MANAGER OF ACCESS AND SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION - 66485

Executive Service

For more information, visit the link below:
https://www.tn.gov/education/career-opportunities.html

Who we are and what we do:

Department of Education Vision: We will set all students on a path to success. Priorities: Academics: All Tennessee students will have access to a high-quality education, no matter where they live.

How you make a difference in this role:

The Manager of Access and Specialized Instruction will lead the work of providing students with disabilities equitable access to standards-based (Tier I) instruction. This position is part of a team committed to promoting and ensuring Access for All, the statewide initiative ensuring student with disabilities have access to high-impact learning experiences that improve outcomes and greater preparation for college, career, and military.

Job Overview:

The key work streams for this position include the development of high-quality content to increase the access and participation of students with disabilities in general education environments in Tennessee schools. The individual will lead trainings in-person, virtually, and asynchronously to increase the knowledge and capacity of educators, school leaders, and other stakeholders. The content development and training will include, at a minimum expertise on disability law, policies, and practices for all students with disabilities, with an intensive focus on individuals with high-incidence disabilities (e.g., learning disability, other heath impairments, speech and language impairments) and/or intellectual giftedness. This individual will have specific expertise in inclusionary practices, accommodation and modification determination and use, and evidence-based specially designed instruction.

Organization and Self-Direct: Can appropriately prioritize and manage multiple projects, work streams, projects, timelines, and job tasks simultaneously.

Communication: Can clearly communicate verbally and in writing in a variety of formats and settings including phone calls, emails, meetings, and professional development/conferences in a professional manner with the appropriate formality.

Service Orientation: Ability to collaborate and build relationships; maintain high-quality customer service for both internal and external stakeholders.

Time Management: Uses time effectively and efficiently; values time; concentrates his/her efforts on the more important priorities; gets more done in less time than others; can attend to a broader range of activities.

Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: Able to identify and ask significant questions to overcome issues in the workplace; uses inductive and deductive reasoning methods to recognize opportunities for refinement; formulates clear and concise options to reduce procedural inefficiencies.

Technology: Can use common software and hardware including but not limited to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, a virtual meeting platform (i.e., Teams, Zoom), cell phone apps for scanning or photos, and display settings.

Key Responsibilities:

• Supporting LEAs in the implementation of specially designed instruction using evidence-based practices, including Co-teaching effective implementation and monitoring for effectiveness in meeting the student's needs identified in their IEP, establishing co-teaching roles and responsibilities, and developing strategies for shared collaborative planning and instructional preparation within co-teaching teams.
• Lesson preparation to support students with disabilities' individualized needs during standards-based instruction using high-quality instructional materials and evidence-based strategies.
• Effective practices for 'push-in' service delivery.
• Accommodation and modification decision-making (i.e., selection, use, progress monitoring, fading, and elimination). IEP development and implementation, including progress monitoring and data-based decision-making.
• Providing high-quality and timely support to educators and special education directors on topics relevant to the implementation of specially designed instruction through: The development of and/or contribution to state guidance documents.
• Delivering professional learning at virtual or in-person conferences sharing information through virtual and in-person stakeholder engagement meetings.
• Engaging with district staff and parents through phone calls and emails

Teaming: Can work with a small group of individuals to create a product, resolving conflict or disagreement in a professional manner.

Coaching: Can facilitate a conversation with a person or small group to further then introspection, reflection, problem-solving, and ultimately practices of the individual/group to increase student outcomes.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university. Experience: At least three [3] years of experience as a special education provider/teacher. Preference will be given to candidates with experience(s) in one or more of the following: ' development and delivery of professional development (or training), ' coaching, ' participation or leadership of a task force or focus group, ' leadership in starting a new initiative or strategic plan, and/or ' other evidence of leadership within a school, district, or community education initiative.

Pursuant to the State of Tennessee's Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, the State is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for its citizens and strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subjected to illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. It is the State's policy to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that person's race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws.