Director of Special Services/619 Coordinator - Public Service Executive II

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCAITON

OFFICE OF SPECIAL SERVICES AND INCLUSIVE EDUCATION

AGENCY ONLY

Telework Available Upon Management Approval

Opening Date: September 13, 2024

Closing Date:  September 18, 2024

Job Class Code: EA35
Grade: 35
Salary: $88,628.80 - $125,611.20/Annually
Position Number: 014001008

PURPOSE:

This position will provide oversight and support of Section 619 Services of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). The position will support Child Development Services (CDS), an Intermediate Educational Unit that serves preschool children with disabilities, as well as school administrative units (SAUs) in the provision of these services.  It will also provide fiscal oversight of Part B 619 services and in the development of preschool programming. The state is experiencing a significant transition of preschool special education services (Section 619) from the Intermediate Educational Unit to the SAUs over the next 4 years. After the full transition occurs, SAUs will continue to need assistance in supporting children with disabilities in this age group. During this transition, CDS Regional Sites will transition into Support and Service Hubs that will serve Part C children (birth to age 3), support SAUs with special education services, continue to provide MaineCare billing support.  This position will support the work of inclusion as a focus of the development of preschool programming and as a directive of the Office of Special Services & Inclusive Education.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the Section 619 of IDEA, education of children ages 3 to under school age 6
• Knowledge of both education and special education preschool programs, policies, and State and federal requirements.
• Knowledge of Maine Unified Special Education Regulations of principles of practice, techniques,  related to the provision of high-quality special education, focusing on preschool education.
• Knowledge about the differing structures of CDS and SAUs and and understanding of a mixed delivery model for preschool education.
• Knowledge of the Transition from Part C to Part B.
• Knowledge of financial planning for early childhood special education Section 619 Services.
• Ability to initiate, coordinate, implement and evaluate transition of Section 619 services to the SAUs
• Knowledge of the Child Development Services regional site locations, organizational structure, and positions.
• Knowledge of Maine school administrative unit locations, organizational structures, and positions.
• Knowledge of and ability to implement State and federal accounting practices, financial and budgetary procedures and systems, as they impact education programs and program funding.
• Knowledge of fiscal management systems for Part C and Part B, 619.
• Ability to effectively interact with the organizational and staffing structures of the Maine Department of Education, Department of Administrative and Financial Services (including the Division of Purchases), Office of Information Technology, and State Auditor.
• Ability to manage federal grants and federal grant reporting for the provision of special education services to children.
• Ability to understand contracts, MOUs, and other required documents for the provision of special education services to children.
• Ability to interpret, implement and advise on applicable state and federal education funding laws and requirements including OMB circulars, EDGAR, etc.
• Ability to coordinate workshops, and trainings, and materials necessary for the implementation of Section 619 services
• Knowledge of special education's relationship to access of general education.
• Knowledge of state and federal special education laws, rules, and regulations applicable and enforced by the Department.
• Knowledge of and experience in public school settings and/or special purpose private school settings across grade levels and content areas including special education.
• Demonstrated experience with students across disabilities and ages.
• Knowledge and understanding of the relationship between data, program outcomes and results.
• Knowledge of current learning research and exemplary educational practice in special education.
• Knowledge of current and emerging state and federal legislation, rules and regulations impacting special education.
• Knowledge of and experience in education research and data collection and interpretation.
• Ability to interpret, explain, formulate, and administer statutes and regulations.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and interact with a broad range of stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing
• Ability to make effective presentations.
• Ability to present professional development material to various groups of people.
• Knowledge of current learning research and exemplary educational practice in special education.
• Knowledge of current and emerging state and federal legislation, rules and regulations impacting special education.
• Ability to use technology-based communications (i.e., Internet, Web) and e-mail systems and various computer systems including word processing and data applications.
• Ability to respond promptly to emails, phone messages and other communications from the field.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Masters or Doctoral level of education in special education. Greater than 5 years’ experience as a special education administrator, knowledge and understanding of Section 619 of IDEA, knowledge of transition from Child Development Services to Kindergarten. This candidate must have experience in administrative aspects of public-school operations from Pre-K to 12.

Preference will be given to those who submit a resume and cover letter for consideration.

Benefits of working for the State of Maine:

No matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—"Dirigo" or "I lead"—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:

• Work-Life Fit – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 12 days of sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually. Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.
• Health Insurance Coverage – The State of Maine pays 85%-95% of employee-only premiums ($11,196.96 - $12,514.32 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State. 
• Dental Insurance – The State of Maine pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums ($387.92 annual value).
• Retirement Plan – The State contributes the equivalent of 18.09% of the employee's pay towards the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS). 

State employees are eligible for an extensive and highly competitive benefits package, covering many aspects of wellness. Learn about additional wellness benefits for State employees from the Office of Employee Health and Wellness.

Note: Benefits may vary somewhat according to specific collective bargaining agreements and are prorated for anything less than full-time.

There's a job and then there's purposeful, transformative work. Our aim is to create a workplace where you can learn, grow, and continuously refine your skills. Applicants demonstrate job requirements in differing ways, and we appreciate that many skills and backgrounds can make people successful in this role. 

As an Equal Opportunity employer, Maine State Government embraces a culture of respect and awareness. We are committed to creating a strong sense of belonging for all team members, and our process ensures an inclusive environment to applicants of all backgrounds including diverse race, color, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, familial status or genetics. 

If you’re looking for a great next step, and want to feel good about what you do, we’d love to hear from you. Please note reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Thinking about applying?

Research shows that people from historically excluded communities tend to apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your lived experience and passion set you apart.