Special Education Program Specialist (26-27 School Year)

Invictus Academy of Richmond•El Cerrito, CA

10d•$65,000 - $100,804•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Program Specialist to join our Special Education Team. The Program Specialist will play a crucial role in ensuring that students with diverse learning needs receive the necessary support and resources to achieve success. The ideal candidate will be passionate about inclusive education and dedicated to promoting equity and excellence for all students. We are seeking exceptional individuals to execute the following essential job functions and professional responsibilities:

Requirements

Earned Bachelor’s Degree.
Pass a Criminal Background Check through the Department of Justice.
Obtain a negative TB reading prior to starting employment.

Nice To Haves

Clear California Special Education Teaching Credential and/or a California Pupil Personnel Services Credential.
Demonstrate a deep knowledge and experience working with students who have IEPs and 504 plans.
Team lead or supervisor experience.
Knowledge of California A-G requirements.
Experience monitoring and analyzing data to inform instruction.
Excellent written and oral communicator.
Professional, warm and collaborative with students, families, and colleagues.
Bilingual in Spanish.

Responsibilities

Manage, coach, and develop the Special Education Team including the Education Specialists and Instructional Aides.
Create and maintain master schedules for members of the SpEd team.
Develop and implement policies, procedures, and programs to support students with special needs in accordance with state and federal regulations.
Collaborate with the Director of MTSS to integrate special education initiatives into the overall school plan.
Monitor and ensure compliance with IDEA, ADA, OCR, CRDC and federal and state regulations and ensure that all IAR practices are legal and ethical for each student/family so that each child has the opportunity to achieve at a high level and be prepared for post-secondary success.
Ensure timelines for IEP processes are maintained, including assessment timelines, meeting timelines and service and data tracking timelines.
Coordinate the evaluation and identification process for students with disabilities, including conducting assessments and facilitating multidisciplinary team meetings
Oversee individualized education plans (IEPs) and associate service provision for students with disabilities, ensuring that all components are aligned with state standards and student needs.
Coordinate external partnerships and contractors providing services (such as speech and language and occupational therapy) for students and liaise with SELPA.
Coordinate with the Director of MTSS, Director or Operations and Back Office support to complete CALPADS reporting.
Ensure Special Education Local Plan Areas (SELPA) reporting requirements are completed, in coordination with the Director of Operations and Back Office providers.
Serve as an active member of the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) team, monitoring and tracking progress for middle and high school students.
Serve as the administration liaison for all IEP meetings.
Provide professional development and guidance to school staff, including General Education teachers, Dean's Office staff, and Special Education staff, including teachers, paraprofessionals, and related service providers to enhance their knowledge and skills in supporting students with diverse learning needs and new legal mandates.
Develop and implement strategies to promote inclusive practices and support the integration of students with disabilities into general education classrooms.
Ensure continuous improvement and coordination of Special Education services and compliance for Students with IEPs.
Support the coordination and oversight of standardized state testing and testing logistics for students with disabilities.
Support summer school and credit recovery programming to ensure students with disabilities stay on their graduation pathway.
Build positive and collaborative relationships with parents/guardians of students with disabilities, providing support and resources to address their concerns and questions.
Collaborate with community organizations, agencies, and service providers to enhance support services and resources available to students with disabilities and their families.
Organize and facilitate meetings and workshops to educate parents/guardians and community members about special education programs and services.
Actively supervise students during transitions such as arrival, homeroom, passing periods, lunch, and dismissal.
Attend and participate in school-wide events including Back to School Night, Parent/Teacher conferences, End of the Year events, Grade Level Meetings, Department Meetings, Summer Professional Development, weekly Professional Development during the school year, and other assigned meetings.
Demonstrate proficient use of technology to communicate with staff, families, and community members using multiple school-based platforms.
Utilize Educational Technology platforms for curriculum development and planning.
Implement, monitor, and sustain school-wide IAR systems and expectations.
Other duties as assigned by the Principal or an administrator.
Demonstrate regular and consistent attendance in order to perform essential functions of the role.
Collaborate with staff and leadership to continuously improve practices and address student needs effectively.
Foster open and respectful communication, offering and receiving constructive feedback to enhance personal and team performance.
Set and hold high expectations for academics and behavior.
Develop trusting, authentic relationships with students and their families.
Create and maintain a joyful, safe, structured, and engaging school and classroom culture.
Demonstrate passion for the content area you coach.
Encourage students to take risks and learn from their mistakes and create opportunities for students to leverage the power of their voice.
Supervise and engage with students in-person to ensure student safety and learning.
Uphold and model core values, including purpose, perseverance, productivity, growth mindset, integrity, leadership, joy, gratitude, mindfulness, and kindness.
Perform any other reasonable duties or responsibilities as assigned by your supervisor.
Participate in the performance evaluation process, which is based on adherence to the outlined responsibilities and qualifications.