of special needs students
Assists EC department in gathering all required data, documentation and information required for district, state and federal special education reporting requirements within the established timelines
Assists with disciplinary procedures for students in the Exceptional Children’s program including collaboration in the manifestation determination review process, and disciplinary removals
Attends, participates and assists with documentation of prior written notice during potentially contentious IEP team meetings
Serves as LEA/PSU representative in IEP team meetings upon request of the district EC Administrator
Participates in required staff meetings including EC Program Specialist Team meetings, Service Review, and Joint Staffing meetings
Effectively organizes and prioritizes various job responsibilities and tasks in order to manage a busy workload
Takes initiative to seek out research pertaining to the most effective programs and practice in the field of special education, including legal trends and policy
Seeks out feedback on how to improve practice and grow professionally
Wears correct attire for assigned duties
Communicates w/appropriate staff regarding anticipated absences
Consistently arrives at work on time
Consistently works a minimum of 7.5 hours per day or until the required work tasks are complete
Is consistently present at work on student days and required workdays
Respects and protects confidentiality with respect to student information
Consistently follows through with any plans outlined by the EC support team, or directives given by the immediate supervisor and/or district leadership
Performs other work related duties as assigned