Occupational Therapist

Job Summary

Under the supervision of the Executive Director of Student Services the Director of Special Education, assists with implementing and maintaining age 3-21 Special Education programs and services in conformance to district, state, and federal objectives and laws; planning, designing, and implementing all phases of service provided by the Special Education staff; serving as a resource to patrons, school personnel, and the Board; and maintaining adequate staffing to ensure objectives of programs and services meet the needs of students. The Director of Special Education, in collaboration with District Leaders and principals, is responsible for the implementation and development of the District EMLSS framework across all schools and provides knowledge, guidance, and support to braid academic and behavioral systems at the universal, selective, and intensive levels to increase student achievement for all students.

Essential Job Functions

• Maintains a high level of knowledge regarding developing special education issues, changes in the laws and case law, and educational methods of educating students with disabilities, for the purpose of managing an excellent special education program.
• Incorporates policies and procedures in accordance with laws and regulations.
• Ensures that all practices in the district are legal and ethical for each student/family so that each child has the opportunity to achieve at a high level and be prepared for post-secondary success.
• Provides leadership and vision to ensure continuous organizational development and improvement.
• Keeps abreast of community services and resources; develops partnerships with parents, businesses/organizations, and other agencies in order to build awareness, develop support, and share resources.
• Collaborates effectively with District staff, families, special education teachers, and the community for the purpose of planning, developing, implementing, maintaining, and evaluating educational services and/or programs.
• Implements conflict resolution skills in a variety of situations with staff, families, and the community.
• Sets setting staffing levels for school special education programs for the purpose of providing services with fiscal efficiency.
• Directs personnel, for the purpose of delivering services which conform to established guidelines.
• Directs the development of proposals, new programs, budgets and grants for the purpose of meeting the District’s Strategic Plan and goals.
• Evaluates District and school Special Education programs and monitors the implementation of special education and compliance with regulations in each location, for the purpose of carrying out and achieving objectives within area of responsibility.
• Facilitates meetings and processes, for the purpose of implementing and maintaining Special Education programs and services of the district which achieve desired objectives.
• Implements assigned programs and/or projects for the purpose of conforming to district and state curriculum and/or instructional objectives.
• Manages fiscal resources from District funds and special education grants, prepares budgets and directs spending, and monitors maintenance of effort, for the purpose of fiscal efficiency in providing required services.
• Prepares documentation and reports data for the purpose of providing written support, conveying information, and complying with Federal and State regulations.
• Communicates information on programs, services, and regulations to school personnel, parents, the Board and other districts for the purpose of understanding of the programs.
• Recruits, hires, supervises, and evaluates District-level special education staff.
• Resolves special education complaints, for the purpose of providing required services.
• Coordinates with outside agencies to provide services to students and staff, for the purpose of offering appropriate services.
• Directs the Medicaid Administrative Claiming process and direct billing of Medicaid-eligible special education services provided by the district, for the purpose of gaining fiscal resources.
• Supervises the training of special education instructional assistants for the purpose of assuring well-trained personnel.
• Writes drafts of District Board policy for special education as is needed or required, for the purpose of assuring program consistency and compliance with state and federal rules in all locations.

Ancillary Job Functions

• Prepares documentation and reports data to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction for the purpose of providing written support, conveying information, and complying with federal and state regulations.
• Serves as district representative for IEP meetings as needed.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• Attends Board of Education meetings as needed.