The Director of Pupil Personnel Services provides visionary leadership, strategic planning, and administrative oversight for the district's special education and student support services.The Director collaborates with district administrators, faculty, families, community agencies, and external providers to develop and maintain exceptional educational programs while ensuring compliance with all federal and New York State regulations.
Reports To: Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction
Appointment: Full-Time, Twelve-Month Administrative Position
Position Start Date: As soon as possible
Essential Responsibilities
The Director provides instructional and administrative leadership to ensure that students with disabilities receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE), while ensuring compliance with all federal and New York State laws and regulations governing special education.
The Director is responsible for the administration, supervision, coordination, and continuous improvement of special education programs and related services; oversight of the Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) and Committee on Special Education (CSE) processes; McKinney-Vento Services, supervision of pupil personnel staff; fiscal management; program development; and collaboration with district leaders, families, community agencies, BOCES, and approved private and state-supported schools.
Leadership and Administration
- Provide vision, leadership, and administrative oversight for all District special education programs and pupil personnel services.
- Serve as a member of the District Leadership Team and advise the Superintendent and Board of Education on matters related to special education, student support services, and regulatory compliance.
- Lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of innovative instructional programs that promote equitable opportunities and are designed to meet the diverse needs of students.
- Promote inclusive educational practices and support the implementation of evidence-based specially designed instruction across all instructional settings.
- Analyze student achievement and program effectiveness to guide continuous improvement efforts.
- Supervise, evaluate, mentor, and support special education administrators, teachers, and pupil personnel staff.
- Coordinate recruitment, hiring, staffing, professional development, and performance evaluation.
- Perform additional duties as assigned by the Superintendent.
Compliance and Regulatory Oversight
- Ensure District compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Article 89 of New York State Education Law, Commissioner's Regulations Part 200 and Part 201, and all applicable federal and state requirements.
- Ensure implementation of procedural safeguards and due process protections for students and families.
- Oversee compliance monitoring activities, corrective action plans, internal audits, and quality assurance procedures.
- Coordinate all required New York State Education Department (NYSED) special education reporting and data submissions, including Special Education Data Collection (SEDCAR), VR reporting, and other required state and federal reports.
- Ensure appropriate documentation and maintenance of educational records in accordance with state and federal requirements.
- Represent the District during impartial hearings, mediation sessions, resolution meetings, and state complaint investigations as appropriate.
- Coordinate McKinney-Vento services.
Committee on Special Education (CSE) and CPSE Leadership
- Chair District level Committee on Preschool Special Education (CPSE) and Committee on Special Education (CSE) meetings as needed.
- Ensure legally compliant evaluations, eligibility determinations, Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), annual reviews, reevaluations, and manifestation determinations.
- Facilitate collaborative, student-centered meetings that engage families as educational partners.
- Ensure recommendations are educationally appropriate, fiscally responsible, and aligned with individual student needs.
- Coordinate appropriate placements and identify matched services and supports for students with complex educational, behavioral, communication, medical, and social-emotional needs.
Fiscal Management
- Develop, administer, and monitor the Pupil Personnel Services Department budget.
- Prepare long-range budget projections and expenditure analyses.
- Oversee contracts for tuition placements, related services, evaluations, transportation, and specialized programs.
- Prepare, administer, and monitor federal and state grants related to special education and student support services.
Program Development and External Collaboration
- Develop and evaluate district special education programs based upon student performance data, program outcomes, and emerging best practices.
- Serve as the District liaison with BOCES, approved private schools, state-supported schools, preschool providers, community agencies, and outside service providers.
- Coordinate placements and programming for students requiring out-of-district services.
- Maintain collaborative relationships with families, legal representatives, outside evaluators, and community agencies