Early Childhood Special Education Coordinator

Early Childhood Special Education (ESCE) Coordinator

Pay Rate: $24.55 - $42.56 hourly

The CDS State office in Augusta is seeking high-level special education professionals for these vital positions.

Description:

Assists the Deputy Director of Special Services in providing leadership, directing and coordinating Special Education and Related Services in compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 2004, the Maine Unified Special Education Regulations, Chapter 101 (MUSER) and other federal and state regulations at one or more site locations. Provides leadership with programs/services, data collection and analysis, special education, finance and technology related to special education functions for the transition of FAPE Services for 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old children from CDS to the SAU.

Responsibilities:

•    Support Implementation policies for transition of FAPE from CDS to the SAU
•    Assist the Deputy Director of Special Services in including coordination of technical assistance, support with implementation of mixed delivery system, and provision of professional development
•    Facilitate work groups/committees
•    Support ongoing compliance with the IDEA, MUSER, and other federal and state laws and regulations
•    Disseminate information to SAUs through newsletters and other communication formats
•    Suggest professional development opportunities for staff members
•    Support SAUs with developing and implementing MOUs with CDS
•    Support SAUs with resources and training provided by the Department of Education
•    Attend and Support CDS, DOE, and the OSSIE Team with Transition meetings.
•    Participate in Fiscal Meetings for ECSE.
•    Apply Federal, State and CDS Policies and Procedures to site processes and activities
•    Assist with data collection, reporting, and compliance with federal indicators for Section 619
•    Assist in the preparation of reports, as required by Local, State and Federal agencies
•    Gather and analyzes data to determine trends in Early Childhood Special Education (3-5)
•    Supervise executive assistant to ESCE Coordinator

Client Relations Responsibilities:

•    Support SAUs to ensure the delivery of appropriate educational programs and services for children with disabilities and updates the CDS Site Director as necessary
•    Work with the Regional Site Director in the implementation of policies and programs essential to the transition of FAPE to SAUs
•    Coordinate and promotes the utilization of technology to support instruction and data collection processes
•    Assist the Deputy Director of Special Services in building regional capacity to ensure that children receive authorized services in a timely manner
•    Assist the Deputy Director of Special Services in addressing non-compliance or unmet need related to the provision of FAPE
•    Develop a positive working relationship amongst all SAUs
•    Support positive working relationships between CDS and SAUs

Fiscal Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with the DOE and CDS Data and Fiscal Teams to ensure the SAUs have accurate quarterly child counts.
• Support data collection related to high cost in and out of district costs
• Support data collection in both CDS and DOE student information systems (SIS) to support reconcile payments to SAUs
• Collaborate with CDS personnel to collect compensatory service data and share that information with SAUs

Successful Candidates Will Exhibit the:

• Ability to communicate effectively with a variety of people
• Ability to maintain composure in stressful situations
• Ability to keep informed of new trends and developments in the field of (3-5) as well as all legal requirements that govern Early Childhood Special Education (3-5) and communicate these to the professional staff
• Ability to travel between site locations, and state travel
• Ability to take responsibility for own professional growth and development
• Ability to interact effectively with superiors, peers, subordinates, local/state/national education representatives and regulatory/funding agencies, constituent districts and public-at-large 
• Demonstrate leadership and resourcefulness in department program operations, and a high degree of flexibility in order to achieve departmental and organizational objectives and meet those demands/needs 
• Ability to produce results under various constraints and pressures

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:

• Comprehensive knowledge of State and Federal statutes, rules and regulations in order to effectively interpret such rules/regulations
• Understanding of and experience working with various disabilities
• Knowledge and understanding of local, state and federal funding requirements
• Experience administering IEP team meetings for  
• Exceptional organizational and supervisory skills, and excellent verbal and written communication skills

Minimum Qualifications

• A minimum of three (3) years recent experience in Early Childhood Special Education, administration and leadership.
• Certification in one or more of the following areas:

•    030 - Administrator of Special Education
•    035 - Assistant Special Education Director
•    079 - Special Education Consultant
•    093 - School Psychological Services Provider
•    282 - Teacher of Students with Disabilities*
•    286 - Teacher-Severe Impairments
•    291 - Teacher-Visual Impairments
•    292 - Teacher-Hearing Impairments
•    293 - Speech and Language Clinician

*Preference will be given to those with a 282 or administrative experience and certification

Please send resume and completed CDS Employment Application (on CDS website) to:

Veterans’ Preference: Maine law provides a preference to qualified veterans and gold star spouses by ensuring they are offered an interview. If you are a veteran or a gold star spouse and wish to take advantage of this preference, please complete our employment application. Documentation is required. For more information, visit: https://www.maine.gov/bhr/state-jobs/veterans-preference-in-job-applications.