Job Description:

Location: Leidal Education Center
Department: Special Education
Reports To: Director of Special Education
Term: Ongoing 230-day contract beginning with the 2025-2026 school year
Schedule: Mon-Fri Full-time

SUMMARY: The Assistant Director of Special Education supports the Special Education Director in oversight of curriculum, instruction, and supervision of the District’s Special Education department in accordance with North Dakota Administrative Code and District Policy and Regulation. These operations shall include, but are not limited to, research and implementation of best-practice instruction in special education, curriculum development for special education, program implementation and monitoring of effectiveness, staff supervision, compliance of IDEA and support to stakeholders regarding special education in West Fargo Public Schools.
 
The Assistant Director of Special Education acts as an administrator for special programs as assigned by the Director of Special Education.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and requirement satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required for the role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: (Other duties may be assigned)
Collaboration:
Develops positive, effective working relationships with learners, families and staff.
Supports the Director in developing and maintaining the effectiveness and efficiencies of the special education leadership team.
Maintains visibility as a leader in special education utilizing the department vision, mission, and beliefs as drivers.
Collaborates with stakeholders with the purpose of implementing opportunities for learners with special needs (e.g. cross-department, parents/guardians/ families, educators and administrators, etc.)
Collaborates with district and building administrators and educators to enhance collaborative decision making.
Identifies needs of the department in order to meet the needs of learners with a variety of learner profiles.
Collaborates with various staff on the district’s state systemic improvement plans.
Addresses concerns shared by supported team members.
Communication:
Connects and shares ideas through appropriate/applicable formats to express thoughts and ideas with integrity.
Compassion:
Builds and maintains professional relationships with internal and external personnel in order to collaborate, create and sustain services and programs for learners.
Understands the complexities of cultural and global issues and how they relate to employee and learners’ experiences.
Partners with others to resolve potential controversy and conflict through respectful discussion.
Proactively seeks to understand the ideas, opinions, and skills of others.
Creativity:
Designs and implements program/portfolio components involving appropriate stakeholders that meet district needs and complies with state and federal guidelines.
Connects with team members and shares ideas in an effort to improve the overall learner and employee experience.
Critical Thinking:
Researches and presents information (e.g. issues and trends) for the purpose of implementing evidence-based practices in special education for the district.
Identifies, compiles, acts on, and monitors data from a wide variety of sources in order to drive decision making and continuous improvement.
Monitors the effectiveness of programs/portfolios to drive continuous improvement.
Remains abreast of current laws, policies, and practices regarding education of learners with disabilities; provides training and resources to administrators, educators and stakeholders; interprets policies to educators and families; ensures compliance with current federal, state, and district laws, relations, and policies.
Reasons, interprets, and analyzes information to generate new knowledge and understanding.
Demonstrates extensive knowledge of special education law. 
Maintains specialized knowledge in all disability areas. 
Seeks knowledge and continued commitment to understanding best practices in education.
Reflection:
Maintains communication with supervisor and director regarding general feedback, career advancement opportunities, and areas of growth opportunities.
Resilience:
Maintains composure while dealing with stressful situations.
Proactively seeks out resolutions and takes initiative to resolve knowledge gaps.
Consults with the Special Education Director and with building principals to provide performance-based feedback on special education teachers upon request.
Responsibility:
Assists the Director in the development of Special Education policy and procedure.
Provides leadership for the development, implementation, and monitoring of district-level special education portfolios and programs.
Supervise programs and staff for the purpose of ensuring all objectives are met as outlined by district, state and federal policies, procedures, and guidelines.
Partners with Building Administrators on Special Education programs.
Assists with personnel functions (e.g. recruiting, screening and interviewing candidates, evaluating, disciplining and making placements, etc.) for the purpose of maintaining adequate staffing, enhancing productivity of educators and achieving objectives within budget. 
Monitors educator staffing allocation to buildings/programs within budget.
Contributes to the design, completion and monitoring of the department budget that aligns with district strategic plan and department goals.
Implements learner programming with the understanding of district, state, and federal guidance.
Attends and/or conducts meetings (e.g. district committee, learner, special education parent/guardian groups, due process, etc.) for the purpose of identifying issues, developing recommendations, ensuring FAPE for learners, supporting educators, and serving as a district level representative for the purpose of ensuring the educational needs of learners are met as outlined by state and federal guidelines.
Manages the special education department in the absence of the director for the purpose of ensuring services and programs continue within the appropriate guidelines.
Identifies areas of improvement and initiates collaborative problem solving ensuring optimal outcomes.
 
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT: The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this role, the employee is regularly required to reach with hands and arms.
While performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this role, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, bend, talk, and hear.
The specific vision abilities required for this role include close and peripheral vision.
The employee may be required to lift up to ~30 pounds.
The employee must work with the public and various WFPS staff while simultaneously managing several competing demands.
The employee will work in an environment that has a quiet to loud noise level.
 
Education and/or Experience:
Master's Degree from an accredited college or university in the area of Special Education or a related field.
Prior administrative experience supervising programming and staff.
Prior experience with organizational policies and procedures relating to special education and the administration of school district programs.
Prior experience handling student management and behavioral issues with dignity and respect.
Prior experience with state and federal laws, rules, regulations, due process and requirements relating to special education, including data privacy.
Extensive knowledge of special education law.
Specialized knowledge in all disability areas.
Excellent large and small group presentation skills.
Ability to foster a collaborative and positive working relationship with learners, administrators, educators and the school community.
Prior experience working in a school setting preferred.
Experience with Marzano instructional framework preferred. 
Director's Credential preferred.
 
Language Skills:
Ability to read, write, and comprehend simple instructions and short correspondences in the English language.
Ability to communicate effectively verbally, expressively, and reactively.
Ability to design presentations and effectively present information in one-on-one and group situations.
 
Other Skills and Abilities:
Exercise confidentiality, discretion, and good judgment.
Adhere to the assigned work schedule by maintaining regular and punctual attendance.
Ability to work with a variety of people.
Ability to maintain composure under stressful conditions.
Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with learners, staff, and the school community.
Ability to use computers and other forms of technology.
Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Board of Education policies.
Effective understanding of confidentiality and commitment to abide by confidentiality regulations. 
 
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Supervises various Special Education staff in order to build effective and efficient special education practices.

Salary: Position follows the Admin Salary Schedule 2024-2025.

To Apply: Please complete the application and include three references.