1.0 FTE Team Chairperson

Reading Public Schools - Reading, MA

Reading, MA

Educational Services

About the position

The Team Chairperson ensures communication among the schools and Central Office, to promote consistent practices district-wide. Team Chairpersons will be assigned to one or more schools. Duties include leading the eligibility process, ensuring adherence to mandated timelines, and completing required paperwork. Chairpersons will facilitate meetings at the building level and attend meetings at the district level. Building level department meetings will take place every other week and be led by the Team Chairperson. These department meetings are to provide leadership and guidance for the staff around all matters related to special education, such as to communicate best practices and department protocols, share professional learning information, consult on cases, schedule meetings, coordinate services, and plan evaluations. Quality communication amongst and between building-based staff and the district administration will enable us to address student and family issues in a consistent and timely manner. Team Chairpersons will meet as a group with the Director of Student Services to share information from schools and discuss topics of importance: such as legal issues, consistency in practices and decision-making, staffing needs, coordination of services district-wide, amongst other important topics. Individual meetings will also occur.

Responsibilities

• Oversees the process of Special Education referral, evaluation and program planning for students in assigned schools; the district spans Preschool through Grade 12+.
• Acts as Chairperson for all Initial and Re-Evaluation Eligibility Team Meetings, as well as other meetings, at the discretion of the Team Chairperson or the Director of Student Services.
• Coordinates scheduling of Team Meetings among the staff members. If an evaluation is being completed, the Chairperson assures that it is completed within the required timelines.
• Facilitates discussion of student performance, evaluation results, and helps synthesize and clarify student learning needs, and compiles a final document (team meeting summary and official notes) immediately following the meetings noting essential points.
• In the case of disagreement among any Team Members, the Chairperson makes the final determination regarding contents of the Individualized Educational Program (IEP) and placement.
• Leads a special education staff meeting on a regular basis and meets with individual the Special Education staff as needed to ensure appropriate implementation of IEPs and problem solve instructional or other challenges.
• Actively monitors the performance of students towards meeting IEP goals and curriculum expectations.
• Actively monitors and oversees the annual review and re-evaluation process students whose placements are in out of district programs, as assigned by the Director of Student Services; communicates regularly with the director regarding progress and any concerns to ensure financial resources are appropriately allocated.
• Has the authority to commit resources of School District during Team Meetings.

Requirements

• Master's Degree in Special Education.
• Valid MA DESE Special Education Administrator license.
• The employee must possess and maintain a valid driver's license and possess own car to travel to school buildings during the workday as well as to meetings out-of-district.

Benefits

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.