Description

Position Summary:

The Director of Student Services provides strategic leadership, oversight, and support to ensure the delivery of high-quality, legally compliant, and equitable educational services for students with disabilities. This role supports the development and implementation of inclusive programs aligned with IDEA, Section 504 and state regulations. The position also provides leadership for grant programs and other related initiatives, promoting safe and supportive learning environments.

Essential Job Functions:

1. Strategic Planning and Program Development

Develops and implements short- and long-range plans for special education programs and services across the district.
Designs and monitors the annual special education department budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility and alignment with student needs.
Creates annual staffing plans that ensure adequate support for all students with IEPs.
Leads the development and revision of district policies and procedures to ensure compliance with federal (IDEA) and state education laws.
Plans and delivers professional development and in-service training for special education personnel and related staff.

2. Program Coordination and Operations

Oversees the organization and delivery of special education guidance, related services, and case management across the district.
Coordinates services including transportation, off-site, homebound instruction, and interpreter support for eligible students.
Oversees procedures for referral, evaluation, placement, and re-evaluation of students for special education eligibility and services.
Directs and manages district responsibilities related to occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy and other related services.
Coordinates the completion and submission of all required state and federal reports.
Pursues and manages additional grant opportunities that support students with special needs and those identified as at risk.
Ensures the implementation of Medicaid billing, high-cost reporting, transfer of service, private/parochial services, child find, and extended school year services.
Oversees the delivery and organization of professional development for professional staff and Education Assistants related to student wellness and behavior
Directs the completion of federal and state reporting requirements, such as Seclusion and Restraint Report, Pupil Discrimination and CIvil RIghts. 
Serve as the Pupil Discrimination Coordinator
Serves as a Title IX Coordinator or Investigator as assigned
Attend district office and Administrator Team Meetings  

3. Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement

Builds collaborative relationships with students, families, staff, and community agencies to promote inclusive, student-centered school environments.
Acts as liaison to designated school sites, providing support to principals and staff on special education-related matters.
Attends legal matters concerning students with disabilities, including due process and mediation.
Writes, evaluates, and oversees the implementation of interagency agreements and contracted services.
Analyzes and reports data related to students with IEPs to identified stakeholders.

4. Communication 

Effectively communicates program goals, objectives, and performance to the Board of Education, district leadership, school staff, and the public.
Maintains open lines of communication with parents and guardians regarding special education services and supports.
Collaborates with community-based organizations and external agencies to enhance services for students with disabilities and those identified as at risk.

5. Supervision and Evaluation

Provides programmatic supervision of Assistant Director of Student Services and all district-level special education staff; collaborates with building administrators who supervise staff on a day-to-day basis.
In conjunction with the school principal, supervises and evaluates the performance of staff who work across the district in support of students with disabilities.
Assists with the implementation of the district’s pupil records policy in alignment with confidentiality and legal standards.
Evaluates special education curriculum and instructional practices to ensure alignment with district goals and student needs.
Supervises the implementation of state and federal regulations for special education and related vocational education programs.
Provides leadership for the district's Professional Learning Pathway and other programs.

6. Decision-making and Personnel Management

Leads the recruitment, hiring, and onboarding of special education staff.
Makes strategic programmatic decisions regarding program expansion, redesign, and closure based on student needs and data analysis.
Oversees long-term planning for programmatic adjustments across the continuum of services offered to students with disabilities and students identified as at risk.

Requirements

Qualifications:

Masters degree in Educational Administration or a related field is required. Doctoral credentials and local vocational education coordination certification is preferred.  Valid Wisconsin Director of Pupil Services license required

Experience: Requires evidence of prior successful school teaching and administration experience.  Requires familiarity with a variety of evaluation instruments and techniques or prior involvements that demonstrate a sufficient level of knowledge in the field of special education, vocational education, curriculum, budgeting, and programming for students with special needs. 

Availability to collaborate with others, highly organized, excellent communication skills, and a strong background in time management 

Student-centered with a focus on educational equity and whole child.

Personal Attributes Required:

Must be highly organized and be able to work with nominal direct supervision.  Must enjoy detail oriented work requiring a high level of accuracy while working with a large workload.  Must have good written and verbal communication skills.  Must be well organized and demonstrate initiative.  Must demonstrate the ability to establish and maintain exemplary relationships by using appropriate interpersonal skills.  Must understand the need for teamwork, timeliness and accuracy.  Must be able to maintain self-control under stressful situations and deadlines without exhibiting negative behaviors.  Must be able to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information, and interact with others to accomplish tasks without arousing hostility.  Must have knowledge of good grammar, spelling, punctuation and basic math abilities.

Please apply on WECAN.  OSD is an equal opportunity employer.