2024-25 - 1.0 Education Specialist - Special Education

Position Summary

The Educational Specialist will work within Student Support Services with a special focus on the needs of students who are eligible for special education services.

This individual will demonstrate leadership ability and collaborate with school administrators, counselors and psychologists as well as members of Student Support Teams at individual buildings to provide support to students, school staff and parents in the development of programs for individual or groups of students that will promote a positive school climate and a successful learning environment.

The Educational Specialist will have a minimum of five years of successful experience as a special education teacher or related experience in planning and delivering research-based programs.

The District represents a diverse community. More than 50% of our students arrive with diverse backgrounds. We seek an individual who has successful experience in working with culturally diverse families and communities.

The selected candidate must demonstrate a commitment to strengthening community engagement and communication with the District’s diverse populations.

Part II : Supervision and Controls over the Work :

The employee works with a high level of independence and professional discretion under the general supervision of a designated school administrator.

The work is governed, controlled, and evaluated by acceptable professional practice, school and district policies and regulations, provisions of Washington Administrative Code and Revised Code of Washington, direction of the supervisor, and performance standards and expectations as set forth in the collective bargaining agreement.

Part III : Major Duties and Responsibilities (depending on specific assignment-duties and responsibilities listed may include, but are not limited to the following) :

• Provides consultation support and training to teachers, children and staff in research-based curriculum and interventions for district-wide programs such as Emotionally Behaviorally Disabled, Life Skills, Resource, and Transition.
• Collaborates with special education staff to ensure and monitor procedural compliance to include, but not limited to, support for IEP system, maintaining procedures manual, coordination of safety net activities and serve as point of contact for compliance related issues.
• Coaches building teams to plan and support implementation of the essential components of an instructional program for students who are eligible for special education services.
• Serves as a member of the district’s special education team and with members of school teams to assess student needs, determine appropriate interventions, set up appropriate progress monitoring plans, analyze student data and develop student programs.
• Trains and coaches staff in instructional and behavioral strategies.
• Assists in the creation of a transition support program to ensure that students receive skills necessary for successful full-time re-entry in general education classrooms and for transition to district middle or high schools.
• Consultation and collaboration with school staff regarding crisis response and management for students who are experiencing significant academic, behavioral and / or emotional challenges.
• Keeps appropriate records and inform administration and staff of student or family contacts.
• Required to follow Board policies and stay abreast of updates and changes.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Part IV : Minimum Qualifications :

• A minimum of five years of successful experience as a special education teacher or special education related Educational Staff Associate School Psychologists, Speech Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapist, etc)
• Documented successful experience working in a variety of instructional settings with special education populations.
• Valid Washington Teaching Certificate with P-3 and / or K-12 Special Education endorsement and / or ESA as a school psychologist.
• Master's degree in Special Education or a related field.
• Knowledge of current special education program state and federal regulations.
• Must have a valid Washington State driver's license and automobile for on the job use.

Part V : Desired Qualifications :

• Knowledge of and experience in evidence-based strategies for working with students with significant academic and / or behavioral challenges.
• Experience in setting up and using data monitoring systems for evaluating student programs.
• Experience in coaching school-based staff.
• Documented competence in working with students with intensive needs in a school setting.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current evidence-based strategies in the field of special education.
• Demonstrated ability to use conflict resolution and crisis intervention skills.
• Demonstrated ability to relate in a positive way with students, staff, parents and the community.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, facilitate and implement meaningful professional development activities.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing with clarity.
• Ability to work cooperatively with staff, administrators and support personnel in a team approach to solving individual student behavior problems.
• Ability to maintain high ethical standards throughout all duties.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Demonstrated sensitivity to ethnic, cultural and religious diversity of students, staff, parents and community.
• Bilingual skills.
• Ability to support and value the efforts of ongoing cultural community projects and events.
• Must model and maintain exemplary punctuality and attendance.

Part VI : Physical and Environmental Requirements of the Position :

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, move about, hear and speak.

The employee may routinely lift and carry materials weighing up to 50 pounds, and may be required to restrain students weighing more than 100 pounds most typically when required to intervene in student safety issues.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and / or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals.

It may be expected that the individual could be exposed to blood or other potentially infectious materials during the course of their duties.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but can be loud on occasion.

The employee may be exposed to infectious disease as carried by students, exposed to student noise and learning resource noise levels, may sit or stand for longer than 2 hours at a time, may lift objects repeatedly, and may undertake repeated motions.

The employee may be required to travel in school owned or leased vehicles while supervising and assisting students.

Insurance Benefits

Employees who are anticipated to work 630 hours during the school year (September 1 through August 31) are eligible for medical, dental, vision, long term disability and basic life insurance benefits.

North Thurston Public Schools benefits are administered by the Washington State Healthcare Authority under the School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB).

Click on the link for information on available benefit options.