IEP Chairperson/Special Education Building Lead Pool FY27($55,948+)

Dorchester County Public Schools•Cambridge, MD

About The Position

Dorchester County Public Schools is currently accepting applications for IEP Chairperson/Special Education Building Lead for the 2026 - 2027 school year . Working under the direction of the school principal and the Supervisor of Special Education, will provide direct instruction and instructional support to students with disabilities. The successful candidates in the role of the IEP Chairperson / Special Education Building Lead will encompass both the IEP chairperson role (procedural and compliance guidance) and instructional coaching (aligning IEP development to instructional practice). The IEP Chairperson serves as the administrative designee for all IEP meetings and the primary architect of the school’s special education workflow process as related to special education at the building level. This role ensures compliance with DCPS’s Office of Special Education policies and procedures and Federal (IDEA), State (COMAR), and District (DCPS) regulations while providing coaching to staff to improve outcomes for students with disabilities.

Requirements

Possess a Maryland State Department of Education teaching license in Generic Special Education Infant-3 and/or 1-8 and/or 6-Adult.
Possess a Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university in Special Education or a related field.
Minimum of three (3) years of successful K-12 teaching or related service experience preferably in the field of special education.
Knowledge of Dorchester County Public Schools curriculum, techniques for integrating curriculum, Dorchester County Public Schools policies, and effective instructional practices.
Ability to provide instruction that reflects multiple perspectives and multi-cultural education.
Proficiency in Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, and online IEP platforms (MOIEP).
Working knowledge of IDEA, COMAR, and local mandates.
Exceptional organizational skills and the ability to manage time autonomously.
Strong professional communication and conflict-resolution skills.
Ability to communicate and work effectively with administrators, colleagues, central office and school-based staff, students, parents and community.
Excellent oral and written communication and human relation skills.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated experience in IEP team management and leadership preferred.
Have a sincere interest in demonstrating a growth mindset in the field of special education leadership.

Responsibilities

IEP Process Management & Compliance Caseload Oversight: Manage the IEP process for a maximum of two buildings and/or a total caseload not to exceed 125 students.
Meeting Facilitation: Chair all IEP meetings (Initial, Annual, Re-evaluation); coordinate schedules with families, send meeting notices, and provide procedural safeguards.
Documentation: Complete Prior Written Notices (PWN), oversee data input into MOIEP, monitor accommodation document, update accommodations form and forward to the Local Accountability Coordinator so they can maintain updated records for state and Federal assessments and maintain comprehensive IEP team folders for all referred students.
Timeline Monitoring: Track and ensure 100% compliance with all legal timeline beginning with the referral through evaluations, annual reviews, and progress reporting. Adjust for noncompliance by communicating with the Department of Special Education supervisor and coordinators to make recommendations for corrections and implement solutions focused on reducing noncompliance and enhancing services and programs.
Quality Assurance: Review and monitor the quality of IEPs against District standards and COMAR regulations.
Instructional Leadership & Support SDI Modeling: Identify and model Specially Designed Instruction (SDI), accommodations, and modifications for general and special education teachers.
Collaboration: Serve as a bridge between the building Principal, MTSS team, Special Education Coaches, and the District Office. Attend 504 meetings and MTSS Tier 3 meetings that will likely result in a referral to special education.
Teacher Development: Train new staff on IEP workflows/assessments and provide technical assistance in administering, scoring, and interpreting educational assessments.
Student Growth: Coordinate and assess students as needed. Coordinate and implement individual or small group intervention as needed. Conduct compliance checks on accommodation logs and progress monitoring data to ensure students are demonstrating growth toward the achievement of their IEP goals and objectives and making overall progress on state and local assessments as appropriate.
Intake & Referral Coordination Process Management: Lead the referral screening process from initial intake through eligibility determination.
Data Synthesis: Prepare referral packets including 504 Plan data, MTSS data, state/local assessments, and demographic information (attendance, discipline, grades).
Professional Liaison: Notify/collaborate with the DCPS Department of Special Education (Psychologists, Coordinators, Supervisors) regarding procedural or compliance concerns, the identification of new cases, and the assignment of case managers.
In addition, this role may include other duties related to special education as assigned by the Supervisor of Special Education, Special Education Coordinators, and/or Building Principals.