San Francisco Unified School District 2015-2016 School Year

Special Education Content Specialist (Job Code: 0802)

SFUSD MISSION AND GOALS

 The mission of the San Francisco Unified School District is to provide each student with an equal opportunity to succeed by promoting intellectual growth, creativity, self-discipline, cultural and linguistic sensitivity, democratic responsibility, economic competence, and physical and mental health so that each student can achieve his or her maximum potential.

The San Francisco Unified School District’s strategic plan, “Impact Learning. Impact Lives.” places access and equity, student achievement, and accountability at the forefront of every child’s education. The ideas and actions in the plan focus on one central idea: every child has the right to be well-educated.

SFUSD hires teachers and other credentialed professionals who are committed to delivering rigorous instruction to all students, continuous learning and improvement, creating a culturally responsive classroom environment, and building meaningful connections with families and the community.

DESCRIPTION

Special Education Services support principals and teachers to provide effective, high quality, standards based instruction and resources that enable each student with a disability to achieve their individual goals to his or her potential; in addition to providing oversight to ensure SFUSD is compliant with State and Federal law. The Content Specialist is a representative of Special Education Services, acting as a liaison between central office and the field and under general supervision of the Assistant Superintendent of Special Education and Area Supervisor. Content Specialists are knowledgeable across disciplines and include areas of expertise in: Autism, Behavior and Classroom Management, IEP Facilitation & Coaching; Instructional Design and Scheduling, Mild/Moderate Disabilities, Moderate/Severe Disabilities, Non-Public Schools, and Private/Parochial Services.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Utilize program excellence checklist with each site’s Special Education team to target areas for continuous improvement and compliance
• Facilitate and deliver professional development activities that foster program excellence and address the achievement gap
• Provide consistent and weekly in class support and coaching that promotes the implementation of standards based instruction and inclusive practices
• Work with school site staff to monitor mainstreaming, inclusion and access to the core and/or intervention programs for students with disabilities
• Serves as a resource in the development of Individual Educational Plans (IEPs) for each special education student
• Recommends to support staff, classroom teachers, parents and district personnel appropriate diagnostic/instructional services for individuals with exceptional needs
• Provides consultative and resource services in program and curriculum planning, research, and program evaluation for special projects involving students with exceptional needs within the school and at the district level
• Assist school site staff to fully utilize SEIS, the district online IEP system
• Attend IEP’s that may require more restrictive placements (NPS, day treatment) or additional services (such as additional adult support or door to door transportation)
• Utilize IEP agenda when attending IEP’s as indicated above
• Attend mediations and due process proceedings as needed
• Attend weekly meetings at EPC to review assignment issues and concerns
• Other duties as assigned by Supervisor

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

 Credential:

• Valid Special Education Credential with Autism and English Learner Authorization required.
• Bachelor’s degree, including all courses to meet credential requirements.
  • Knowledge of The Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Compliant IEP practices, and best practices for instructional strategies, modifications and accomodations.
  • Two years successful instructional experience in a special education role.
  • Have recent classroom experience with minimum of five (5) years of teaching experience in special education
  • Be able to travel to multiple sites during the day/week   

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree, including all courses to meet credential requirements.
  • Knowledge of The Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Compliant IEP practices, and best practices for instructional strategies, modifications and accomodations.
  • Two years successful instructional experience in a special education role.
  • Have recent classroom experience with minimum of five (5) years of teaching experience in special education
  • Be able to travel to multiple sites during the day/week    

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability to deal effectively with a wide-range of constituencies, including parents, professionals as well as outside agencies
• Successful experience working with a diverse adult and student population; track record of success in an urban school setting
• Skillful in analyzing student assessment data, instructional planning and professional development of teachers
• Thorough knowledge of district reporting systems, including SEIS (special education)
• Experience in group facilitation and conducting professional development for continuous school improvement
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; high degree of organization and effective time management
• History of successful instruction with educationally and socially underserved communities
• Bilingually proficient (speaking, reading, writing) in Cantonese or Spanish
• Record of positive demeanor and collaborative success
• Outstanding and /or Highly Satisfactory Summary Evaluations