Coordinator, Office of Specialized Services (Blind/Visually Impaired Programs and Services)

Title: Coordinator, Office of Specialized Services (Blind/Visually Impaired Programs and Services)

Department: Specialized Services

Reports To: Administrative Superior

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.

This is a full-time, 12-month CASA represented role. The salary grade for this role is 0652, which starts at 90,333 for new CASA members.

Essential Functions

For All Specialties

• 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 Related Services Support Specialty

• Identifies resources, networks, organizations and services for speech, hearing and visually impaired students.

• Provides on-going professional development in related service areas.

• Ensures appropriate number of staff in related service areas in order to provide sufficient services for qualifying students.

• Monitors schedules for all speech, hearing, vision occupational therapists, physical therapists and sign language interpreters.

• Manages caseload including data collection and record keeping.

• Develops collaborative relationships with vendors who provide speech, hearing, vision and occupational therapists and physical therapists in order to contract when additional services are needed.

• Establishes procedures for the selection and administration of appropriate assessment instruments for related services areas.

• Establishes service delivery models including collaboration, integration, pullout (individual and group) models.

• Develops and maintains a manual that includes the District’s policies and procedures for all related service areas.  

• Prepares and monitors related service and contracted services budget.