JOB TITLE: COORDINATOR FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION
QUALIFICATIONS:
- A minimum of a Master’s Degree from an accredited institution in any area of Special Education or Educational Leadership/Educational Administration K-12.
- Hold a valid certificate in an area of Special Education and Educational Leadership/Administration K-12.
- Good and cooperative attitude with strong interpersonal skills
- Working knowledge of all Federal, State and Local laws governing Special Needs Children
- Prior experience with all required special education student processes (Referral Process, Eligibility Process, IEP Process, etc.)
- Experience with state Special Education computer tracking system
- A minimum of three to five years successful teaching in special education. Experience in K-12 supervision as a school administrator or coordinator.
- Provide or have access to appropriate transportation to meet job requirements
REPORTS TO: Superintendent or Designee
SUPERVISES: Special Education programs and collaborates with Principals in the supervision of special education staff.
JOB GOAL: To ensure that the school system properly determines special education personnel needs; maintains and improves all services relative to special education employees of the district. This professional shall also supervise the school district’s resources related to special education, gifted, and 504 services by ensuring that all opportunities to secure such resources are maximized and that laws, policies, and procedures are properly implemented.
Performance Job Duties:
- Enforce strict alignment of district practices with local, state, and federal special education mandates to educate exceptional students in programs that best meet their needs.
- Track IDEA implementation to ensure absolute data accuracy and timeline adherence across all campuses.
- Direct, develop, and carry out approved plans to identify, evaluate, and place exceptional students in their Least Restrictive Environment (LRE).
- Participate in, monitor, and audit the development of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) to guarantee compliance, instructional fidelity, and complete documentation.
- Oversee data collection, analyze student records, and prepare mandatory state and county documentation, including tracking state-required forms.
- Direct, support, and enhance the system’s Gifted Education Program according to state guidelines.
- Oversee the strategic planning, development, and submission of the district's proposal to secure annual IDEA Part B (Title VI-B) and preschool grant allocations.
- Actively initiate, identify, and write grant proposals to capture extra state, federal, or community resources to enhance district special education offerings.
- Negotiate and manage external support contracts for auxiliary specialized services like speech, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or institutional placements.
- Assist with the recruitment, strategic campus placement, supervision, and formal evaluation of special education personnel.
- Team up closely with School Principals to manage and support building-level special education teachers, case managers, paraprofessionals, and instructional aides.
- Coordinate and collaborate with school principals on support
- Design and lead system-wide professional development for administrators, general education staff, and special education teams covering legal updates, accommodation implementation, and behavior intervention plans (BIPs).
- Collaborate directly with the Transportation Supervisor to set up safe, adaptive routes for special needs students, and coordinate with the Maintenance Supervisor to acquire, install, or modify specialized physical classroom equipment.
- Serve as the district's centralized contact to chapters and services with external agencies including Head Start, local daycares, the Department of Human Resources (DHR), mental health facilities, and local medical providers for special education needs or services.
- Communicate transparently and build proactive relationships with parents/guardians, acting as a supportive facilitator to resolve placement disputes, conflict, or procedural questions.
- Annually prepare, deliver and maintain training and retain documentation for all certified faculty required under Lee vs. Macon for addressing Disproportionality in Alabama’s Public Schools.
- Inform the superintendent and school principal of specific local, state, and federal laws related to disciplinary actions for special education students immediately when a discipline infraction occurs, collaborating closely with the school-level administrator to ensure the district maintains regulatory compliance while preserving the safety and order of the school environment.
- Assume other reasonable and equitable job-related duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor. EVALUATION: Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with the provisions of state and local board policy on Evaluation of Professional Personnel.
