POSITION TITLE: Early Childhood Special Education Program Manager
REPORTS TO: Site Director
SALARY RANGE: $64,002 - $104,437
We are seeking a dedicated, innovative Early Childhood Special Education professional to lead the Part B team at our CDS First Step site in Lewiston and CDS Opportunities site in Oxford. This is a 40 hour per week, calendar year position, and will include some local travel.
Some benefits of CDS employment:
- Maine State Employee Medical coverage
- Dental and Vision Insurance
- Life and Disability Insurance
- 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan
- $250 per year Professional Development Stipend
- Maine State Employee Living Resources Program (Employee Assistance)
- Qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.
- Work/Life Balance
- Paid Vacation
- Paid Sick Time
- Paid Holidays
- Great coworkers, and the satisfaction of helping kiddos who really need you!
Primary Responsibilities
The primary responsibility is to train and supervise Part B Case Managers who will complete Child Find activities and determine eligibility in compliance under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) and the Maine Unified Special Education Regulations (MUSER). This includes the development of the Individual Education Plan (IEP) and ongoing case management in order to ensure that each child receives a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for children ages 3-5.
Functional Responsibilities
- Supervise Part B Case Managers to maintain compliance with Federal regulations, State regulations, and CDS statewide policies and procedures.
- As needed, may cover or assist with caseloads of Part B Case Managers.
- Conduct individual staff evaluation, in collaboration with the Director, including observation of case management and IEP facilitation functions.
- Coordinate professional development opportunities that align with professional development plans.
- Conduct quarterly reviews of paper and electronic files.
- Participate in regional site and, when appropriate, state leadership meetings.
- Participate in Statewide ECSE Team Leader Meetings at least 4 times a year.
- Complete individual staff supervision
- Attend weekly Regional Leadership Team Meetings
- Review COSFs quarterly
- Review all Observation Reports
- Coordinate Child Find activities
- Monitor caseload distribution and patterns to ensure effective service delivery within the program.
- Be available to meet individually with direct service staff to team on programmatic needs of specific children.
- Participate in the interview process for hiring new Part B staff.
- Conduct orientation and training for new Part B staff.
- Collaborate with community partners in State and local communities.
- Draft recommendations regarding case management protocol and CDS Statewide policies.
- Disseminate information from the State and Regional Leadership Team.
- Review monthly compliance reports and support Case Managers with meeting IDEA Part B timelines and service needs.
- Implement and monitor CAP activities
- Ensure Case Managers comply with IDEA Part B timelines.
- Ensure staff complies with work week schedules and a professional code of conduct and communicate with CDS Site Director on issues of concern when appropriate.
- Implement and comply with human resource laws, policies, procedures and practices.
Knowledge and Skills required:
- Holds one of the below Department of Education Certifications, or other advanced certification:
o 030: Administrator of Special Education
o 035: Assistant Administrator of Special Education
o 040: Building Administrator
o 045: Assistant Building Administrator, or
o Relevant professional licensure (ie. OT, PT, SLP)
- Successful background, criminal records, fingerprinting and reference check.
- Five (5) or more years’ experience in an Early Intervention and Early Childhood Special Education setting.
- Working knowledge of child development, disabilities, family systems, and special education methods.
- Demonstrate an understanding of scientifically based interventions, recommended practices and best practice.
- Demonstrate an understanding of various assessment and evaluation formats and scientifically-based instruments.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding about preschool children who are eligible under IDEA 2004 and MUSER.
- Knowledge regarding FAPE services for eligible children.
- Supervisory knowledge and experience including familiarity with employee performance reviews and corrective action plans.
- Prior involvement with team leadership and employee relations.
- Ability to stay up-to-date on evidence based intervention and special education strategies
- Ability to perform programmatic administrative duties
- Exceptional organizational, planning and adaptability skills.
- Ability to demonstrate a high level of personal initiative and dependability.
- Ability to evaluate work compared to goals to focus on measurable outcomes.
- Ability to gather facts through interviewing and investigative methods.
- Exceptional oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to draft reports based on research and program data.
- Ability to work collaboratively with others to create effective action plan based on appropriate information.
- Ability to understand complex issues or problems by breaking them down into smaller steps or tracing the impact.
- Ability to interpret, apply, and assure compliance with Federal and State rules, policies and procedures.
- Knowledge of community resources and services.
- Ability to prepare and present training and orientation programs.
- Ability to participate in committee work.
Please send resume and completed CDS Employment Application (on CDS website) to:
Stacey Mitchell, Site Director
CDS First Step
5 Gendron Dr. #1
Lewiston, ME 04240
Child Development Services serves the early intervention and special education needs of Maine's children birth to age five. We have over 350 employees, a large network of contracted providers and currently serve over 3,500 children ages 0 to 5 years.
CDS consists of 10 principal sites throughout Maine with several satellite offices.
This posting is being offered by an equal opportunity employer.
#CPS
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $64,002.00 - $104,437.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Veterans’ Preference: Maine law provides a preference to qualified veterans and gold star spouses by ensuring they are offered an interview. If you are a veteran or a gold star spouse and wish to take advantage of this preference, please indicate below. Documentation is required. For more information, visit: https://www.maine.gov/bhr/state-jobs/veterans-preference-in-job-applications.
Please enter 1, 2, or 3 below as appropriate.
1. Not Claiming Veterans’ Preference
2. Veteran Claiming Preference (requires DD Form 214)
3. Gold Star Spouse Claiming Preference (requires DD Form 1300)
Experience:
- Early Childhood Special Education: 5 years (Preferred)
License/Certification:
- MDOE certification as outlined in posting (Preferred)
- Relevant professional license as outlined in posting (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
