Program Specialist - Special Education

Instructional Specialist

Systematically facilitate instructional improvement and student success by working with the campus leadership team, teachers, and district level curriculum and instruction leaders to diagnose and respond to the needs of teachers and students by utilizing data driven practices to facilitate teacher development through lesson planning, observation and coaching, and job-embedded professional development that lead to sustained implementation of effective instructional practices and instructional transformation.

Qualifications:

Education/Certification: Bachelor's degree, valid Texas teaching certificate, master's degree in content assignment preferred.

Special Knowledge/Skills: Knowledge of instructional leadership competencies and a willingness to lead in such a way. The ability to use experience and leadership abilities to influence others and lead change. Strong core content knowledge in associated content. Experience successfully leading and managing a team of adults to accomplish goals. Knowledge and experience with classroom implementation of rigorous curriculum and instructional strategies in associated content area. Knowledge of effective instructional strategies and research-based best practices including (but not limited to): standards based lesson planning to include unit planning and pacing, writing objectives, formative assessment, creation of exemplars, and success criteria; response to intervention and differentiated instruction for tiered intervention and special student populations; and student assessment and data driven instruction. Demonstrated evidence and success with providing observation and coaching for teachers. Demonstrated evidence in the ability to create and deliver professional development for teachers at the campus and district level, and the ability to use data from student learning and teacher observations to effectively create, deliver, and support job embedded professional development at the campus level. Demonstration of effective presentation skills when working with and leading adult learners. Knowledge of curriculum writing, alignment, and assessment creation to support the curriculum and instruction department with curriculum development at the district level and implementation at the campus level. Exceptional communication skills. Willingness to participate in professional development that supports the roles and responsibilities of this position. Commitment to carrying out the mission and the vision of the district and to be a champion for the work. Relentless desire to implement a growth mindset for increasing student learning and teacher knowledge and effectiveness.

Minimum Experience: Evidence of at least three years of successful teaching experience. Effective experience is defined as being rated at least proficient or above on all dimensions within each of the four domains of the Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS), or ratings of equal weight and magnitude if evaluation was provided using another evaluation tool. Experience in teacher mentoring/coaching. Experience using student and teacher level data to support lesson planning and to implement and differentiate instructional methods designed to meet each student's individual needs. Knowledge of multi-tiered systems of support for students. Experience designing and leading professional development at either the district or the campus level. Evidence of one's ability to carry out leadership activities at the campus level as evidenced by examples and artifacts from these experiences.

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

Work with the campus principal and district level leadership to coordinate implementation, monitoring, and ongoing support for all areas of teaching and learning across the curriculum and to support programs including ELL, BE, MTSS, and Special Education, and At-Risk. Serve as an instructional liaison between the district and campus. Conduct needs assessment to identify teaching and learning strengths and opportunities on the campus and work with the campus principal to develop and deliver professional development and coaching to support growth in identified areas. Develop, deliver, and support high quality professional development and coaching that include but are not limited to lesson planning, data driven instruction, effective delivery of instruction, and response to intervention and differentiation. Monitor the effects of professional development using a teacher tracker and/or other tools assessment implementation and ongoing needs and then use this data to develop a plan for next steps to include differentiated support for teachers and job-embedded professional development. Design and implement a personal calendar that supports carrying out regular observation and coaching cycles with teachers, data disaggregation and meetings, lesson planning support, ongoing professional development, and district level commitments. Ensure that assessment data are available to teachers as soon as possible and use data to prepare for data meetings. Develop a system to track student progress aligned to the following: curriculum units; taught curriculum assessments; BOY, MOY, and EOY progress monitoring; and response to intervention. Facilitate reflective conversations based upon data and analysis of student work with teachers through the use of PLCs or other meeting structures and assist teachers with developing strategic reteach plans and plans for intervention that encourage rapid response, innovative practices, and discontinuation of ineffective approaches. Work with teachers (in teams or individually) to refine their knowledge and skills. Methods of instruction will include modeling effective instruction using a gradual release structure, co-teaching, peer observation and in-class coaching. Work with teachers to assist with the structure of common planning time and determine accountability measures to ensure common planning time is used effectively. Facilitate implementation of protocols for assessment of student work to drive instructional decisions. Assist with the design and implementation of lesson planning and common assessment. Assist the district curriculum and instruction department in developing local curriculum documents and assessments aligned to state learning standards and district expectations. Facilitate the district in carrying out the design and implementation of job-embedded professional development for teaching and planning. Participate in all professional development required by the district for your position, and where applicable, use knowledge to develop campus level professional development and/or support campus implementation aligned to district expectations. Work under the guidance of district level coordinators, the executive directors for secondary and/or elementary education, and the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction to facilitate effective campus implementation of district initiatives with fidelity. Work under the guidance of district level coordinators, the director of 504, dyslexia, and intervention, and the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction to facilitate effective campus implementation of the framework for multi-tiered system of student supports. Respond promptly to telephone and email inquiries from teachers and administrators. Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None.

This role performs duties through the use instructional leadership by providing observation and coaching, professional development, and implementation support to teachers as identified by need, outlined by the district, or requested by campus level administration. Campus level administration will serve as supervisors and respond to any teacher or staff concerns.

Working Conditions: Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors: Maintain emotional control under stress. Ability to think clearly and meet deadlines sometimes under stressful circumstances. Ability to manage one's self and effectively complete tasks without constant supervision or redirection is necessary. Ability to work collaboratively and sometimes coordinate with team members on campus, across campuses, and at the district level is necessary. Ability to maintain high physical stamina and an extended amount of walking and time on feet may be necessary. Travel between district and campus is required; occasional district wide and statewide travel; frequent prolonged and irregular hours may be required. Use of computers, knowledge of spreadsheets, google related tools, and related equipment is necessary. Occasional lifting up to 35 pounds.

Note: This is not necessarily an exhaustive or all-inclusive list of responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts, functions or working conditions associated with the job. This job description is not a contract of employment or a promise or guarantee of any specific terms or conditions of employment. The school district may add to, modify or delete any aspect of this job (or the position itself) at any time as it deems advisable.

Non Discrimination Statement The Waco Independent School District is an equal opportunity educational provider and employer does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, natural origin, sex, religion, age, disability, or genetic information in educational programs or activities that it operates or in employment matters. The District is required by Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as Board policy not to discriminate in such a manner. For information or complaints regarding compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements of Title IX, please email View email address on click.appcast.io or contact Waco ISD Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and/or Waco ISD Coordinator of Student Management at View phone number on click.appcast.io and/or Waco ISD Director of Athletics at View phone number on click.appcast.io. For information or complaints regarding compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements of Title VI and Title VII, as amended, contact Waco ISD Assistant of Human Resources at View phone number on click.appcast.io. For information or complaints regarding compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements of Section 504 or the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, contact Waco ISD Director of Special Education at View phone number on click.appcast.io or P.O. Box 27, Waco, TX 76703.