Position Goal:
The Special Education Monitor ensures compliance with all federal (IDEA), state (MARSE), and local special education laws and regulations, and promotes continuous improvement of programs and services through the Michigan Department of Education-Office of Special Education. This position provides oversight, guidance, and technical assistance to educational agencies to support the implementation of high-quality, equitable, and effective special education practices. The Monitor analyzes data, evaluates systems and procedures, and partners with stakeholders to strengthen accountability, build capacity, and drive improved outcomes for students with disabilities. Through collaborative support and evidence-based decision-making, this role advances meaningful access, educational progress, and success for all students receiving special education services.
Skills and Abilities:
- Embrace and support St. Joseph County ISD's philosophies related to diversity and inclusiveness while effectively engaging with individuals from a wide range of cultures.
- Work to create a culture of excellence in a compassionate, trustworthy and respectful manner.
- Work to understand the impact poverty has on students, families, and learning and also understand the uniqueness and differences between the local districts and center-based programs of St. Joseph County.
- Effectively present information and engage audiences.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, including being an active listener.
- Continual drive to solve problems in an innovative, collaborative, and trustworthy manner.
- Ability to approach people, situations and challenges with an open mind as well as delegate work assignments appropriately.
- Ability and desire to seek, receive, and provide feedback positively to build stronger professional relationships and higher levels of performance.
- Ability and desire to read and clearly interpret and summarize reports, legislation, regulations, contracts, and other key written materials and to analyse and apply data to support continuous improvement processes for program evaluation within St. Joseph County ISD.
- Ability to efficiently use a computer and applicable software.
- Develop and support innovative strategies to achieve goals.
- Maintains confidentiality to develop high levels of trust.
- Displays willingness to support and make decisions with sound judgement in a timely manner.
- Persistent work ethic to perform responsibilities with excellence.
- Adapts to frequent changes in the work environment while practicing positive, safe and inclusive work habits.
- Uses equipment and materials properly.
Performance Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with local districts, center-based programs, families, and community partners to support proactive problem solving, dispute resolution, state complaint facilitation, and equitable access to high-quality special education services.
- Provide oversight, guidance, and communication to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including proactive monitoring processes that ensure FAPE, educational benefit, and continuous program improvement.
- Support the development and implementation of a continuum of programs (LEA-Center-Based) and services in the least restrictive environment, through proactive monitoring that meets the diverse needs of all students with disabilities and integrates special education with general education systems.
- Serve as a communication liaison between local districts and key partners, including Michigan Department of Education, Region 3, professional organizations, advocacy groups, and community agencies, ensuring timely dissemination of information and resources.
- Understand and be able to interpret legislation, rules and regulations in the context of how they relate to systems of support and outcomes for students.
- Deliver professional development, coaching, and technical assistance to strengthen systems, build staff capacity, and promote effective, inclusive practices aligned with district and school improvement efforts to ensure FAPE.
- Know and be able to utilize the necessary data sources at the local, county, state and national level to support systems improvement.
- Assist local districts and center-based programs with the activities, data collection, and data analysis necessary to support continuous improvement.
- Work to align system change and improvement efforts in special education with school improvement efforts in local districts and center-based programs.
- Collaborate with the Medicaid Coordinator regarding Medicaid service capture activities for local districts and center-based programs and communication related to Medicaid school-based services with vendors and the business office.
- Collaborate with the Executive Assistant for Special Education Student Data Systems and Pupil Accounting to support the online special education management system, student information system(s), and the data integration processes necessary between systems.
- Assist with special education data systems and operational supports, including management systems, state reporting, student information systems, assessment coordination, Medicaid service documentation, and data integration processes.
- Supervise and evaluate performance of assigned staff.
- Maintain regular and consistent attendance.
- Provide leadership through participation in ISD committees, including Parent Advisory Committee (PAC), administrative meetings and advisory groups.
- May need to sub in the classroom, in the event there is no teacher or substitute teacher available.
- Perform additional duties assigned by the Director of Special Education.
