Director of Special Education

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were written out in this job description.

GRPS MISSION: Our mission is to ensure that all scholars are educated, self-directed and productive members of society.

DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES

Department: Special Education

Unit: Professional Administrative Exempt

Wage: Compensation range listed is based on an average 1-15 years of experience, as determined by Human Resources

Direct Supervisor:      Executive Director of Special Education

JOB SUMMARY

The Director of Special Education and Early Intervention Services plans, monitors for accountability, and serves as a consultant for special education programs and services at Grand Rapids Public Schools. The Director also supervises the Special Education Supervisors to ensure compliance with state, federal, and local rules, and regulations.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Essential functions under the Americans with Disabilities Act may include any of the following duties, knowledge, and skills. This list is illustrative only and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by employees in this position. Regular on time and in person attendance is an essential function of this job. Other essential functions may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Analyze, interpret, and communicate information concerning special

education initiatives, laws, rules, regulations, and procedures.

• Serve as Department Professional Learning Coordinator, including:
  • Lead teams at the district and school level in the continued innovation and implementation of learning cycles that include job-embedded and on-line learning.
  • Regularly visit schools, classrooms, PLCs, and professional development sessions, etc. to observe the work and learning of participants and facilitators, evaluate the implementation of the learning, and ensure schools are getting the support and resources needed to be successful.
  • Oversees the design and process of professional development plans by district and schools, including the vetting and posting procedures, meeting timelines, generating reports, and using continuous improvement processes.
  • Ensures the design and use of quantitative and qualitative data analyses in the planning and evaluation of all professional development sessions.
• Serve as District Medicaid Coordinator.
• Supervise Special Education Supervisors
• Coordinate and convene monthly data meetings to address findings around attendance and suspension.
• Coordinate and convene monthly data meetings for Department Secretaries, Related Service Providers, and SE Supervisors.
• Monitor scholar outcomes for local district special education programs/services.
• Develop White Papers, Proposals, Professional Learning Tools and Resources to support district initiatives.
• Coordinate OSE Monitoring and Compliance activities in Catamaran.
• Participate in state level committees related to job responsibilities.
• Serve as a designee for Executive Director for Special Education and Early Intervention Services upon request or assignment.
• Assist with budgeting process.
• Represent GRPS at State/Regional meetings as assigned by agency or grant requirement.
• Provide professional development and training for service providers.
• Oversee and review IEP process with stakeholders.
• Develop, review and update parent involvement plans.
• Conduct investigation of formal and informal complaints.
• Provide leadership for curriculum development and program evaluation.
• Consistently demonstrate dependable attendance and punctuality.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required Education and Experience:

• Master's degree in special education or administration.
• Valid Michigan teaching certificate with endorsement in at least one area of special education.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Three years of successful experience as a supervisor or director of special education administrator preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Understanding of local district functions sufficient to assist in policy development and administration with intimate knowledge of special education services.
• Ability to implement complex systems of support.
• Ability to handle conflict productively.
• Ability to speak to individuals one-on-one and make recommendations.
• Ability to drive between buildings, local school districts and to workshops, meetings, and conferences throughout the state.
• Ability to attend occasional evening and weekend activities.
• Analyze, interpret, and communicate information concerning special education laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and practices.
• Ability to direct resolution with staff, families, and district leadership.
• Ability to serve as special education administrative representative on committees.
• Ability to monitor programs/services.
• Ability to navigate and use with fidelity Scholar and District Data Management Systems.
• Ability to coordinate mandatory compliance and monitoring activities.
• Assist with recruitment, hiring, evaluation and professional development of staff.

ADA REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands, work environment factors, and mental functions described below 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.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, talk, hear (in a quiet or noisy environment). Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust/focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. 

MENTAL FUNCTIONS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to compare, analyze, communicate both orally and in writing, copy, coordinate, instruct, compute, synthesize, evaluate, use interpersonal skills, compile, and negotiate.

Non-Discrimination

The Grand Rapids Public Schools will not discriminate against any person based on race, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, height, weight, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, pregnancy, disability, veteran, or military status.

Americans with Disabilities Act accommodations: Assistance with the application process may be requested through the Human Resources Department at ( or