So you want to be a Joplin R-8 Interim Special Education Director

With the resignation of Meghan Klosterman, who had been special education director for the past four and a half years, the Joplin R-8 School District, has elected to hire an interim director the remainder of the school year and posted the job Wednesday on the district website.

The job specifications are posted below:

 

Position:                   Interim Director of Special Education

 

Term:                        Remainder of 2023-2024 School Year

 

Classification:            Certified/Exempt

 

Location:                  Administration Building

  

Supervisory:              Yes

 

Reports to:               Executive Director of Student Services

 

Qualifications: Master's Degree required; Valid Missouri Certificate - Spec Educ Admin K-12, required; 3-5 years related experience in a supervisory role for Special Education required;

Other: Substantial knowledge and demonstrated experience in Special Education law and compliance, required; Proven track record of being able to define and implement evidence-based programs designed to guide school improvement vision for special education population, preferred; Demonstrated proficiency in teaching and facilitating adult learners, supervision and evaluation of employees and data management, preferred.

 

Skills/Behavioral Competencies

• Outstanding interpersonal skills
• Ability to work well with all stakeholders
• Ability to work in a team environment with an unrelenting focus on the issues of equity, access, and instructional excellence for improved student achievement
• Excellent communication skills; speaking, writing listening
• Superior organizational skills
• Strong analytical, detailed planning, and project management skills
• Ability to grasp concepts quickly, innovate, and think beyond traditional methods
• Curious and creative by nature
• Proactive, self-motivated, flexible and able to self-supervise/work independently
• Detail-oriented while maintaining sight of big picture
• Strong work ethic
• Highest ethical and professional standards
• Willingness to continually learn new information and skills

Under the direction of the Executive Director of Student Services, provides proactive support to schools, participates in program evaluation, and conducts staff performance evaluations.  The Special Education Director will work collaboratively with all stakeholders to promote achievement through quality instruction.  Assists with the development and implementation of the Special Education improvement plan.

 

General Expectations

• Supports the mission of Joplin Schools.
• Supports the value of education.
• Become familiar with, enforce, and follow all applicable Board policies and regulations, administrative procedures, other directions given by district administrators and supervisors, and state and federal laws.
• Properly supervise students at all times, if applicable to essential job functions.
• Obey all safety rules, including rules protecting the safety and welfare of students.
• Care for, properly use, and protect school property.
• Maintain courteous and professional relationships with students, parents/guardians, other district employees and the public.
• Communicate effectively with supervisors, department staff, all members of the school district, and community as required.
• Provides excellence in customer service both internally and externally.
• Complies with privacy rights and safeguards confidential and/or sensitive information pertaining to staff and students.

• Reacts to change productively and receive and transmit constructive criticism as it relates to job duties.
• Actively participate in professional development and obtain skills and information necessary to effectively perform job duties.
• Conduct all official business in a professional and timely manner, utilizing district technology resources.
• Arrive to work and leave work at the time specified by supervisors and attend all required meetings pertinent to the position.
• Maintains accurate records and filing systems for accountability and audit purposes as required by law and Board policy.
• Solve practical problems utilizing math functions as needed to complete job duties.
• Read and interpret documents such as work orders, safety rules, and handbooks and apply to job duties.

 

Essential Functions:

• Coordinate K-12 Special Education programs
• Increase capacity of all schools to universally improve access to at-risk students
• Provide instructional leadership for special education involvement in standards instruction for special education students
• Lead coordination of duties for Process Coordinators and School Psychologists
• Co-Develop, monitor, and evaluate assigned personnel growth plans
• Assist in program development for Joplin school improvement planning
• Assist in the appraisal of the global educational needs of students, teachers, and federally funded district programs; participate in the refinement of plans to support students who are economically disadvantaged
• Collaborate in the development of special education programs and services;
• Assist in the training, supervision and evaluation of paraprofessionals and assistants and other classified employees as assigned
• Assist as assigned in supporting grant writing and coordinating with the data specialist, community groups and other educational entities for the purpose of sustaining district programs
•    Other duties as assigned

• The position does not allow for the obligation of district resources without direct approval from the Executive Director.

Physical Demands

• Occasional Lifting up to 25 pounds
• The individual who holds this position is regularly required to walk, hear and speak and must have close moderate and distance vision ability.  
• The individual must be able to travel between district facilities. The position requires a moderate amount of travel.

 

Attendance

Regular and consistent attendance is an essential function of this position. 

 

The work conditions and the environment described here are representative of those that an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

 

Conditions and Environment

The work environment is consistent with a typical office environment.

Note:  The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees, and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.  Furthermore, they do not establish a contract for employment and are subject to change at the discretion of the employer.