LEA (Local Education Agent) / Pupil Personnel Department Chair

East Providence School Department•East Providence, RI

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The LEA/Dept. Chair has an important role in the provision of FAPE as this is the person on an IEP team who has the authority to commit agency resources and must be able to ensure that special education services described in the IEP will be provided as written. When IEP teams are discussing possible services to support a student’s IEP goals and disability-related needs, the LEA representatives should assist IEP teams in problem-solving “how” to support a student’s various disability-related needs. The Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA) 2004 identifies the LEA representative as someone who; is qualified to provide, or supervise the provision of, specially designed instruction to meet the unique needs of children with disabilities; is knowledgeable about the general education curriculum; and is knowledgeable about the availability of resources of the public agency. (34 CFR 300.321(a)(4)) In addition to LEA representative responsibilities, the Department Chair is to promote the district’s curriculum and instructional programs at both the district and the building level. Department Chairs assume the educational leadership and supervision responsibilities for their assigned department to ensure students are provided high quality instruction. Department Coordinators work in collaboration with the district and building leadership to lead and grow members of their staff, to facilitate effective communication with parents, and members of the community. Responsibilities also include planning, coordination, curriculum development, program evaluation, personnel management, budget preparation, scheduling, staff observation and evaluation.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree or higher, Master’s degree preferred
A minimum of 5 years classroom experience is preferred.
Must possess a valid Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) certification as a Special Educator (secondary), dual certification preferred
Must possess a high degree of tact, diplomacy and confidentiality.
Must be detail oriented with good organizational skills.
Must be proficient with computers.
Must have an in-depth knowledge of federal, state, and district special education statutes/regulations/policies.
Excellent organizational, communications, and consensus building skills.
Have a keen understanding and command of the Regulations Governing the Education of Children with Disabilities and IDEA

Nice To Haves

Certified or willing to be certified in CPI-Non-Violent Physical Crisis Intervention.
Expertise in the use of progress monitoring tools to track students’ progress and to guide instruction and services.
Familiarity with and ability to use a variety of adaptive technologies
Demonstrated ability and success in working collaboratively with large educational teams
Administrator skills preferred

Responsibilities

Monitor the case management of IEP students and ensure legal compliance w/IEP and other documents required under IDEA
Schedule and attend all IEP, evaluation, re-evaluation and ESY meetings, complete documents within legal timelines.
Serve as LEA during IEP meetings and ensure legal compliance on all matters and decision making
Assure and enforce legal timelines for re-evaluations, annual IEP’s and ESY decision making.
Coordinate the collection of information, documents, forms, and reports to comply with state and federal regulations
Facilitate procedural timelines and deadlines
Coordinate special education classroom placements and services for students with the Director/Asst. Director or designee
Monitor and coordinate services for students parentally placed in private schools who have an IEP or service plan
Act as the new referral case manager, schedule, attend and facilitate each meeting, and ensure legal timelines and all necessary documentation
Schedule parent request meetings within the 10 day period
Provide guidance to new teachers on procedure, protocols, electronic data
Assist in MTSS & RTI problem solving teams
Resource to administration in all special education related matters
Facilitate transition meetings both in sending and receiving schools
Transition to OOD or back from OOD
Chair all department meetings.
Serve as a consultant to teachers within his/her department and principals district-wide.
Provide leadership to department committees for new text adoptions and recommended supplementary materials for his/her department.
Inventory textbooks and equipment as needed.
Be knowledgeable in new trends and developments within his/her departmental content area, and recommend programs for consideration.
Recommend and/or provide in-service training programs for his/her department when needed. Attend or facilitate those programs as the leader of the department.
Assist new teachers in methodology, technique, materials, or any other function needed to enhance the new teacher’s ability to be successful in conjunction with the Induction Coach.
Provide the leadership for developing curriculum for his/her department.
Create and administer the budget and resources allocated to the department.
Review requests for new equipment, instructional materials and supplies for the department and submit as appropriate.
Make recommendations for the master schedule.
Attend meetings called by the school or district administration.
Monitor the curriculum and instruction being implemented by department members.
Collaborate with other Department Coordinators to ensure consistency of district curriculum and programs.
Complete observations on time and provide high quality feedback that is specific and actionable to teachers.
Other tasks deemed necessary by administration.