Director of Special Education-Senior Advisor

General Job Information

Summary

The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) is the State Education Agency for the District of Columbia, charged with raising the quality of education for all DC residents. OSSE is focused on sustaining, accelerating, and deepening the progress being made for the District’s nearly 100,000 students. OSSE serves as the District’s liaison to the U.S. Department of Education and works closely with the District’s 470+ early childhood facilities, 250+ schools, 60+ local education agencies, and community-based organizations to provide critical programming and resources to our stakeholders.

The Director of Special Education is responsible for providing leadership and guidance to Local Education Agencies (LEA) through overseeing the development, implementation and evaluation of the state’s special education initiatives to establish and maintain high-quality special education services for children and families in the District of Columbia (District). The Director of Special Education works under the direction of the Assistant Superintendent, who defines overall objectives to be achieved, coordinates resources, and relies on the incumbent’s expertise when coordinating, and accomplishing program objectives. Work is performed independently, within the latitude of established policies. Work is reviewed for conformance to standards, guidelines, feasibility, and effectiveness in meeting the objectives, deadline, and expected results. Guidelines include policies and procedures of OSSE, governing laws and regulations of the District and Federal government, Mayor’s Orders, and the Deputy Mayor of Education’s policies. Sound and authoritative judgement is used in interpreting the intent of existing guides, and in evaluating the significance and impact of new developments in the profession. Incumbent is recognized as the technical expert. As the agency authority in the special education program areas, the incumbent must use ingenuity in extending and adapting existing guides in providing for the development of new methods and techniques where there are no appropriate guidelines. Through professional leadership, guidance, and authoritative consultant services on the specialty program areas, the incumbent provides a framework of guidelines used by agency staffs, State and local agencies, and others directly concerned with the programs. Examples of such guidelines developed by the employee are program objectives, new performance standards, operating procedures, program evaluation tools, monitoring procedures, and State Plan/or proposal review criteria.

Duties and Responsibilities

Oversees programmatic, strategic, and administrative functions of OSSE’s special education programming, including federal and local special education policy, monitoring and compliance, state complaints, nonpublic placement, and technical assistance and related supports. Provide leadership and direction to support strategic planning and successful implementation of OSSE’s special education programs and services. Provides advice and coordinates technical assistance on complex matters, coordinating significant issues with other OSSE divisions and agencies concerning programmatic or technical matters as requested. Lead a team to set standards for program quality in LEAs and schools and oversees OSSE’s agency-wide Special Education collaboration efforts to coordinate and maximize OSSE’s impact on growth for students with disabilities Lead cross-agency discussions and decision-making on issues that impact special education practice. Work closely with the Assistant Superintendent of Systems and Supports, K-12, and fellow directors in the K-12 division to coordinate policy, funding, monitoring, and technical assistance efforts that support achievement and growth for all students. Work closely with the Divisions of Data, Assessment, and Research (DAR) and Systems Technology (OIT) to ensure that data processes and technology infrastructure address special education programmatic needs.

Creates a work environment where individuals are treated fairly; ensures a high level of professional expertise is maintained; promotes and implements teamwork within the organization; and maintains high standard of program quality that facilitate federal compliance and support for student learning. Oversee the District’s system of general oversight and support under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Manage IDEA grant strategy and monitoring and manage discretionary local funds to catalyze improvement of services to students with disabilities. Manage the identification and correction of noncompliance issues through the investigation of special education state complaints. Manage the placement of students with disabilities into nonpublic special education schools. Manage special projects related to special education compliance and/or system improvement. Work with key internal and external stakeholders to create, review, and implement regulatory and policy frameworks that support compliance and improve outcomes for students with disabilities. Support transparency and usability of special education information through guidance documents and innovative approaches to communicate with educators, families, and community partners. Serve as the primary liaison for the agency with special education stakeholders and advocacy groups. Devises or assess proposals for, new methods and approaches to solve difficult problems that have continued to perplex the education community.

Qualifications and Education:

Specialized Experience: Experience that demonstrated knowledge, skill, and technical competence in the use of statistical and mathematical theories applicable to regulatory impact, policy analysis, professional methods of scientific inquiry and analysis in the solution of problems in determining economic and other impact on regulatory programs. Such experience must have involved extensive inquiry into or use of basic data; structuring of problems for systematic analysis; adaptation or development of scientific techniques; construction and use of analytical or mathematical models; formulation of recommendations for action; or planning, monitoring, or directing the above activities. Mastery of a wide range of qualitative and/or quantitative methods for assessment and improvement of program effectiveness or improvement of complex management processes and systems. Mastery of, and skill in applying analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to conduct in-depth research of program/operational and project issues to review and analyze complex issues; and to prepare clear in-depth reports of studies and recommendations.

Preferred Graduate Education: Master's degree in economics, statistics, mathematics, applied sciences, law, or other fields related to the positions.

Licenses and Certifications

None

Working Conditions/Environment

Work is normally performed in an office environment.

Other Significant Factors

Tour of Duty: Monday - Friday; 8:30AM-5:00PM

Plan, Series, Grade: MS-0301-15

Promotion Potential: No known promotional potential

Duration of Appointment: Management Supervisory Service (MSS): At-will employment applies to the MSS. All positions and appointments in the MSS serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority and may be terminated at any time with or without cause.

Collective Bargaining Unit (Non-Union): This position is not covered under a collecting bargaining agreement.

Position Designation: This position will be subject to enhanced suitability screening pursuant to Chapter 4 of DC Personnel Regulations, Suitability - Security Sensitive. Accordingly, the incumbent will be subject to pre-employment checks (criminal background checks, consumer credit check, traffic record checks, if applicable) as a condition of employment, and will be subject to periodic criminal background checks for the duration of your tenure.

If the position you are applying for is in the Career, Management Supervisory, or Educational Service at an annual salary of one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000) or more, you must establish residency in the District of Columbia within one hundred eight (180) days of the effective date of the appointment and continue to maintain residency within the District of Columbia throughout the duration of the appointment.

Applicants claiming “Residency Preference” will be required to maintain residency in the District of Columbia for a minimum of seven (7) years. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of employment.

EEO Statement: The District of Columbia Government does not discriminate or retaliate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, gender identity and expression, national origin, family responsibilities, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, homeless status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, participation in a legally protected activity, parental status, matriculation, personal appearance, credit information, status as a victim or family member of a victim of domestic violence, sexual offense, or stalking, military service, or other non-merit factor.