Director of Student Services

Director Of Student Services

The Director of Student Services provides leadership, direction, and organizational structure to all activities, programs, and staff pertaining to special education and student services from pre-kindergarten through grade 13+. This role serves as a key administrative asset to the Student Services Department, ensuring district compliance with Federal and State laws, including Special Education regulations, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Section 504.

Essential Functions:

• Departmental Leadership & District Support
• Administrative Support: Provide comprehensive administrative support for the Student Services Department; serve as the district representative for special education, 504 meetings, and related student services.
• Staff Supervision & Evaluation: Supervise the delivery and continuous improvement of special education programming and staff in collaboration with building principals. Evaluate speech-language pathologists, school psychologists, health services personnel, and other assigned related service providers.
• Program Oversight: Oversee comprehensive services tailored to the district's needs, including special education, English Language Learners (ELL), Gifted Services, and alternative academic programs.
• Consultation & Interpretation: Consult with elementary and secondary principals on program implementation; assist building administrators by interpreting district policies and procedures relating to students with disabilities.
• Compliance, Data, & Operations: Legal Conformity & Mandated Reporting: Coordinate placement and due process requirements to assure conformity with state and federal laws. Collaborate with the Director to prepare mandated reports for submission to the State Department of Education (ODE).
• EMIS & Records Management: Assume a primary role in the accurate reporting of special education and 504 events to EMIS. Maintain, systematically review, and oversee the filing system and spreadsheets for special education, 504, EMIS, gifted, homeschooling, and homelessness.
• Specialized Student Populations: Support the Director with out-of-district alternative placements, monitor out-placed students' needs, and manage processes for state scholarship students. Support McKinney-Vento (homeless) identification and Title IX processes.
• Preschool Coordination: Support preschool processes to ensure peer model and special education enrollment, Step Up To Quality (SUTQ) requirements, licensing compliance, and accurate rosters.
• Financial & Supply Management: Prepare requisitions, manage purchase orders, and place orders for the special education department to ensure necessary supplies are received.
• Instruction, Curriculum, & Professional Development: Curriculum Alignment: Collaborate with leadership to ensure the special education curriculum aligns seamlessly with the regular education curriculum and district-wide service delivery models. Teacher Support: Advise personnel on rules/regulations and provide counsel to teachers regarding instructional strategies, assessments, IEP writing, and locating educational materials. Professional Development: Plan, organize, and deliver relevant professional development regarding special education, Section 504, and best practices to district employees.
• Community & Public Relations: Family & Community Engagement: Provide educational resources to families. Initiate and maintain positive contact with community agencies, citizens' groups, and outside organizations. Collaborative Communication: Interact in a positive, professional manner with staff, students, parents, and the general public to promote excellent public relations and build consensus.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Demonstrated knowledge of best practices, characteristics, and educational needs of students with special needs, alongside a deep understanding of State and Federal education laws. Strong organizational management, problem-solving skills, and the ability to interpret test scores. Excellent oral and written communication skills; ability to build consensus and cooperation. Proficiency with computer databases, word processing, and spreadsheets for accurate data tracking. Ability to establish and maintain cooperative, professional relationships with administrators, staff, parents, and community stakeholders.

Professional Expectations:

Mission & Compliance: Support the district's Vision, Mission, and Beliefs, while adhering to and enforcing all school board policies. Data-Driven Practice: Ensure all decisions, program adjustments, and strategies are firmly based on data. Professional Growth & Ethics: Demonstrate a positive work ethic, regular and punctual attendance, and a commitment to continuous improvement by engaging in required and optional professional development. Conduct & Safety: Serve as a responsible role model in the community. The employee must remain free from alcohol or the abuse of non-prescribed controlled substances in the workplace. Adaptability: Work cooperatively in small groups, attend after-school meetings when appropriate, and perform other duties as assigned by the Superintendent or Director of Student Services. Working Conditions & Equipment: Occasional interaction with unruly children. Occasional exposure to blood, bodily fluids, and tissue. Frequent repetitive hand motions (e.g., computer keyboarding, writing). Occasional requirement to lift, carry, push, and pull various supplies and equipment. Occasional operation of a vehicle under inclement weather conditions (with the expectation to report to work on all school days). Computer, printer, and specialized databases. Telephone, calculator, copy machine, scanner, fax machine, and laminator.