Director of Special Education
The St. Croix River Education District (SCRED) is proud to serve six school districts in east-central Minnesota: Chisago Lakes, East Central, Hinckley-Finlayson, North Branch, Pine City, and Rush City. The SCRED office and our member districts are located in and around the small community of Rush City, MN, which is northeast of Minneapolis/St.Paul. It is a great area for families seeking strong educational systems and rural Minnesota living, with the attractions of the Twin Cities close by. To learn more, visit the Our District page of our website.
Position Purpose:
The Director of Special Education provides ongoing leadership, coordination, and oversight of the provision of special education services in compliance with state and federal special education laws. The Director of Special Education is responsible for ensuring that students with disabilities have access to free and appropriate education programs in the least restrictive environment. Furthermore, the Director of Special Education defines and champions change initiatives, organizational strategies, and effective practices aligned with the mission of SCRED.
Essential Duties:
- Professional Learning
- Develop the vision for the professional learning program in collaboration with the SCRED Services Coordination Team to ensure alignment with SCRED goals and messaging across service areas
- Facilitate professional learning in alignment with SCRED’s vision, using effective adult learning strategies on a variety of topics, including due process, special education programming, section 504, and MTSS implementation
- Convey consistent messaging across SCRED and its member districts to provide clear guidance and critical updates and promote ongoing professional learning
- Direct the creation of resources and guidance to enhance professional learning and/or provide guidance to member district staff
- Facilitate and/or participate in various stakeholder meetings, work groups, and networking opportunities
- Consultation & Collaboration
- Provide comprehensive and consistent technical assistance on legal and regulatory compliance in the areas of special education, Section 504, and MTSS
- Consult with Special Services Supervisors and/or school teams regarding challenging student cases and parental disagreements
- Serve as the lead liaison between SCRED, its member districts, and the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)
- Lead teams through, and participate in, alternative dispute resolution activities with the MDE, as appropriate
- Administrative Processes
- Administer the Total Special Education System (TSES) for SCRED and each of its member districts
- Develop and maintain special education guidelines related to various special education processes
- Implement the Continuous Improvement Monitoring Process (CIMP) cycle
- Oversee the implementation of procedures related to child find and child count
- Ensure proper data collection for the Special Education Data Reporting Application (SEDRA) for SCRED and its member districts
- Lead SCRED and its member districts through the State’s special education compliance monitoring processes
- Respond to complaints and due process hearing requests filed with the MDE
- Ensure the implementation of Extended School Year programs in collaboration with Special Services Supervisors and district administrators
- System-Level Coordination
- Facilitate SCRED’s Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC), on behalf of all member districts
- Develop, direct, and provide ongoing leadership, coordination, and oversight of special services programming across SCRED and its member districts
- Oversee SCRED student programs
- Support the implementation of MTSS within district(s) of assignment to meet the needs of all students
- Ensure the implementation of Extended School Year (ESY) programs in collaboration with Special Services Supervisors and district administrators
- Direct the evaluation of special services programming and student outcomes as part of a continuous improvement process
- Business Functions
- Recruit, select, supervise, and evaluate the performance of designated education district positions
- Anticipate member district needs and creates ongoing feedback mechanisms; identify and champion opportunities for the development and implementation of new services
- Communicate effectively with a variety of stakeholders including board members, administrators, teachers, paraprofessionals, students, parents, community members, and other educational partners
- Assist the Executive Director and Business Manager in the preparation and monitoring of the SCRED budget, including making recommendations for staffing and services based on stakeholder needs
- Maintain accurate records for the schools, including state reports, student records, and personnel records
- Monitor and coordinate Minnesota Health Care Program (MHCP) processes
- Other Duties as Assigned