Coordinator, Specialized Services

Title: Coordinator, Office of Specialized Services (Training & Consultative Support)

Department: Specialized Services

Union Affiliation: CASA

Salary Grade: 0652

The School District of Philadelphia is committed to becoming the fastest improving District in the country and transforming the educational opportunities it offers to our city's more than 200,000 students. The District seeks leaders who have a passion for working with schools and communities who are committed to ensuring all students achieve. Serving a population as diverse as ours requires creativity, commitment and vision. Will you join us?

Job Summary

Coordinates the elements involved in providing an appropriate educational program for students with disabilities in curriculum and instruction in the least restrictive environment. Provides direct and ongoing leadership to District and school personnel through participation in consultation, collaboration, professional learning activities, staff evaluation/assessment process, and curriculum planning and development of specialized instructional strategies and programs. Ensures that communication, functional academics and functional skills for daily living are merged with core standards. Plans, organizes, and coordinates the deployment of specific related services resources (speech, hearing, vision) across school-based programs. Utilizes level of service and enrollment data to inform equitable deployment of resources. Manages the delivery of related services by contracted providers and maintains data on contact delivery efficacy. Establishes and maintains partnerships and linkages with external public and private organizations, governmental agencies and other stakeholders as well as serving as a liaison to both internal and external parties on a variety of issues.

Essential Functions

• Oversees, coordinates, and monitors the activities and programs in the assigned area of specialization; monitors the implementation of new and existing programs and initiatives designed to address the needs of schools and students.

• Ensures adherence to any mandated guidelines governing activities in the assigned area.

• Acts in a consultative role for field and central office based staff; provides consultative services in the planning, development, and implementation of services.

• Identifies effective practices for delivery of services within the assigned areas of concentration.

• Ensures the implementation of programs and practices that support the goals and objectives of the District

• Stays abreast of current developments and trends within the different specialties.

• Participates in training and professional development opportunities offered by Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE)/Bureau of Special Education (BSE) in order to develop train-the-trainer models.

• Serves in a liaison capacity; establishes and maintains partnerships with various public and private organizations, and governmental agencies; interacts and works collaboratively with other offices within the District as well as with external entities.

• Participates in the development of grant requests and proposals; implements and monitors grants pertaining to all areas of the Intermediate Unit (IU) Plan.

• Works collaboratively with other staff in the office.

• Provides support for and ensures compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) and PDE mandates such as, but not limited to training and data collection.

• Works collaboratively with personnel in other District offices to ensure the provision of training for both special and regular education teachers in the areas of curriculum and instruction, progress monitoring, compliance, and reading.

• Provides technical assistance in the areas of special education and compliance.

• Implements and evaluates training and professional development activities; provides training directly to staff members or through staff trainers.

• Assists the Executive Director with implementing the training and technical assistance areas of the IU Plan.

Additional Functions for the Training and Consultative Support for Literacy and Math Specialty

• Implements the professional development portions of the State Intermediate Unit Plan and the District's Strategic Plan.

• Supports the Executive Director in identifying training needs, development and implementation of training, and support to District staff as it relates to compliance with state and federal guidelines and best practices in the field of education.

• Develops systems to ensure that Special Education and other instructional professional development procedures and processes are followed by District administrators, faculty and staff for increased positive outcomes for students.

• Assists with publicity within the District and the community regarding upcoming professional development programs and identified professional development needs.

• Leads the Training and Consultation (TaC) Team in making recommendations to improve efficiency, effectiveness and alignment with District policies, goals and needs as well as federal, state and local laws and mandates.

• Develops the organizational format for professional development activities including planning, scheduling, participation, and locations.

• Designs and implements a differentiated system to orient and support teachers new to the District schools.

• Monitors technological developments as they affect professional development and instruction; adjusts content and strategies as needs and conditions change.

• Participates in cross-collaboration with District offices in order to effectively plan for professional development. Minimum Requirements

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university.

• Five years of full-time, paid, professional experience in an educational setting teaching special education students in an inclusive setting which has involved the development and implementation of support systems and services to school-age children and their families in a large urban setting, and has included coordinating efforts with varied resources, participating in the development of grant proposals and designing and implementing training activities.

• Possession of a valid Commonwealth of Pennsylvania instructional certificate for special education.

Demonstrated knowledge of:

o the psychological, physiological, emotional and cognitive development of children and their impact on the educational process.

o the principles and practices in the area of specialization.

o the current social and economic problems affecting urban families and children.

o the methods and techniques for effective program administration.

o training principles and practices.

o research methods and data analysis.

Demonstrated ability to:

o coordinate and monitor the work of other staff.

o plan, coordinate and implement programmatic activities.

o work collaboratively with internal and external personnel in the development and implementation of a variety of programmatic activities.

o communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

o establish and maintain effective working relationships.

For theTraining and Consultation Specialty

• Demonstrated knowledge of:

o current special education decree agreement requirements.

o federal, state and local legislation pertaining to special education.

o the methods, principles, practices and trends of special education and their implications for the effective delivery of educational services.

o the methods and techniques for effective program administration.

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