Program Specialist

About Aspire: Aspire Public Schools operates a network of high-performing, college preparatory charter schools serving TK-12 scholars in communities across California. Founded in 1998—in an effort to transform the inequitable racial, social, and gender outcomes that our communities persist through—Aspire is one of the largest and most forward-thinking open-enrollment public charter school systems in the nation. 

Our purpose is to prepare our scholars for success in college, career, and life. At Aspire, we set a foundation for our scholars to gain knowledge, skills, and power to access and make choices for their families and post-secondary lives. Every day, our community of students, families, teachers and staff comes together to learn, work, and play in an environment grounded in our values of Bienestar (Well-Being), Culture of Belonging, Community Partnership, Agency & Self-Determination, and Joy.

Behind every successful student is a passionate and dedicated team. Together, we will change the odds for underserved students, ensuring that every student is prepared to earn a college degree.

The Program Specialist assists special education staff and provides consultation, IEP coordination and support at the school site level; provides leadership to principals, teachers and support personnel to ensure legally compliant and instructionally effective services for students with disabilities; and provides professional development support to Aspire staff.

What You Will Do:

• Plans programs, provides curricular resources and technical assistance for, and assesses the effectiveness of the program for students with exceptional needs for their assigned schools in the region
• Ensures the use of best practices in the implementation of pre-referral behavioral interventions, positive behavioral interventions as outlined in the IEP, and implementation of behavioral support and intervention plans by collaborating with school psychologists, other specialists or site staff including providing professional development as needed
• Provides leadership in the area of curriculum, instruction and modification/accommodation for students with diverse learning needs
• Participates in professional development, provides training and support to Special Ed Team to enhance instruction for students with social communication, behavioral and learning challenges
• Assumes responsibility for appropriate identification, educational programming and services for special education students
• Leverages individual and cultural diversity, demonstrating knowledge and understanding of working with ELL students
• Provides support for data driven decision-making and accountability to improve the instructional program and assure student progress
  
• Ensures due process requirements are met to complete the appropriate development of IEPs and provides ongoing monitoring to ensure IDEA compliance
• Evaluates Ed Specialists and Instructional Assistants and provides leadership to principals in the supervision of special education team members.
• Identifies resources, develops methods for parental involvement, and encourages participation in part training activities for families of children with disabilities
• Manages difficult cases to assure appropriate special education services, including attending staffing meetings, IEP meetings and parent conferences
• Applies conflict resolution strategies with parents or other stakeholders to resolve disputes related to a student’s IEP, demonstrating knowledge of current IDEA and Aspire policy and procedures
• Work with site leader and lead Ed Specialist to identify, coach and support the Education Specialists with 
• Assists in the design and facilitation of org-wide and region-wide professional development for staff, including onboarding of Special Education teammates.
• Keep up-to-date on special education research and best practices.
• Work closely with the Regional Special Education team and Principals, to identify needed resources (i.e. professional development, instructional materials, and consultants) through monitoring caseload ratios.
• Participate in the designing and redesigning of the Aspire special educational program.
• Assists in recruiting and screening of special education staff
• Travels across the region to support schools and travels across regions for team meeting and professional development, when needed.
• Demonstrate knowledge of, and support, Aspire Public Schools mission, vision, value statements, standards, policies and procedures, operating instructions, confidentiality standards, and the code of ethical behavior
• Perform other related duties as required and assigned
• Support with NPS or RTC placements

• Master’s Degree in Special Education or related field preferred
• Clear CA Education Specialist Credential and CLAD certification required OR CA Related Service Provider Credential/License (School Psychology, Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, etc) 

• CPI certification desired
• CA Administrative Services Credential desired
• Bilingual- Spanish- desired

• Proven successful teaching or related service provision in Special Education
• Minimum of 5 years of demonstrated leadership, part of which shall have been supervisory (Recommended)
• Minimum 5 years related experience in special education leadership

Compensation: 

Aspire Public Schools is dedicated to our teammate's well-being!  In addition to a competitive base salary that is benchmarked against local districts and charter schools, we offer employees exceptional benefits, including paid time off, 100% core health benefits coverage on select plans, life insurance/long-term disability, participation in a CA state retirement plan, tuition reimbursement plan, and adoption assistance program.

Our salary range based on years of experience for this position type is reflected here:

$102,930 - $132,133 - Special Education Program Specialist - Central Valley Region

Aspire Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. Aspire promotes affirmative action for minorities, women, disabled persons, and veterans.

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