Job Description
DEC - Coordinator of Department for Exceptional Children
Definition
The employee coordinates programs for exceptional children in assigned specialty areas and/or schools. This employee monitors procedures governing Programs for Exceptional Children. The employee will facilitate professional learning activities for teachers of exceptional children, providing curriculum support to drive specially designed instruction for students’ academic and functional needs. The employee in this position will serve on various assigned committees within the department, and represent the department in district initiatives. Provides direct supervision to itinerant teachers, related service providers, or support staff housed through the Department for Exceptional Children.
Duties and Responsibilities
• Participates in the development and implementation of instructional and compliance policies and procedures as it relates to Gaston County Schools.
• Assists with the implementation of the curriculum in the classroom or in homebound settings.
• Supports Lead Compliance staff during mediation and conflict resolution needed due to procedural issues.
• Communicates effectively in written and oral forms to administrators, teachers, and parents.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships.
• Travels from school to school and classroom to classroom to address teacher and student needs.
• Conducts observations of Exceptional Children (EC) students as needed.
• Supports new teachers with curriculum and specific training, providing guidance throughout the school year.
• Assists with professional learning in specified areas for example Foundations of Math, Reading Research to Classroom Practice, CPI, Co-Teaching, and Autism.
• Collects data for the LEA Self-Improvement Plan, EC subgroup, and district accountability
• Assists administrators with individual incidents regarding suspensions and laws governing children with disabilities.
• Monitors caseloads of teachers of exceptional students.
• Consults with and attends required meetings with outside agencies.
• Collaborates with school-based and district-level departments and Professional Learning Communities.
• Implements and supports state-funded initiatives such as Reading & Math Foundational Courses, PRC 29 (behavior), and PRC118 (Autism & Related Services).
Additional Duties and Tasks
• Complete tasks for hiring staff for vacancies, including: a review of applications, conducting interviews, and determining appropriate candidates for a recommendation for hire.
• Complete supervision duties to support teacher or staff license renewal, including: pre-conferences, observations, post-conferences, individual growth plans, mid-year and summative, and required documentation to maintain licensure requirements for each certified staff member.
• Complete tasks to support retention of existing staff, including: planning for delivery of in-district professional development, planning for travel needs for CEUs available outside of the district; monitoring mentor relationships.
• Complete tasks to support the compliance of the services provided, including: monitor and adjusting the master schedule for service delivery across multiple sites for each staff member, attending to absences, vacancies, student enrollment variances, caseload, communication to school/site-based staff about the services provided, procurement and use of specialized materials and equipment or curriculum supports.
• Complete tasks to support the relationship between staff and families they serve, including proactive and responsive parent communication, problem-solving, and conflict resolution.
• Develop, review, and revise safety procedures/protocol for service delivery (including: student behaviors, parent concerns, specialty equipment, and medical needs; daycares; private homes).
• Develop, review, and revise procedures for delivery for low- and high-incident specialty areas of EC services (itinerant Pre-K, evaluation Pre-K, VI, HI, APE, MT, Related Services, Spanish and sign-language interpreters, Homebound teacher, Gaston Links Teachers, and Job Coaches).
• Represent GCS/DEC at North Carolina DPI state and regional meetings for each specialty area to ensure access to current information from legislation and policy changes, and to ensure compliance.
• Communicate information from DPI & GCS policies and procedures and best-practice to administrators, service providers, colleagues, and parents.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Ability to gather and record data on student progress toward academic or behavioral goals on the IEP.
• Ability to analyze data and compile a variety of records, reports, and documentation for positive growth in EC programming and staff evaluations.
• Preparation and maintenance of accurate EC student records and personnel documentation.
• Adept at preparation, implementation, and clarification of IEPs.
• Updates and maintains data, with adherence to deadlines.
• Ability to conduct an IEP meeting efficiently and effectively.
• Proven ability as a staff development presenter.
• Proven ability in working with, training, and/or supervising adults.
Physical Requirements
• Must be able to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly.
• Requires climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, hearing, reaching, standing, lifting, walking, grasping, and talking.
• Requires the ability to talk and hear: (Talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words. Hearing: perceiving the nature of sounds by ear.).
• Must possess the visual acuity to prepare data, work with record processes, and do extensive reading and research.
• Must be physically able to operate a variety of equipment including computers, copiers, etc.
Minimum Education and Experience
• NC Teacher Certification required.
• Master’s degree in Special Education preferred.
• Master’s Degree or Add-On License Certified as School Administrator, Curriculum and Supervision preferred.
• Minimum of five years experience in at least one EC area.
• Demonstrated instructional leadership and managerial abilities.
Salary: Central Office Salary Schedule
This Position Reports Directly to: Executive Director, Program for Exceptional Children
Classification: Exempt
Disclaimer
The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees for this job.
Created 04/2023 RChapman
