Special Investigations Unit Director jobs in Grand Rapids, MI

This position starts July 1, 2024.

We are seeking candidates who display a strong desire and ability to make an impact on students and the greater community both within and outside of the classroom.

JOB SUMMARY:

Directs/Supervises the Special Education and Preschool program of the District. Ensures program integration with the other instructional departments, the Intermediate School District and the State. Ensures compliance with Special Education Regulations (State and Federal). Manages Special Education personnel.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Plans, supervises and evaluates Special Education and Preschool personnel.
• Consults with staff, parents and outside agencies regarding Special Education and Preschool students and programs offered.
• Responds to parents regarding the evaluation and placement of their children.
• Discusses Special Education and Preschool programs, personnel and students with building administrators. 
• Obtains funding from the ISD, the state and federal programs 
• Submits program documentation for approval, applies for grants, submits budgets and financial reports and prepares and submits program reports to agencies.
• Develops and administers the Special Education and Preschool budget.
• Ensures compliance with local, state and federal guidelines.
• Monitors staff caseloads and student progress.
• May evaluate any personnel serving in the special education and preschool area.
• Assists in recruitment, selection and recommendation for hiring of special education and preschool personnel.
• Develops and maintains complete and cumulative individual records of all children receiving special services or enrolled in special classes.
• Assists in the adaptation of school policies to include special education and preschool needs.
• Keeps informed of all legal requirements governing special education and preschool.
• Plans staff in service training activities.
• Directs and supervises the Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE).
• Is responsible for following all staffing compliance issues.
• Acts with legal, ethical, and professional best practices.
• Ensures a clear focus on student learning that is guided by relevant and timely student achievement data.
• Promotes collaboration and shared leadership opportunities that focus on effective teaching practices.
• Support implementation of best teaching practices in support of student achievement; observe classrooms regularly and provide feedback to teachers; support teachers in connecting district initiatives to their instruction.
• Model effective instructional leadership and focus on continuous learning.
• Ensure clear and measurable goals are established and focused on critical needs regarding improving learning for all students.
• Establish and sustain a professional culture that ensures that teacher teams and collaborative teams meet regularly to establish essential learning goals, develop common formative assessments, examine student work, and provide intervention and/or enrichment in a continuous cycle of improvement.
• Provide clear, ongoing evaluations focused on the district teacher evaluation model.
• Create opportunities for leadership and recognition for staff members who consistently meet high academic achievement and professional standards; and take action with staff members who consistently fail to meet high standards.
• Create systems and processes to support a culture of collaboration, understanding, inclusion, and mutual respect.
• Engage parents and families in supporting their students’ learning at school and at home.
• Respond to stakeholder concerns in a timely and professional manner.
• Solicit and receive feedback from all stakeholders to improve professional skills.
• Assigns teachers to classrooms and students to classes.  
• Participates in district-wide activities, in-services and committees, as appropriate.
• Model and facilitate the use of multiple forms of student-level data; support and develop the staff’s ability to analyze and use this data to drive instructional decisions and to close achievement gaps between subgroups of students based upon data analysis.
• Implements policy and procedure changes from the Board, or the State and Federal level at the building level.
• Maintains current information on legal/financial developments of educational legislative reforms.
• Maintains current educational/administrative certificate by meeting required course work of 6 credit hours or 18 CEU's every 5 years.
• Other duties as assigned by the Superintendent or his/her designee.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: 

• Successful experience as a principal, principal intern, assistant principal, or teacher leader.
• Demonstrated results with raising student achievement and intervention strategies.
• Experience transforming a team or organizational unit.
• Experience using the state approved 5D teacher evaluation framework.
• Possess a strong literacy background.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:            

• Master's Degree in education or related field. 
• Experience with RTI/MTSS and instructional best practices. 
• Experience with the use of data to drive achievement and school improvement. 
• Experience with PBIS and Leader In Me both creating and revising based on building needs. Visionary leader with the ability to execute steps necessary to attain that vision. 
• Valid Michigan Teaching Certificate and five years teaching experience, and/or valid Administrator Certificate with an elementary school endorsement.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Supervises ancillary staff and teacher consultants in the Special Education Department and Preschool Program. Is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of that staff. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance, evaluations; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems. 

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals 

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Master's degree or equivalent, three years of successful professional practice or administrative experience in special education, or combination thereof. Thirty semester or 45 term hours of graduate credit and a successful 200 clock-hour practicum in special education administration. One year of successful experiences as a special education director/supervisor in an approved special education program. Recommendation from a college or university approved for the preparation of special education directors/supervisors, which attest that the person has acquired the knowledge, and competencies in subdivision (f) of the sub rule 340.1771. 

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Valid Michigan Teaching Certificate with Special Education endorsement, full approval in at least 1 area of special education. Meet administrator continuing certification.

Compensation:  Administrative contract that will be negotiated upon hire.

The final candidate for this position will be required (at their cost) to furnish the district with a current Michigan State Police and FBI criminal records LiveScan check prior to our recommendation to hire.

How To Apply
You must complete the entire online application to be considered for a position.

Providing a resume, and additional attachments are optional. Please also provide complete reference information for each reference including name, address, phone and email address.

Equal Employment Opportunity

EQUAL RIGHTS:  Comstock Park Public Schools are committed to a policy or nondiscrimination on the basis of race, religion, sex, age, national origin, and disability in all its programs and activities.

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES: Any person believing that the Comstock Park Public School District or any part of the school organization has inadequately applied the principles and/or regulations of (1) Title IX of the Education amendment Act of 1972, (2) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, (3) the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 and (4) Title II of the Americans with Disability Act of 1990 may bring forward a complaint, which shall be referred to as a grievance, to the local Coordinator at the following address: 101 School Street, Comstock Park, MI 49321. Phone (616) 254-5000.

** The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position.  Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.