Primary Purpose:
The Senior Director of Special Education provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the district’s special education program. The role ensures compliance with federal and state regulations to ensure high-quality services to students with disabilities. The Senior Director manages budget development and oversight, directs staffing allocation and recruitment, manages TEA grants, and improves processes and systems to increase program efficiency and effectiveness. The Senior Director also leads cross-departmental coordination to align special education initiatives with district goals and support improved student outcomes.
Education / Certification:
- Master’s Degree in Education Administration.
- Valid Teaching Certificate.
- Valid Mid-Management / Principal Certificate.
Special Knowledge / Skills:
- Knowledge of federal and state program regulations.
- Ability to implement and update policy and procedures.
- Ability to analyze and interpret data.
- Ability to manage budget and personnel.
- Ability to coordinate district instructional functions.
Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Experience / Other Requirements:
- Five years of experience in the administration / coordination of special education/programs.
- Personal cell phone is required to handle District related business, including after hours, or when away from the office on District business.
Major Responsibilities and Duties:
Program Management
- Provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all special education programs.
- Ensures compliance with federal (IDEA) and state regulations and policies.
- Coordinates IDEA B and IDEA C Grant submissions.
- Develops, manages, and oversees the special education budget.
- Monitors expenditures and ensures fiscal accountability and efficiency.
- Conducts ongoing needs assessments based on systematic evaluation of student and educator needs.
- Communicates staffing needs, updates, and revisions with Human Resources and the Business Department.
Coordinates with the Executive Director for TEA dispute processes and remedies.
Instructional/Support Staff Management
Collaborates with the Executive Director of Special Programs and Services to work with district and campus leadership to:
- Monitor the processes and timelines to identify, evaluate, and provide services to students with disabilities.
- Monitor special education compliance consistent with TEA guidance.
- Coordinate equitable distribution of special education resources, including federal, state, and local funding.
- Supervise the Directors for Psychological Services, Itinerant Programs, Embrace/IEP Systems, and other Special Education leadership team and support staff as needed.
Policy, Reports, and Law
Collaborates with the Executive Director of Special Programs and Services to work with district and campus leadership to:
- Submit compliance data for the State Performance Plan to the Texas Education Agency.
- Collaborate with the Special Education Leadership Team to review/update Special Education Operating Guidelines/Procedures annually.
- Collect and report information regarding the state-required self-assessment.
- Monitor and maintain processes to manage digital student records.
Budget and Inventory
- Administer the department budgets and ensure that programs are cost-effective and managed prudently.
- Compile budgets and cost estimates based on documented program needs.
- Supervise purchase orders for the department to the accounting department.
- Research and engage with potential revenue sources available through vetted providers (ex: High-Cost Funds grant through Texas Education Agency (TEA), Evaluation Capacity Grant through Region 20/TEA, etc.).
- Supervise the School Health and Related Services (SHARS) program, to include quarterly submission of the participant list and maintenance of required certification of Random Moment in Time Study (RMTS).
- Collaborate with the Business Office on the review of Special Education Maintenance of Effort (submitted annually to TEA and included in grant application).
- Collaborate with the business office on the review of Special Education Excess Cost (maintain documentation at the District level).
Personnel Management
- Prepare, review, and revise job descriptions in the special education department.
- Compile information required to document Time and Effort for personnel funded with special education funds in accordance with current guidance.
- Provide leadership in the formulation and implementation of contracts for special education students receiving services outside of the district.
- Participate in the recruitment, selection, and training of personnel and make sound recommendations relative to personnel placement, assignment, retention, discipline, and dismissal.
Communications and Community Support
- Serve as liaison in the Private Non-Profit process to ensure private/home schools have the information required regarding set aside funds, referral process, and access to services through Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) and/or Individual Service Plan (ISP).
- Act as the liaison with Support Services staff in areas of overlapping responsibility.
- Provide assistance and/or support as needed to students, parents, and community members of CISD.
- Maintain District records, adhering to all policies set forth by the District for records maintenance and learning the records retention schedule for department records.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
Supervise and evaluate job performance of the special education leadership team and support staff.
Working Conditions:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Maintain emotional control under stress.
- Requires frequent district-wide and occasional statewide travel.
- Occasional prolonged and irregular hours.
Potential exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens.
The foregoing statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.
