DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION – Plymouth Public Schools, Plymouth, MA

DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION – Plymouth Public Schools, Plymouth, MA
Start Date: July 1,2024

QUALIFICATIONS:
1. A Master’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university in special education
or related area.
2. A valid Massachusetts Certification as a teacher, special needs educator, and
administrator of special education.
3. A minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in special education, school
psychology or related field.
4. A proven ability to relate to a variety of constituencies, including but not limited to,
administrators, parents, teachers, other human service agencies, and school committee
members.
5. Must possess a sense of humor.
6. Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the School Department may find
appropriate and acceptable.
REPORTS TO:
Superintendent or his designee
SUPERVISES:
Coordinates and directs the activities of the Assistant Director of Special Education, special
education teachers, speech and language therapists, occupational and physical therapists,
adaptive physical education teachers, special education department heads, school
psychologists, special needs aides, office support staff, and others as required.
JOB GOAL:
To provide a quality special needs program for all identified special needs students by
facilitating the efforts of all staff, supervising all programs, and working cooperatively with
parents and community human service providers.
PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES (include but are not limited to):
1. Arranges for providing appropriate services for all special needs children in accordance
with individualized educational plans; and designs, implements, evaluates and maintains a
program of special education services in the district.
2. Coordinates use of resources to external service agencies and state agencies in providing
for special education programs.
3. Develops procedures to identify, refer, evaluate and place all special education students.
As part of those procedures the Director coordinates, facilitates and evaluates the entire
IEP development, implementation and placement process with emphasis on determining
the organization of TEAMS and their composition.
4. Designs diagnostic and screen (pre-referral) systems for referral of children with special
needs and assists in the coordination of preschool and kindergarten screening programs
as prescribed under IDEA.
5. Represents the school district in relation to the Department of Education, as well as other
appropriate state agencies, regarding special education matters.
6. Develops and monitors the special education budget.
7. Keeps abreast of current research and professional literature and meets with other
professionals to exchange information about new practices.
8. Collects program evaluation data and reviews their implications for changes in the special
education program.
9. Develops special education policies, programs and procedures for recommendation to the
Superintendent and School Committee.
10. Works with the special needs parents advisory council as a liaison.
11. Recruits and assists in the selection and orientation of a well-qualified staff and, as part of
that process, assists in forecasting staffing needs and the allocation of staff to position
vacancies.
12. Designs, implements and evaluates a comprehensive inservice training and development
program for staff.
13. Supervises and evaluates special education and related services staff as directed by the
Superintendent or his designee.
14. Meets with various administrative and curriculum committees to describe and advocate for
the special education programs while assisting principals in the coordination of activities of
the special education program with those of the general education program.
15. Consults with other administrative staff on school operations, facilities use, budget
development, and other general district procedures.
16. Plans and coordinates transportation and tutoring services for special education children.
17. Publishes newsletters, brochures, guides and other communications that describe the
special education programs.
18. Prepares reports and plans in accordance with local policy, state and federal mandates.
19. Maintains a current register of all special needs children as mandated by IDEA and insures
that current records are kept of all information regarding evaluations, as required.
20. Assists in monitoring proper implementation of all regulations as defined by IDEA, PL 94-
142, Chapter I: 89-313, PL 99-457, and other state or federal mandates relating to special
education.
21. Assists and participates in Bureau of Special Education appeals, mediations and hearings.
22. Serves as a resource person and consultant to the systems and community on all matters
related to SPED.
23. Is responsible for the procurement and proper allocation of all funds related to the
education of special education students including grants, local funds and any other funding
that may become available for special education students and/or staff.
24. Performs such other related tasks and assumes such other related responsibilities as may
from time to time be assigned by the Superintendent or his designee.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being
performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed
as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of those in this classification.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 12 Month Work Year
EVALUATION: Performance of this job will be evaluated annually in
accordance with the School Committee’s policy on the
evaluation of administrative personnel.

SALARY: Per Administrative Contract.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER

Contact Assistant Superintendent Erik Cioffi
[email protected]