SPED Coordinator FY24-25

About Breakthrough Montessori Public Charter School

Breakthrough Montessori Public Charter School’s mission is to enable children to develop within themselves the power to shape their lives and the world around them.  

Founded in 2016, Breakthrough Montessori is a public charter school in Washington, DC. In the 2022-23 school year, we will serve 350 students in PK3 through grade 5. At Breakthrough Montessori PCS, we believe in the unbounded potential of all children. Students of all races, classes, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and backgrounds deserve a personalized education. 

Our school is grounded in an institutional commitment to development, prevention, and community. We support human development through an uncompromising application of the time-tested Montessori instructional model. We support prevention through early learning, support and intervention, enabling us to quickly and effectively address learning challenges. Finally, we support the community through an intensive approach to family engagement. 

Breakthrough Montessori PCS is committed to equity in all areas of our school’s work. We believe in the unbounded potential of all children. We are a supportive environment that seeks to employ a diverse staff reflective of all genders, races, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, and backgrounds. 

Breakthrough Montessori PCS is a coaching school; all team members receive and give coaching to support professional growth.

Position Summary:

Under the general supervision of the Director of Student Support, the Special Education Coordinator oversees all SPED student support functions and ensures the proper delivery of inclusion, special education, and related services as stipulated in students’ IEP/504 plans.  

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

The Special Education Coordinator is a 12-month position. Typical working hours are Monday-Friday from 7:45 am-4:00 pm.  Responsibilities include the following:

Observation and Planning

• Observe classrooms to assess student needs and learning.
• Observe Montessori Support Specialists, Registered Behavioral Technicians, and Dedicated Aides to ensure the quality of implementation and informed coaching (see “Management and Coaching”).
• Identify and develop appropriate curriculum and school-based assessments to support students' academic, social, emotional, and behavioral growth with IEPs/504 plans. 

Communication

• Effectively communicate the special education process, including the process for referrals, evaluations, annual IEPs/504 plans, and re-evaluations, as well as parental rights granted by IDEA to parents and guardians. 

• Facilitate IEP meetings using a strengths-based and family-centered approach 

• As appropriate, connect with students’ outside providers, pediatricians, and therapists to support students’ needs in the classroom. 

Record Keeping and Compliance

• Oversee/manage a caseload of special education students and implement their IEP/504 plans in inclusive, self-contained, and pull-out settings. 
• Ensure compliance by the school with all local and federal laws and regulations relating to students with IEPs/504 plans and students referred to special education. 
• Ensure completion of quarterly progress reports.
• Ensure scheduling of IEP and eligibility meetings and complete related documentation.
• Respond to and process referrals to Special Education.
• Work to maintain school and LEA tracking and data system that includes: student information related to IEPs, services, service hours, evaluations, MDT referrals, timelines in which evaluations were completed, and discipline incidents documented. 
• Maintain student files (paper and electronic) according to school and OSSE standards.
• (COVID Only) Implement a compensatory education decision-making process for all students with disabilities
• Keep inventory of Special Education materials
• Ensure compliance with Child Find requirements

Management and Coaching

• Coach Montessori Support Specialists, Registered Behavioral Technicians, and Dedicated Aides.
• Evaluate Montessori Support Specialists, Registered Behavioral Technicians, and Dedicated Aides
• Ensure proper delivery of special education instruction and related services as stipulated on IEPs/504 plans.
• Design specialized instructional and behavioral programs for students and coach staff members in the implementation of those programs
• Design record keeping and data collection protocols for special education staff, train staff in the implementation, and monitor usage of said protocols.
• Ensure that services provided by contractual personnel are of high quality, provided in the LRE, and are aligned with students’ IEPs/504 plans. 
• Provide training and technical assistance to guides, related service providers, and support service professionals on all aspects of case management: use of computer systems for the special education process, writing goals, progress reports, annual reviews, and parent communication. 

Other

• Coordinate ESY program
• Participate in the Child Study process and manage the Child Study Docket
• Develop systems and protocols to systematize and improve the work of the Special Education team

Required Competencies and Qualifications:

• Have a firm commitment to upholding the school’s mission and anti-bias/anti-racist pedagogy.
• Commitment to upholding the confidentiality of students and parents
• Experience helping students achieve an academic or developmental goal
• Proven ability to work as a member of a diverse team of educators 
• Willingness to support and ‘grow’ students with exceptional needs in the inquiry-based Montessori environment and learning model
• Excellent written and communication, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to write reports, correspondence, and procedure manuals
• Demonstrate the capacity for independent work, flexibility

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree (Early Childhood, Elementary Education, or related field) required
• Master’s in Special Education preferred
• Current certification/licensure in Special Education

• Experience as a Montessori educator is strongly preferred. Without previous Montessori experience, demonstrate an eagerness to learn about the method and support its implementation.

• At least three years of classroom experience working with students with special education needs

Benefits: 

We provide employees with a robust leave policy that includes:

• Paid personal time off
• Paid COVID sick leave
• Paid family leave (in addition to DC paid family leave)
• Paid bereavement leave
• Paid leave for the observation of a religious holiday 

Breakthrough invests heavily in the professional development (PD) of our faculty through:

• A weekly early release schedule with professional development and collaborative planning time from 1:30-4:30 pm every Monday;
• An individual professional development budget of $250/year to pursue additional PD opportunities;
• Conference participation and 
• A Continuing Education grant program that provides grantees up to $20,000 to complete Montessori teacher training, an advanced degree or other license. 

Other benefits include:

• Health, dental, vision
• Retirement (Vanguard Retirement)
• AFLAC
• Educator wellness groups, facilitated by a clinical psychologist.

For information on Breakthrough Montessori PCS, including more information on employee benefits and our company culture, visit our website at 

www.breakthroughmontessori.org. 

Breakthrough Montessori PCS is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.