Special Education Monitoring Programs Manager

State of Vermont • Calais, VT

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Vermont Agency of Education is seeking an experienced educational leader to manage the State's Special Education Monitoring Program. This position provides statewide leadership to ensure compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), improve outcomes for students with disabilities, and strengthen the capacity of Vermont's local education agencies through monitoring, technical assistance, and continuous improvement. This position plays a critical leadership role in protecting the rights of students with disabilities, ensuring Vermont's compliance with federal special education requirements, and supporting continuous improvement in special education services across the state.

Requirements

• Master's degree in education, public administration, or related field AND five (5) years or more of experience in education or human services, INCLUDING one (1) year or more with planning, policy, program administration or a program evaluation role AND two (2) years or more of supervisory experience.
• OR
• Bachelor's degree in education, public administration, or related field AND seven (7) years or more of experience in education or human services, INCLUDING one (1) year or more with planning, policy, program administration or a program evaluation role AND two (2) years or more of supervisory experience.

Nice To Haves

• Experience as a special education administrator, director, coordinator, or educational leader with responsibility for IDEA implementation, compliance, or monitoring is strongly preferred.
• Experience working with state or federal education agencies, dispute resolution, corrective action planning, or statewide technical assistance is highly desirable.
• Extensive knowledge of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Vermont Special Education Rules, and federal monitoring requirements.
• Experience administering or supervising special education programs.
• Demonstrated experience leading compliance reviews, program evaluation, or educational monitoring activities.
• Strong leadership, project management, organizational, and supervisory skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex legal and regulatory requirements to diverse audiences.
• Experience analyzing educational data and using data to inform decision-making and systems improvement.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships while addressing challenging compliance issues with professionalism and diplomacy.
• Commitment to educational equity, inclusion, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of Vermont's statewide IDEA monitoring system.
• Supervise and support the Special Education Monitoring Team, including assigning work, providing coaching, reviewing monitoring reports, and ensuring consistency and quality across all monitoring activities.
• Plan and oversee differentiated monitoring activities, including cyclical monitoring, targeted monitoring, investigations, and due diligence reviews resulting from complaints, self-reports, data analysis, or credible allegations.
• Review monitoring evidence, identify findings of noncompliance, and oversee the development, implementation, and verification of corrective actions.
• Lead statewide efforts to address long-standing noncompliance through root cause analysis, corrective action planning, and ongoing technical assistance.
• Analyze compliance and performance data to identify statewide trends, evaluate risk, and inform monitoring priorities.
• Support development and reporting of IDEA State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR) indicators and other federal and state reporting requirements.
• Develop guidance documents, monitoring protocols, training materials, and technical assistance resources for local education agencies.
• Provide consultation and professional development to special education administrators, educators, and Agency staff regarding IDEA requirements and effective implementation practices.
• Collaborate with Agency leadership, Special Education Division technical assistance and professional development colleagues, legal counsel, data specialists, finance staff, and other state and national partners to ensure legally sound and effective monitoring practices.
• Maintain current knowledge of federal and state special education laws, regulations, and national best practices.

Benefits

• 80% State paid medical premium and a dental plan at no cost for employees and their families
• Work/Life balance: 11 paid holidays each year and a generous leave plan
• State Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FMLI)
• Two ways to save for your retirement: A State defined benefit pension plan and a deferred compensation 457(b) plan
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Flexible spending healthcare and childcare reimbursement accounts
• Low cost group life insurance
• Incentive-based Wellness Program
• Qualified Employer for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager