SpEd Roles and Responsibilities

Supervised by Executive Director

• Provide overall leadership in the area of SpEd
• Collaborate with other SWWC senior administrators in the development, implementation and management of education programs
• Provide overall oversight of SpEd Services and Programs
• Assess district relationship with SWWC
• Ensure overall compliance with federal and state laws and rules pertaining to SpEd
• MDE contact for federal flow through funding and state funding
• Communication with district and building administrators

• Director of SpEd
• Assistant Director of SpEd
• Director of Educational Learning Centers
• Administrator of Staff Development and Low Incidence

Supervised by Senior Director of Special Services

• Legislative update and guidance for administrators; specifically in regard to fiscal and due process complaints
• Create SpEd guiding documents, training, and review and update information on a regular basis (i.e. Building Administrator Coffee Hour series, Direct(or)Connection Newsletter, Sessions at Paraprofessional Conferences)
• Create and communicate information sent to administrators following sometimes extensive discussion among Directors of SpEd on how it applies and impacts all districts. Impacts could be different for each district depending on size, students served etc.
• Attend trainings, meetings, webinars, and other resource-sharing meetings (i.e. MASE monthly meetings, MDE Monthly Director of SpEd Forums, MDE SpEd Finance Meetings, Monthly Superintendent Meetings, Law Conferences, District Administrator Meetings, other district monthly meetings, and host the Monthly Building Administrator Coffee Hour Trainings) to get information to bring back to districts to ensure we have the most up-to-date information and guidance in order to be proactive to the ever-changing special education environment
• Connect SWWC and district staff with resources or additional supports (i.e. connecting a district finance person with SWWC finance person to assist with issues, connecting districts with other SWWC employees to address district needs such as 504 information and training, MARSS & SEDRA supports at SWWC or MDE.

• Participate in actual development of plans, supporting the implementation of the plans, evaluating the plans

• Evaluate assigned SWWC staff as per law, negotiated agreements and policy. Provide ongoing feedback to staff (i.e. monthly check-ins with each staff member, develop corrective action plan when necessary). Staff are distributed throughout SWWC, so face-to-face encounters require travel at times.

• Provide mentoring and supervision for SWWC staff
• Provide leadership development opportunities for SWWC staff by engaging in ongoing communication and feedback of staff
• Engage in recruitment activities for SWWC staff
• Engage in the hiring and onboarding of SWWC staff
• Conduct regular performance reviews and evaluations of SWWC staff
• Provide at least monthly check-ins for all SWWC staff and more frequently if needed
• Assist in the termination process of SWWC staff if necessary
• Complete on an annual basis, the workload analysis process for each SWWC employee and determine SWWC staffing needs based on contracts and student needs.
• Assist districts as requested in recommending SpEd staffing needs.
• Assist in creating, recommending and implementing creative staffing solutions for SWWC and districts to address staffing shortages
• Provide virtual services supports for districts
• Ensure that PARS, running records, and billing logs are up-to-date for SWWC staff
• SWWC vendor service coordination and supervision of SWWC vendor services

• Annual paraprofessional conferences that includes developing actual presentations and presenting at the conferences
• Provide trainings for entire district staff on SpEd topics as requested and if available (i.e. it would be difficult to provide presentations for all staff on the designated PD days each year, typically in August and on Presidents’ Day as often the same day in all or many of the districts)
• Assist in developing and implementing quarterly Joint SWWC Staff Networking Trainings
• Conduct monthly staff meetings for SWWC staff
• Assist in developing specialized professional development support (OT Series 24-25 yr)

• Collaborate with school district administration by providing feedback and support to districts as requested when determining staffing (para matrix, sped teacher caseloads and number of staff needed, creative staffing solutions, determining mentoring supports, due process supports)
• Collaborate with school district administration by providing support in reviewing and evaluating due process compliance in districts (i.e. observing a district staff person to support an improvement plan)
• In collaboration with building administrators, provide feedback and information to support the development of corrective action for district staff people when necessary and if requested by district administrators.
• Collaborate on student-specific and district-specific situations, issues, and needs
•  Attend monthly SpEd Administrator Meetings, monthly Director and DPS Meetings, meeting on Sped Form updates, monthly Director Connection (check-in) Meetings, Collaborative Work Group Meetings, Cross Department Meetings, MDE Monitoring Updates and Training Meetings

• Oversee and provide supports with out-of-district placements
• Attend due process meetings to support specific student situations, issues, and needs

Interprets for each school district issues relating to SpEd due process procedures; compliance with state and federal laws; educational programming for students with disabilities; identification of students with disabilities, ages birth-22; inclusion; web-based special education forms.

• Implement SWWC policies and regulations and comply with District policies and regulations

• District Budget: Not involved with but do respond to questions and help district personnel get connected as needed with the correct staff at SWWC who can assist
• SWWC Budget: Oversee assigned staff group budgets
• Assist MA billing processes in coordination with 3rd Party Billing Assistant

• Serves as the MDE Due Process Monitoring Lead for the district
• Meet with due process and fiscal monitors from MDE
• Review risk factors and share information with districts
• Submit all monitoring paperwork
• Communicate any corrective actions
• Update and submit any additional follow-up documentation requested
• Oversee development and provision of training related to corrective actions
• Follow through with staff working through corrective actions
• Oversee the corrective action process
• Annually complete Post Outcome Surveys
• Annually complete Indicator Data Collection (IDC)
• Annually attend MDE Fiscal Monitoring Process Training to support procurement, proportionate share, and child find guidance.
• Collaborate on review of policies and procedures
• Annually review disproportionality and assist in the development and implementation of the plan to address disproportionality

• Collaborate with outside agencies such as DHS, VRS, County Services, other districts, special education cooperatives, other service cooperatives, Day Treatment Facilities, etc., in order to support child find as required by law.

• Annually complete the Statement of Assurances and other forms as required by MDE in order for districts to receive state special education aid
• Annually complete ARC Surveys (MTAS data)
• Annually complete Work-Based Learning Documentation
• Annually assist in developing MA Billing Rates for districts
• Annually complete MDE Inclusion Survey
• Oversee and navigate due process complaints, due process hearings, alternative dispute resolutions such as conciliation, facilitated IEP meetings and mediation
• Support Independent Education Evaluation (IEE) requests

• Provide input to districts as requested on spending reductions and additions

• Serve as CEIS Lead for district if designated in Year 1 & 2 noncompliance
• Proactively work with districts to address disproportionality by reviewing district data, and problem-solving with district on possible activities it can implement to avoid noncompliance.
• Work with Senior Director of Special Education if the district is designated as in Year 3 noncompliance to develop mandatory plan and implementation of the plan.
• Restrictive Procedures Oversight: Lead quarterly meetings, submit quarterly seclusion reports, submit annual physical hold reports, review and provide guidance to address consistent patterns, identify needs for training, provide and help implement legislative updates, review and collaborate on inappropriate use of RPs and develop a plan to address these issues

• Due Process Specialist
• Assigned Itinerant staff

Supervised by Senior Director of Special Services (Willmar) or Director of Special Education (Worthington)

• Collaborate with SpEd Director
• Problem solve, review/evaluate programs, staffing planning/change, support, professional development, full knowledge of SpEd laws, regulations, rules and processes
• Law and Compliance: Advise
• Communication: District/building administrators, Due Process Specialists, budget/finance collaboration
• Collaborate with principals and directors
• Assit in hiring
• Budget oversight
• Be visible in buildings (hold meetings)
• Observations in collaboration with Principals
• Collaborate with Principals on SpEd teacher staffing/caseloads
• Oversight third party billing
• Oversight SpEd/504 transportation
• Assist principal with caseload management and assignments (new to building/sped)

Supervised by Senior Director of Special Services

• Collaborate with Region 6 & 8 Special Education Directors
• Assist in hiring
• Develop and administer required budgets and documents to secure low incidence funding for the regions and other budgets as assigned
• Supervision of itinerant staff
• Supervision of Region 6 & 8 Low Incidence Programs and Services

• Assigned itinerant staff

Supervised by Director of Special Education

• Develop and provide annual training for special education paraprofessionals at the paraprofessional conferences
• Coordinate and implement the New/Newer Special Education Teacher Cohort (NSTC): provide individual teacher coaching, monthly topic specific training, due process trainings such as NSTC Bootcamp, IEP Writing 101, ER Writing 101
• Collaborate with SWWC Departments (i.e. Behavioral Health, Teaching and Learning, etc.) to enhance services provided to districts
• Provide annual Due Process Specific Training: Evaluations, IEP Writing, Secondary Transition, Data Collection, Behavior Support Plans, Fabulous Files, etc.
• Provide training for entire members of district staff on special education topics as requested and that are not covered at other annual training opportunities

Supports MDE due process monitoring and compliance and assists the SWWC and districts with monitoring of files, submissions, tracking and corrective action plan development and implementation.

Provides due process support for computerized IEP program. Support staff with SpEd Forms due process questions and concerns.
Provides guidance, training on state and federal special education laws, and makes recommendations to ensure compliance.

• Develop and implement due process and best practice guidance on state and federal special education laws through training, guiding documents, monthly newsletters, and resources including the RIST website and monthly meeting agendas

Plans and carries out district due process meetings with district staff on a regular basis.
Attend meetings relating to special education.

• Attend professional meetings that include Due Process Work Group Meetings, trainings to enhance knowledge base on due process requirements and meetings about best practices in the field.

• Attends IEP Meetings as requested and as available, to support special education teachers with due process requirements and explanation of special education supports and services.

Provides good public relations and customer service with member districts, staff, parents and the general public.
Develops and Updates District List Serve and Contacts.

• Annually and as needed update listservs, district “who to contact” directories, and email groups.

• Communicate with district contact person to support delivering and collecting virtual service kit backpacks to and from districts receiving virtual services.
• Maintain and monitor TSES Manual updates/review.
• Support organization, management, accuracy and compliance of SpEd Files.
• As needed, provide individual consultation and supports for SpEd teachers to address individual student programming needs, behavior programming supports and due process topics.

• Supervise and monitor the SpEd staff
• Attend IEP meetings
• Understand laws/processes

• Provide instruction to students
• Case Manager Duties
  • IEP compliance
  • Progress monitoring/data collection
  • MARSS Change Form
  • File paperwork
• Primary contact for parents
• Review and write IEPs
• Provide direction to paraprofessionals
  • Assign activities
  • Provide guidance
  • Instructional oversight
• Collaborate with general education staff
• Provide professional expertise and assistance in areas of instructional expertise/knowledge
• Participate in transition meetings between buildings in spring
• Third party billing, if needed

• Work with student on materials from teacher
• Assist teacher with specific tasks/duties
• Attend mainstream class with students and adapt materials as needed
• Assistance and support in daily living
• Redirect student behavior
• Tutor support as needed

Supervised by Senior Director of Special Services

• Provides overall leadership and supervision for the Educational Learning Centers
• Leads strategic planning for the Educational Learning Centers
• Develops and leads effective collaborative teams for program review, implementation, and evaluation
• Collaborates and communicates with other administrators, across departments on the development, implementation and integration of education programs/services for the agency
• Engages with instructional leaders and provides assistance that supports the Educational Learning Centers’ progress with instructional initiatives
• Participates in the determination of program plans and curriculum requirements for students with disabilities; including developing program goals and objectives that align with the mission of the Educational Learning Centers

• Site Administrators
• Intake Specialist
• Regional Substitute

Supervised by Director of Educational Learning Centers

• Oversees day-to-day operation of the site Educational Learning Center program
• Evaluates staff, provides feedback, and develops corrective action; performs various employment functions such as recruitment, interviewing, and providing recommendations for employment or termination; provides specialized staff development activities for those working with students within the program; provides for safety and emergency procedures, including medical and evacuation procedures
• Provides leadership for the development and implementation of all curriculum and instruction and ensures curriculum and instruction are aligned with graduation standards, and individual student needs are met
• Conducts regularly scheduled staff meetings to ensure open communication amongst Site Administrator and staff
• Oversees due process procedures as defined by State and Federal law pertaining to special education students ensures appropriate paperwork is completed in a timely manner and processes and procedures are followed

• SpEd Teachers
• Paraprofessionals
• Administrative Assistants
• Custodians
• Social Workers
• Skills Teachers
• School Counselors
• Instructional Coaches
• Health Paras

Supervised by Director of Educational Learning Centers

• Reviews and coordinates referral paperwork
• Organizes and/or conducts student observations
• Assists in student placement determinations
• Facilitates District level placement meetings
• Serves as the contact for Member Districts regarding referrals

Supervised by Site Administrator

• Designs and implements appropriate educational and/or behavioral programs for students to meet specific needs and goals of the students;
• Participates and conducts portions of the evaluations and observations to determine special education eligibility of students placed in the program and conducts periodic assessments to determine educational progress of the students
• Conducts and/or participates in IEP Meetings for students in the program
• Generally provides direction, training, and work assignments to paraprofessionals on a daily basis, if appropriate
• Adheres to all due process procedures and compliance requirements

Supervised by Site Administrator

• Promote growth and development of educator(s) to improve student learning
• Ability to collaborate and maintain confidential relationships with administrators and educators
• Enhance educators’ planning, instruction, and content knowledge
• Responsible for meeting with and supporting assigned educators for the agreed-upon time frame
• Acts as a resource and guide

Supervised by Site Administrator

• Directly teach social and emotional skills, emotion regulation strategies, and conflict resolution skills to individual students and small groups.
• Collaborate with teachers, administrators, and parents to understand student needs, identify appropriate interventions, and modify curriculum for students as needed
• Gather and analyze data to monitor student progress towards goals
• Engage in ongoing professional development and stay current with SEL research and best practices to be implemented in the classroom
• Apply principles of human development, learning, and behavior, to function

Supervised by Site Administrator

• Assesses and evaluates student health care needs and provides health services
• Determines student health needs, complaints and symptoms
• Performs evaluation techniques to assess health signs, symptoms and complaints (e.g. takes blood pressure, pulse, temperatures, respirations, neurological checks, monitors for signs of medication side effects, etc.) under the direction and guidance of the school nurse
• Compete assessments in accordance with school policy, nursing standards, nursing procedures, state and local mandates (as directed by the supervising school nurse)
• Provides health services in accordance with student needs and/or individualized health care plans

Supervised by Site Administrator

• Interacts with students according to their Individual Education Plan or Positive Behavior Support Plan
• Observes and intervenes to redirect inappropriate behavior
• Assist individual students as needed with skills development in dressing, eating, toileting, and other daily living skills
• Assists, monitors, and guides the student to complete tasks
• Assist the child in using age-appropriate self-management skills as related to the child’s emotional disorder, including problem solving, decision making, communication, conflict, resolution, anger management, social skills and recreational skills
• Implements approved de-escalation techniques

Supervised by Site Administrator

• Provides skilled administrative support
• Coordinates meetings, events, conferences and workshops as directed
• Provides information by answering questions and requests
• Maintains supplies inventory by checking stock to determine inventory level and anticipating needed supplies; placing and expediting orders for supplies; verifying receipt of supplies
• Maintains technical knowledge
• Prepares and edits correspondence, communications, presentations or other documents