Lead Special Education Specialist

Pathways In Education•Chicago, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

PIE is a non-profit organization that partners with public schools to provide dropout recovery and prevention programs, including: schools (located in LA, TN, and IL); college tours; and experiential programs that help students learn teamwork, resiliency, leadership, self-confidence, and communication. Pathways’ schools utilize a blended learning model, combining independent study and small group instruction, focusing on academic recovery, experiential learning, and life and job skills development. With a focus on one-on-one mentorship, PIE teachers and advisors are able to show struggling students the potential that they have not been able to see in themselves. PIE’s experiential programs promote not only social and personal growth, but community involvement, environmentalism, and STEAM learning, and are proven to increase high school graduation rates among attendees. Blackbird Farm and Rocky Mountain Pathways Ranch both fall under the PIE umbrella.

Requirements

Plan, implement and evaluate programs
Communicate effectively in both oral and written form
Effectively transmit knowledge and skills to others
Plan, develop, and conduct meetings and training programs
Develop measurable goals and objectives, set priorities, monitor expenditures
Maintain positive working relationships with corporate staff, teachers, parents, students and others
Make presentations to various audiences
Deal with challenges inherent in working with multiple school districts and multiple clients
Significant physical abilities include reaching, handling, talking, hearing conversations and others sounds, visual acuity/depth perception
Current Illinois Professional Educator License Endorsement: Learning Behavior Specialist I (LBS I)

Nice To Haves

Five years of successful Special Education experience preferred
Master’s degree with emphasis on Specialized Training in Special Education curriculum and instruction preferred

Responsibilities

Plan, organize and direct Special Education programs
Supervise program specialists, resource specialists, designated instruction and service providers, school psychologists and other special education staff
Assist in the interpretation of the law and Educational Code
Provide interpretation and guidance of compliance to laws
Direct Special Ed programs or projects and perform related duties as assigned
Train, assist and supervise staff (e.g. special education teachers, designated instruction and service providers) in planning and implementation of individual education programs for children with disabilities
Coordinate curricular resources and make them available and effective for personnel who are in need of the resources
Assess program effectiveness to promote the program for individuals with exceptional needs
Serve on assessment teams and individualized education program teams
Schedule and participate in IEP meetings with students and parents as needed
Participate in IEP meetings
Review psycho-educational and assessment reports
Provide training to general education staff related to support to general education students and special education needs
Maintain a current knowledge of journal articles and case law to share with staff