Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Exceptional Children or related field required
• Exceptional Children Teaching License (K12): General Curriculum, Specific Learning Disabled or Cross Categorical (mildly/moderately disable) or equivalent or a related service license required
• Minimum of five years of effective special education teaching experience or leadership experience
• Teaching experience using Direct Instruction programs in literacy and math

Nature of Work:

The Exceptional Children Instructional Specialist, having both knowledge of content and expertise in methods of delivering specially designed instruction to students with disabilities, will support teachers with effective implementation of instruction using research-based programs and strategies. The Exceptional Children Instructional Specialist is responsible for the implementation and monitoring of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), in accordance with federal/state regulations to ensure the provision of services for students with disabilities. Provides technical and instructional support to schools regarding the identification, evaluation, and placement of students with disabilities. Works collaboratively with school-based administrators, teachers, and parents/guardians to effectively design, implement and monitor student achievement and progress. Provides professional learning sessions on effective strategies to promote the academic progress of students with disabilities.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Comprehensive understanding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the North Carolina Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities
• Maintain confidentiality of staff and student information
• Ability to implement federal, state and local policies and procedures affecting students with disabilities at all assigned schools
• Ability to work collaboratively with staff, students and parents/guardians in a team approach
• Ability to work with various community and governmental agencies
• Ability to use conflict resolution and crisis intervention skills

Essential Job Functions:

• Attends IEP meetings as requested by schools
• Provides instructional support to EC Teachers and Principals
• Assist EC Teachers in improvement of instructional performance
• Organizes staff development and in-service training for academic areas related to EC
• Provides coordination for the alternate assessments utilized for students with significant disabilities
• Maintains availability for support to the school as needed
• Represents the department and the district in local, regional, and state meetings
• Provides data collection and assessment of that data for both academic and behavioral support initiatives
• Provides guidance, coaching, and support for Direct Instruction programs
• Serves as a consultant to exceptional education teachers in the development of
• Individualized Education Plans
• Assists in the interpretation of testing data
• Assists in the development and delivery or professional development to support the initial placement process, re-evaluation and manifestation process, as well as EC procedures and compliance in accordance with Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities
• Conducts in-house audits of EC records to ensure compliance with NC policies as stated in Policies Governing Services for Children with Disabilities
• Assists as a resource to school level EC Professional Learning Communities
• Provides parents and family support to students with disabilities
• Performs specific programmatic assignments
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned by supervisor

Physical Requirements:

• This work will require the frequent exertion of up to 10 pounds of force and occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds of force.  
• Work will regularly require speaking or hearing, frequently requires walking and sitting and occasionally requires standing, using hands for manual dexterity or to handle or feel, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling, reaching with hands and arms and lifting.  
• Work will require preparing and analyzing written or computer data; work has no exposure to environmental conditions; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).