Severe Affective Needs Support Liaison - District-Wide

Cherry Creek Schools

14h•Hybrid

About The Position

Assist Special Education Department Directors with all aspects of the Severe Affective Needs Program, including planning, implementation, oversight, and supervision. Provide support in recruiting and retaining Severe Affective Needs Teachers and Severe Needs Para-Educators. Monitor the effectiveness of program practices and support professional development.

Requirements

Master's degree in Special Education or similar field.
Three (3) years of leadership experience in Special Education or related field.
Experience developing and implementing IEPs and adhering to processes and procedures of Special Education.
Experience in administration and interpretation of standardized and informal special education assessments.
Experience managing special education cases, including regular communication with parents/guardians and faculty.
Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Racially conscious and culturally competent with the skill, will, capacity, and knowledge to commit to a culture of continuous improvement.
Understanding of the scope and sequence of a special education curriculum.
Basic knowledge of typical office equipment such as telephones, copiers, fax machines, email, etc.
Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Office.
Intermediate knowledge of literacy and numeracy intervention programs.
Intermediate knowledge of formal and informal diagnostic assessments for students with a variety of learning difficulties.
Advanced knowledge of IDEA, Special Education processes, and legalities related to Special Education.
Advanced knowledge of content area, teaching methods, learning styles, and educational research related to learners with all types of special needs.
Intermediate organizational skills.
Intermediate presentation skills in a variety of settings.
Intermediate problem-solving skills.
Advanced verbal and written communication and interpersonal relations skills.
Advanced classroom management and planning skills.
Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and meet deadlines.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively with others.
Ability to effectively motivate and supervise people.
Ability to align curriculum and assessments with state content standards.
Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with diverse stakeholder groups.
Ability to make effective oral presentations and prepare concise written reports to a variety of audiences.
Ability to adapt to shifting priorities, demands, and timelines.
Ability to participate in ongoing staff development to enhance the knowledge base as a district staff developer, including active participation in district level initiatives.
Ability to promote and follow the Board of Education policies, District policies, and building and department procedures, protocols, and guidelines.
Ability to recognize the importance of safety in the workplace, follow safety rules, practice safe work habits, utilize appropriate safety equipment, and report unsafe conditions to the appropriate administrator.
Colorado Department of Education (CDE) teaching license
Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NCI) Instructor certification
Colorado driver’s license
Criminal background check and fingerprinting required for hire.

Nice To Haves

Formal education beyond a Master's degree
Three (3) years of successful classroom teaching experience
Colorado Administrator/Principal License

Responsibilities

Develop and write the Severe Affective Needs curriculum. Provide assistance to the Director of Special Education and on-site assistance to building principals, district departments, and staff in effectively implementing the severe needs affective programing. Plan, implement, and monitor all district services relating to Severe Affective Needs programing for students on an individualized education plan (IEP). Administer local, state, and federal statutes, rules, regulations, policies, and administrative directives pertaining to the child find and IEP process, curriculum, instruction, and assessment services, including preparing documentation and reports.
Plan, attend, and facilitate IEP meetings requiring Special Education Administration involvement, and assist school IEP teams with placing students in more restrictive settings as guided by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
In collaboration with school building administration, assist in the recruiting, hiring, retaining, and supervision of staff, including Severe Affective Needs Teachers and Severe Needs Para-Educators. Recruit, hire, evaluate, retain, and supervise Special Education Technicians. Make staffing decisions, job assignments, and hire staff in accordance with district policies and funding requirements for governance. Provide support to and mentor Severe Affective Needs Teachers and Severe Needs Para-Educators as needed. Train educators on proper implementation of Severe Affective Needs programming.
At the request of executive directors, Special Education directors, building administration, and building staff, assess quality of instruction and interventions by monitoring, being visible, conducting observations and walk-throughs, communicating, and creating clear affective structures and supportive atmospheres. Supervise and monitor operating and administrative procedures to ensure effective program operation, in compliance with the IDEA.
Using effective communication skills and culturally responsive practices, facilitate verbal and written communication between staff, students, and families for the purpose of evaluating situations, solving problems, and resolving conflicts.
Supervise and monitor effective instructional practices and develop professional development trainings and opportunities for teachers, para-educators, mental health, and related service providers, aligning Severe Affective Needs programing with the District’s strategic plan, goals, and initiatives. Regularly facilitate and collaborate with multi-stakeholder groups to ensure that family, schools, staff, district departments, and local agencies’ suggestions are included in the Severe Affective Needs Program design and operations.
Provide job-embedded professional development to Mental Health team and case managers in special education processes, development of Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS) at all three tier levels, conducting Functional Behavior Assessments and developing Behavior Intervention Plans, and identifying and implementing best practices for students with Severe Affective Needs.
Represent the Severe Affective Needs Program at federal, regional, state, and local meetings and task forces, and communicate important legislative and state level changes to the Director of Special Education. Participate in program governance regularly.
Conduct evaluations of students with complex needs at the request of Special Education directors, including contacting outside evaluators and service providers, file reviews, parent/guardian interviews, direct assessment of students, observations, report writing, interpreting data, team debriefs, and the complete IEP process.
Conduct team intakes, file reviews, observations. Demonstrate therapeutic techniques, evaluations, and reports. Attend IEP meetings for students and collaborate on multidisciplinary teams including twice-exceptional, Traumatic Brain Injury, Autism/Severe Needs Team, district leadership and planning committees, out-of-district placement, Home/Hospital, and community-based agencies (i.e. Department of Human Services, Mental Health facilities, outside therapists, probation, Guardian ad litem’s Office, Court Appointed Special Advocate, truancy, etc.).
Manage the IDEA Part B funds and coordinate with the Medicaid Team to process Medicaid billing. Participate in the grant writing process with the Grants Management Department.
Collaborate with the Crisis Prevention and De-escalation Liaison , Director of Safety and Security, and Risk Manager to review, revise, and implement safety protocols and restraint practices as needed and required.
Perform other related duties as assigned or requested.