1191B Special Education Consultant

Northwest AEA is searching for a Special Education Consultant working with an emphasis in Special Education support.

Posting # 1191b

Posting date: January 2, 2024

Interviews begin: February 1, 2024, Open Until Filled

Start Date: July 9, 2024

Location: Cherokee

Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Special Education or education, hold an endorsement in Special Education, four years of teaching (at least two in Special Education), and an Iowa Board of Educational Examiners license that includes the Special Education Consultant endorsement.

Job Purpose:  Provide support to assigned schools to improve academic, social, emotional, and behavioral outcomes for students.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

General:

• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with LEA and AEA personnel, parents, and families to improve student outcomes.
• Collaborate with AEA and LEA staff to provide support to general education and Special Education personnel.
• Assist schools in adapting content, choosing methodology and delivering instruction to address the unique needs of students with disabilities.
• Assist school districts in addressing the needs of diverse learners through the school improvement process.
• Provide professional development to teachers, parents, and support staff as appropriate.
• Maintain knowledge and understanding of instructional technology and its application to the teaching and learning process.
• Connect and provide technical assistance to districts with professional learning opportunities to address their specific needs and desired goals.

Emphasis in Special Education Support:

• Maintain knowledge of current research-based strategies and instructional practices for students with disabilities.
• Maintain a high degree of visibility in assigned schools to support Special Education services.
• Collaborate, demonstrate, coach, and provide feedback to Special Education instructional personnel in academic and behavior strategies and practices to accelerate learning for students with disabilities.
• Facilitate the implementation of the AEA’s child-find process leading to determination of students’ eligibility for Special Education and support or related services.
• Assist Special Education teachers with monitoring student progress and making data-based instructional changes that support student learning in the Iowa Core Curriculum. 
• Assist AEAs and LEAs in maintaining compliance with Special Education rules and regulations.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Special Education Consultant

• Assist in the development, implementation, and monitoring of IEPs, and provide support and related services as determined by the IEP team when appropriate.
• Maintain knowledge of available resources within the agency and elsewhere and assist schools with access to such resources when needed. 
• Use available technology to complete and disseminate appropriate documentation of activities and results.
• Adhere to the Iowa Department of Education rules, IDEA Part B and C statute and regulations, and Northwest AEA policies and procedures.

Emphasis in Systems Coaching:

• Assist local school personnel and fellow AEA coaches with developing systems to support implementation of best practice across content areas within the MTSS framework.
• Support the development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of district implementation plans and provide technical assistance to districts with professional learning opportunities to address their specific needs and desired goals.
• Assist local school personnel and fellow AEA coaches in the effective implementation of the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) frameworks.
• Focus on developing systems to support implementation of best practice across content areas within the MTSS framework.
• Provide support for the implementation of effective MTSS frameworks by serving on agency-wide AEA teams within respective areas of content expertise.
• Support the development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of district implementation plans.
• Meet with district and/ or building level leadership teams to assess, plan, and implement system change efforts related to leadership, infrastructure, assessment, and data-based decision-making, universal instruction, and intervention, aligned to the MTSS and SDI frameworks.

Emphasis in Best Practice Coaching:

• Assist AEA practitioners in completing functional behavior assessment and implementing behavior intervention plans with children/students who display challenging behaviors.
• Maintain knowledge of current research-based strategies and instructional practices for students with social, emotional, or behavioral disabilities.
• Support the development, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of district implementation plans and provide technical assistance to districts with professional learning opportunities to address their specific needs and desired goals.
• Provide support for the implementation of effective MTSS frameworks by serving on agency wide AEA teams within respective areas of content expertise.
• Collaborate, demonstrate, coach, and provide feedback to Special Education instructional personnel in behavior strategies and practices to accelerate