Director of Special Education

Director Of Special Education

The Director of Special Education and Early Intervention Services plans, monitors for accountability, and serves as a consultant for special education programs and services at Grand Rapids Public Schools. The Director also supervises the Special Education Supervisors to ensure compliance with state, federal, and local rules, and regulations.

Essential functions under the Americans with Disabilities Act may include any of the following duties, knowledge, and skills. This list is illustrative only and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by employees in this position. Regular on time and in person attendance is an essential function of this job. Other essential functions may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Analyze, interpret, and communicate information concerning special education initiatives, laws, rules, regulations, and procedures.
• Serve as Department Professional Learning Coordinator, including:
• Lead teams at the district and school level in the continued innovation and implementation of learning cycles that include job-embedded and on-line learning.
• Regularly visit schools, classrooms, PLCs, and professional development sessions, etc. to observe the work and learning of participants and facilitators, evaluate the implementation of the learning, and ensure schools are getting the support and resources needed to be successful.
• Oversees the design and process of professional development plans by district and schools, including the vetting and posting procedures, meeting timelines, generating reports, and using continuous improvement processes.
• Ensures the design and use of quantitative and qualitative data analyses in the planning and evaluation of all professional development sessions.
• Serve as District Medicaid Coordinator.
• Supervise Special Education Supervisors
• Coordinate and convene monthly data meetings to address findings around attendance and suspension.
• Coordinate and convene monthly data meetings for Department Secretaries, Related Service Providers, and SE Supervisors.
• Monitor scholar outcomes for local district special education programs/services.
• Develop White Papers, Proposals, Professional Learning Tools and Resources to support district initiatives.
• Coordinate OSE Monitoring and Compliance activities in Catamaran.
• Participate in state level committees related to job responsibilities.
• Serve as a designee for Executive Director for Special Education and Early Intervention Services upon request or assignment.
• Assist with budgeting process.
• Represent GRPS at State/Regional meetings as assigned by agency or grant requirement.
• Provide professional development and training for service providers.
• Oversee and review IEP process with stakeholders.
• Develop, review and update parent involvement plans.
• Conduct investigation of formal and informal complaints.
• Provide leadership for curriculum development and program evaluation.
• Consistently demonstrate dependable attendance and punctuality.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

The Grand Rapids Public Schools will not discriminate against any person based on race, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, height, weight, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, pregnancy, disability, veteran, or military status.