Certificated: Exempt

SUMMARY DEFINITION:

Under the direct supervision of the Special Education Coordinator or Designee, Education Specialists provide direct instruction to and coordinate the instructional programs for students with exceptional needs enrolled in the resource specialist programs at each school.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (may include, but not limited to the following)

• Provides instruction and direct services as prescribed in the written instructional plan for those students admitted into the resource specialist program and on an individual or small group basis, either in the special education resource room or in the regular classroom.

• Uses appropriate materials and strategies suited to the needs of individual students in order to promote learning and progress on IEP goals.

• Creates and maintains an atmosphere and learning environment conducive to the intellectual, physical, social and emotional development of students.

• Performs and coordinates needed assessment required to determine students’ educational needs and placement.

• Assists regular classroom teachers in identifying those children who appear to have exceptional needs not met within the regular education program.

• Serves as a member of the Individual Education Plan team for those children who have needs requiring resource specialist services for whom they serve and at other times as appropriate.

• Develops and reviews the IEP’s for each student on the caseload.

• Maintains resource specialist program records reflecting growth and/or performance of each student on the caseload and such other records as required.

• Evaluates and reviews pupil progress regularly and reports progress to parents.

• Assists with ensuring compliance with Federal, State, and SELPA regulations regarding special education procedures, eligibility and services to students.

• Helps coordinate efforts to appropriately involve parents in the IEP team proceedings and in the implementation of the IEP.

• Consults with regular education teachers to assist with adaptations in the regular classroom and to maintain accommodations for identified students’ educational and student management needs.

• Trains, plans and supervises the work of the Resource Specialist Instructional Assistant/Paraprofessional.

• Conduct routine written and oral communications.

• Understand and apply the vision and mission of Kairos Public School Vacaville Academy.

• Drive occasionally for department business.

• Perform other duties as assigned that support the overall objective of the department.

QUALIFICATIONS

Ability to:

• Assist in the development of new and innovative programs, in-services and workshops to assist in meeting the needs of pupils with exceptional needs in the regular classroom.

• Provides career and vocational development and focus on the attainment of minimum competencies for those students at the secondary level.

• Assists with the acceptance and inclusion of students with special needs by site staff and parents.

• Organizes and distributes materials to be used by students in the resource room and in their regular classrooms.

• Coordinates special education services with the regular education program for each student on the caseload.

• Attend and actively participate in special in-services and staff development training sessions required by the SELPA and District.

• Perform other related special education duties as required by the SELPA, site administrator and Director of Special Education.

RELATED EXPERIENCE:

One or more years’ experience working with parents and with students in a multicultural setting preferred.

REQUIRED EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university.

• Passing score on the CBEST, CSET or basic skills examinations from other states.

• English Learner authorization

• Valid California Special Education Teaching Credential; eligible for Clear or Preliminary Resource Specialist Certificate of Competence.

WORK SCHEDULE AND SALARY:

A KPSVA Educational Specialist is placed on the KPSVA Salary Schedule for Certificated Employees according to his/her training and experience and is on a 185-day work calendar.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. This position will include office and school site environments.

Physical Abilities:

• Sufficient vision to read printed material, l and identify and distinguish objects.

• Sufficient hearing to hear conversations in person and on the telephone, and hear sounds clearly up to 5 feet.

• Ability to speak in an understandable voice with sufficient volume to be heard in normal conversation and on the telephone and in addressing groups.

• Ability to exert up to 25 pounds of force to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.

• Sufficient manual dexterity and/or mobility to grasp and/or manipulate objects, operate office equipment, and move about the work area.

• Stand or sit for extended periods of time.

• Walk or run over uneven surfaces.

• Bend at the waist, kneel or crouch to file materials.

• Reach above shoulders to file materials.

• Lift, carry, and push and/or pull items with a strength factor of medium work.

Potential Hazards:

Contact with dissatisfied or abusive individuals