Program Director

Position Location:  This position is required to be in-person in Tallahassee, FL.

Organizational Unit 
The Institute for School-Community Partnerships, Integrated Services, and Child Mental Health and Educational Policy (ISCP}, which is part of the College of Education, envisions that all schools in the state of Florida and nationally will have the capacity to provide a safe, effective, and efficient environment to continuously improve the academic, social, and emotional growth of all students and to actively engage families and communities in education. The ISCP's nearly $23 million budget is derived from grants from federal, state, and private sources. It is the mission of the ISCP to implement and evaluate research-based and innovative practices in school and community settings. This is accomplished through (a} training, technical assistance, and support to key partners; (b} community-engaged research and program evaluation to inform key partners' decision making; (c} the development of research and evidence-based documents, tools, and resources to support implementation and evaluation activities; and (d} supporting the infrastructure and capacity of key partners to implement and evaluate federal and state educational policy. 

Position Summary 
The Director serves as the administrator for the Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (BEESS} at the Florida Department of Education (FDOE}. The Director will serve as a direct support to the BEESS Bureau Chief in providing training, technical assistance and support to school districts and the FDOE on all matters related to the education of students with disabilities, especially for parentally-placed private school students with disabilities and charter schools. The Director will also provide information, technical assistance and support related to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA} to parents, families and stakeholders by serving as the liaison between school districts and the FDOE BEESS. The Director will assist local schools, districts and IDEA-funded state project staff in planning, development, and evaluation of programs for the improvement of instruction. This position is grant funded.

Special Requirements:  This position is required to be in-person in Tallahassee, FL.

Responsibilities

Provide information, technical assistance and support related to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for parentally-placed private schools for students with disabilities to parents, charter schools, families and stakeholders; and coordinate activities of assigned IDEA-funded state projects, including Indicator 8 - Parent exceptional student education (ESE) Survey. 

Participate in local, state, and national professional organizations for parentally placed private schools for students with disabilities programming; and plan statewide educational conferences, meetings, institutes, training and workshops. Analyze legislative bill proposals for potential impact on exceptional student education policies, procedures, and programs and assist in the revision of State Board of Education rules to ensure conformity with state statute and federal legal provisions. 

Assist in program reviews as needed for compliance with state and federal regulations. Participate in monitoring activities, which may include on-site visits to school districts, the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, correctional facilities, juvenile justice facilities and other agencies to determine compliance with state and federal regulations. 

Participate as a team leader or team member in activities such as timely submissions according to the State Performance Plan (SPP)/Annual Performance Report (APR) calendar, review of indicator data to evaluate progress and slippage, design/evaluate improvement activities, and as travel schedule permits, participates in national calls related to the respective indicator(s). Reviews, analyzes and interprets student data regarding the implications for improving student outcomes. 

Collect and disseminate essential information to aid in policy formulation and administrative decision-making related to students with disabilities. Coordinates the activities of various task forces in regard to issues and topics on the education of students with disabilities; presents issues and areas of concern to the State Advisory Panel; and advises administrators in the BEESS on possible issues affecting the statewide system.

Performs other duties as assigned.

NOTE:  This position is required to be in-person in Tallahassee, FL.

Minimum Qualifications: This position requires a Bachelor's degree in a field directly related to the program responsibilities and seven years of professional experience; or Master's degree and five years of professional experience. 

Degree Equivalency Clause: Four years of direct e