Position Summary:
The Instructional
Specialist - Special Education Parent Engagement is a 12-month central office
position. The major duties and responsibilities include coordinating activities
and events for Partners for Success Parent Center, providing a variety of
parent workshops, training and assigning Parent Surrogates, and managing
Extended School Year (ESY) Services for students with disabilities.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Coordinate parent engagement programs for the Department of Special Education;
- Develop and conduct parent/family workshops on the IEP Process and other topics of interest to pertaining to disabilities and how to support students with disabilities;
- Participate in all MSDE parent/family engagement trainings;
- Respond effectively to parent and school concerns, as appropriate;
- Articulate current trends and data related to parent engagement to the Coordinating Supervisor;
- Develop and conduct professional learning activities related to Extended School Year and Parent Surrogates, as appropriate;
- Collaborate with members of school teams regarding all facets of planning and programming for Extended School Year Services;
- Serve as a resource to local IEP teams with regard to Extended School Year Services, Parent Surrogacy and Parent Engagement;
- Coordinate with Transportation, Human Resources, and the Summer School Office with in order to ensure that ESY Services are provided in an organized, efficient, and appropriate manner;
- Maintain a resource library and computer lab for parent and staff use;
- Work with the Partners for Success Parent Liaison to provide training and support to parents, families, teachers, and paraprofessionals;
- Serve as a liaison to community organizations that support parents and families;
- Serve as a liaison to Prince George’s County organizations that support parents and families; and
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Broad knowledge of parent engagement strategies;
- Thorough understanding of Special Education regulations, policies and procedures, in particular Extended School Year;
- Thorough understanding of all aspects of Parent Surrogacy, especially the legal requirements that must be met;
- Thorough knowledge of community supports available for parents of students with disabilities;
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, as well as effective human relations and interpersonal skills; and
- Computer literacy including proficiency with Microsoft Office and Microsoft Excel preferred.
Education and/or Experience Requirements:
Master’s Degree or equivalent in Special Education from
an accredited institution required; and minimum Five (5) years’ experience working with
students with disabilities; Experience with parent training
desired.
Certification:
Holds or is eligible for a valid professional license in Administrator I (historical) or Supervisor of Instruction, Assistant Principal, or Principal issued by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) with any Special Education endorsement.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
No direct supervisory responsibilities.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands 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 stand, talk, hear, walk, sit, and use fingers, tools or controls. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision such as to read handwritten or typed material, the ability to adjust focus, and depth perception. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally push or lift up to 25 lbs.
Working Environment:
The work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job.
Additional Information:
None.
