Director of Educational Services
Woodland School District 50 - Gurnee, Illinois
Woodland School District 50 is an Equal Opportunity Educator/Employer. We are committed to building a culturally diverse workforce and educational environment by hiring individuals who support and contribute to the diversity and excellence of our student and academic programs through their teaching and service to our students, parents and the community we serve.
If you welcome inclusion, equity and diversity, have an unwavering commitment to the success of all students, embrace and celebrate the individuality of our student population with respect to race, ethnicity, and economic status, and seek to celebrate the cultures that contribute to making our district so rich, please join our team! Minority candidates encouraged to apply.
TITLE: Director of Educational Services (Anticipated)
Applicants are instructed to deal specifically with qualifying factors mentioned in the following posting.
POSITION TYPE: Administration - ESC
DATE POSTED: April 19, 2024
LOCATION: Educational Support Center
DATE AVAILABLE: July 1, 2024
PRIMARY FUNCTION: The Director of Educational Services is responsible for the supervision and evaluation of school-based special education programs, services, and personnel. The Director of Educational Services must possess an extensive working knowledge of all Illinois regulations and federal laws that govern special education.
QUALIFICATIONS:
1. License:
Required – Illinois Professional Educator License with a General Administrative Endorsement, Illinois Professional Educator License, and LBS1 or School Service Personnel Endorsement
Preferred – Illinois Professional Educator License with an endorsement in Director of Special Education
2. Education:
Required – Master’s Degree
Preferred – N/A
3. Experience:
A. Required – Five (5) years’ experience in a special education related field. Two (2) years administrative/supervisory experience required in a public-school setting. ISBE Qualified Teacher Evaluator status required. Knowledge of federal and state special education statutes, regulations, school and special education law.
B. Preferred – ISBE Qualified Principal Evaluator preferred.
ESSENTIAL PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:
Designs, implements and supervises the delivery of Special Education programs to meet the specific needs of the students and the District by ensuring the availability of a continuum of services.
Assures that Special Education programs are in compliance with district, state and federal guidelines governing special education.
Assists with creation and implementation Departmental protocols and procedures and recommends the formulation of new procedures and alternate ways of implementing existing policies to the Associate Superintendent for Educational Services.
Monitors the District’s full and complete problem-solving, case study evaluation and service delivery processes.
Provides case management, coordination, monitoring, and collaboration for students with disabilities attending private/parochial, public day, private day and residential programs, as well as for those who are homeschooled or receive homebound services.
Directs and supports the Assistant Principal/Special Education Supervisors and the Early Childhood Supervisor in the provision of special education services, academic programming, and personnel issues, as needed.
Reviews and approves staff purchases and workshop/conference requests in collaboration with the Assistant Principal/Special Education Supervisors and the Early Childhood Supervisor.
Completes all required state and federal reports for Special Education.
Maintains all student records as required by district policy, state and federal laws and regulations.
Completes, files and monitors all special education grants including but not limited to IDEA Part B, Part B Preschool and Pre School For All grants.
Supports 8th grade articulation processes as needed.
Supervises Extended School Year programs.
Conducts regularly scheduled meetings with Assistant Principal/Special Education Supervisors and the Early Childhood Supervisor.
Conducts evaluation of the Secretary to the Educational Services Department and districtwide Educational Services staff on an annual basis per the evaluation procedures.
Monitors the delivery of assistive technology services.
Works with the Director of Technology and the Information Systems Manager to identify data collection, storage and reporting needs for students with disabilities.
Coordinates a wide range of state and local assessments and specialized curricula.
Provides guidance to all administrators and staff on strategies and methods that benefit all students with disabilities.
Coordinates the hiring of agency staff, as needed.
Participates in the remediation plan process, as needed.
Provides leadership and technical assistance/supervision in data analysis regarding student growth, achievement, compliance and inclusion.
Assists with management of IEP, 504, Medicaid and other web-based platforms.
Audits special education processes periodically for compliance assurance.
Supports and provides training and professional development of all Department staff, as needed.
Collaborates with school leadership teams in broadening the school-based continuum of services for all students.
Collaborates with the Transportation Department on the coordination of services.
Coordinates special education mediations and due process hearings.
Serves as support administrator for Extended School Year, Early Intervention, Preschool Screening, Nonpublic, Private/Public and Homeschooling.
Coordinates collaborative service provision with community partners and serves as liaison with federal, state and local community mental health and social service agencies.
Supervises the oversight of children in early intervention transitioning from Part C services to Part B services.
Coordinates independent educational evaluations such as psychiatric, bilingual, and neurological assessments.
Participates in Leadership Team Meetings and other meetings as required or appropriate.
Serves as a member of committees and attends such meetings as directed by the Associate Superintendent of Educational Services or Superintendent.
Provides assistance to parents on issues regarding special education services and/or complaints.
Develops and manages program budgets in consultation with the Associate Superintendent of Educational Services.
Works collaboratively with the Director of Educational Supports and Innovation.
Manages state and federal reimbursement procedures for Pupil, Personnel, Orphanage, Summer State Aid Claim, Summer Orphanage, and Medicaid reimbursements.
Remains abreast of developments and innovations in the field by reading current literature, attending professional association meetings and conferences, and discussing developments of mutual interest with others in the field.
Attends meetings, workshops, seminars and conventions as assigned by the Associate Superintendent of Educational Services or the Superintendent.
OTHER PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:
Performs such other tasks and assumes such other responsibilities as may be assigned by the Associate Superintendent for Educational Services or the Superintendent.
Assists in other areas as needed.
Completes other duties as needed.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Planning and Preparation – Must be able to demonstrate knowledge of content and pedagogy, students, and resources. Design coherent instruction and select appropriate instructional activities, and has the ability to assess students learning.
Classroom Environment – Creates an environment of respect and rapport, establishes a culture for learning, manages classroom procedures, manages students behavior, and has the ability to organize physical space.
Instruction – Communicates clearly and accurately, uses questioning and discussion techniques, engages students in learning, provides feedback to students, and demonstrates flexibility and responsiveness.
Professional Responsibility – Reflects on teaching, maintains accurate records, communicates professionally, contributes to the school and district, grows and develops professionally, and shows professionalism.
Technical: Competent in digital environments including but not limited to; Google Apps for Education, Embrace, databases, spreadsheets, Microsoft Office, district email system, the district’s attendance system, etc.
Interpersonal: Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with students, staff, parents, businesses and community. Strong organization, communication and interpersonal skills. Comprehensive strategic thinking and rapid problem-solving skills to effectively handle crisis that arise. Ability to cope with deadline pressures. Creative problem solver. Ability to facilitate meetings efficiently. Empathetic, humanistic and open-minded. Strong sense of teamwork. Strategic thinker. Must be able to make difficult decisions that impact the organization in a positive sense. Must be able to work harmoniously with the community, students, parents, staff, and administration, etc. Must be able to communicate effectively with students, parents and staff. Must exhibit sound judgment in dealing with people. Must have strong organizational skills.
DISTRICT CORE COMPETENCIES:
Support the establishment of mutual respect and equal human dignity across the entire school community.
Welcomes inclusion, equity and diversity.
Have an unwavering commitment to the success of all students.
Understanding that your identity may be different than students, parents, and staff. You are willing to put those differences aside for the success of all students.
Regardless of the identities of students, staff, or parents, works collaboratively to build a successful relationship with them.
Willingly anticipate, identify and adopt change.
Engage in all job-related interactions and activities, with contacts from within and outside the District, in a courteous and professional manner.
Communicate with styles that are approachable and respectful.
Participate in professional development and training to become more effective and efficient.
Take initiative to manage multiple tasks.
Effectively organize work to be as productive as possible.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Manual Dexterity: Work requires definite skilled and accurate physical operations requiring some closely coordination performance.
Physical Effort: Work requires handling average weight materials or equipment, but not for sustained periods.
Working Conditions: Some exposure to definitely disagreeable elements may exist, i.e., temperature changes, use of steps/stairs, walking long distances throughout the building, etc.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 260 days; Monday thru Friday
SALARY RANGE: Salary and benefits established by the Board of Education
HOW TO APPLY: Internal applicants should apply online at www.dist50.net and attach a resume to the online application. External applicants should apply online at www.dist50.net and attach three letters of recommendations, resume and transcript(s) to the online application. All applicants must be willing to interview in person and demonstrate skills through a situational analysis. Applicants will be contacted within three weeks if invited for an interview. Minority candidates are encouraged to apply. Further information regarding this position may be obtained by contacting:
CONTACT PERSON:
Mrs. Lanee Walls
Associate Superintendent of Educational Services
lwalls@dist50.net
(847) 596-5631
Mrs. Elizabeth Sanchez Szepesi
Director of Language Acquisition
eszepesi@dist50.net
(847) 596 - 5623
APPLICATION DEADLINE: When filled