Duties
Special Education Program Management
- Oversee the development, implementation, and management of special education services and programs across the district, including Glenbrook South (GBS), Glenbrook North (GBN), Glenbrook Off-Campus (GBOC), and Glenbrook Transition Services (GBT). Ensure all programs and activities comply with state and federal laws (IDEA, Section 504, ADA) and align with the Board’s policies, mission, and strategic goals.
- Oversee the District's Individualized Education Plan (IEP) processes, ensuring full compliance with legal standards. Provide professional development and ongoing support for staff in IEP development, monitoring, and system utilization to ensure that all IEPs are created and implemented effectively, meeting each student's unique educational needs.
- Ensure procedures are followed for students placed by the school district in out-of-district therapeutic school placements, including ISBE applications for approval, tuition and room and board reimbursement, interstate compacts, and facility contracts.
- Oversee special education transportation services.
- Oversee the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the Extended School Year (ESY) each summer.
Vision, Strategic Alignment, and Data Utilization
- Monitor, evaluate, and refine actions, activities, and service delivery models to ensure all students, regardless of abilities, have equitable access to quality education in the least restrictive environment (LRE) while improving the efficiency and effectiveness of practices and student outcomes.
- Facilitate a shared vision of inclusive learning that supports all students, align special education services with the district’s strategic plan, utilize data to drive performance goals, promote research-based instructional practices, set high expectations for teaching and learning, and lead major initiatives to enhance student outcomes and social-emotional development.
- Facilitate the review and analysis of student data to set performance goals, monitor progress, and implement research-based practices that improve academic achievement, foster independence, enhance post-secondary outcomes and ensure equitable opportunities and positive results for all students.
Staff Supervision, Development, and Support
- Supervise, evaluate, and lead staff involved in special education, including the GBOC Assistant Director/Dean of Students, the Instructional Supervisor/Assistant Director of Specialized Programs, the GBA LEA Compliance Supervisor, and District Office Special Education support personnel.
- Act as the LEA representative at IEP meetings of students with extraordinary needs and facilitate team decision-making. Coordinate district resources to provide a continuum of placement options.
- Provide professional development and training opportunities based on special education needs assessments and participate in the recruitment, selection, and ongoing development of special education staff.
- Ensure staff are informed about current legal issues, updates, and trends in special education.
Legal and Compliance Oversight
- Oversee legal matters related to IDEA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Prepare for and participate in due process resolution, state complaints, mediation, and hearings.
- Consult with administration, staff, parents, advocates, and legal representation in matters of dispute regarding student FAPE.
- Ensure appropriate behavior management and discipline processes, procedures, and training are followed in compliance with state and federal requirements.
- Facilitate committees, prepare documents, and report data to the Illinois State Board of Education (RTO Plan, Significant Disproportionality Plan).
- Oversee the maintenance, privacy, confidentiality, and destruction of special education records in accordance with FERPA and ISSRA.
- Assist in the development and implementation of Board policies related to special education and recommend changes as needed to ensure compliance with evolving laws and regulations.
ollaboration and Advocacy
- Advocate for students with disabilities and their families to ensure that student's needs are met and their rights are protected.
- Collaborate with the departments of Teaching and Learning, Student Support, and building and district teams to promote a shared vision of inclusive, high-quality learning; ensure alignment of practices in curriculum, instruction, assessment, and evaluation; integrate instructional and assistive technology supports; foster inclusive practices and multi-tiered systems of support; and support evaluation, development, and multilingual support for dually identified students.
- Increase district capacity to serve all Glenbrook students, including the integration of True North programs and related services by collaborating with district and building leadership to ensure a smooth transition for students and families.
- Serve as the district special education liaison to TrueNorth, other special education cooperatives, private therapeutic programs, the Illinois State Board of Education, and other service providers, community organizations, and agencies.
- Lead the articulation process for special education students transitioning from sender districts and out-of-district placements.
Budget and Financial Management
- Manage the District’s special education budget, including grants, contractual services, student claims, maintenance of effort, and audit questions related to special education in collaboration with the business office.
- Prepare and submit all required state and federal special education reports, including developing and managing the IDEA grant in collaboration with the Educational Services Grant Manager.
- Participates in the Staffing Committee for the Special Education program to set staffing norms for special education programs and services for the purpose of providing high-quality services with fiscal efficiency.
Communication and Reporting
- Oversee data management in collaboration with the educational services and technology teams to ensure accuracy in reporting student approvals and claims, attendance, LRE, graduation rates, and disciplinary measures.
- Provide updates to the Board of Education as requested and offer guidance to Cabinet members to support informed decision-making.