Program Specialist for Exceptional Student Services (Marshall Elementary School; 2026-2027)

Flagstaff Unified School District; Bellemont (AZ); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ASRS participation

Additional $7,000 stipend

Benefits offered

Job summary

Flagstaff Unified School District seeks a Program Specialist for Exceptional Student Services at Marshall Elementary School to assist with the implementation and coordination of special education programs across grade levels.

The role reports to the Site Administrator and the Executive Director of Student Services and Educational Excellence, providing mentoring, ensuring compliance with IDEA/state laws, training staff, and supporting inclusive placement and gifted testing as needed.

Qualifications

• Valid Arizona certificate in special education or related field.
• Elementary Only - General education certification, K-8 preferred.
• Minimum of four years in the field of special education.
• Ability to organize ideas and communicate clearly.
• Experience with assessing and accommodating curricula.

Responsibilities

• Provide support and mentoring for dual-cert, resource, and specialized program teachers.
• Ensure compliance with IDEA, state, and district laws and ADE audits.
• Assist placement decisions in least-restrictive environments and promote inclusion.
• Train teachers in writing and monitoring IEPs.
• Support Medicaid compliance by reviewing annual IEPs.
• Represent LEA at special education meetings or arrange replacements.
• Assist with special education instruction, small groups, and curriculum design as needed.
• Create schedules for paraprofessionals and fill vacancies.
• Train staff to promote success in both special and general education.
• Interview, hire, and evaluate paraprofessionals.
• Coordinate state/district testing and accommodations.
• Administer gifted testing.

Skills

Mentoring

IDEA & state regulation knowledge

Multitasking

Communication

Organizational skills

Curriculum accommodations

Schedule coordination

Education

Arizona certificate in special education

K-8 general education certification (preferred)

4+ years in special education

Job description

Flagstaff Unified School District

Program Specialist Job Description

JOB TITLE: Program Specialist for Exceptional Student Services (ESS) - Marshall Elementary School

REPORTS TO: Site Administrator and Executive Director, Student Services and Educational Excellence

2026-2027 School Year: 1.0 FTE; Benefits offered; ASRS participation (required); Start date: October 13, 2026. Additional $7,000 stipend is issued. Position is ineligible for 301 allocation and teacher-related increases.

SUMMARY OF FUNCTION:

Assist the site administrator and Executive Director of Student Services and Educational Excellence in the implementation and coordination of special education programs.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Elementary and Secondary

• Provide support and mentoring for dual-cert, resource, and specialized program teachers.
• Ensure compliance with federal (IDEA), state, and district laws, procedures, and policies (to include ADE audits).
• Assist school teams in facilitating student placement along the continuum of services, ensuring placement in the least- restrictive environment, and promoting inclusive practices.
• Support and train teachers in writing Individual Education Plans (IEPs).
• Monitor Medicaid compliance by reviewing students’ annual IEPs.
• Serve as the LEA representative at special education meetings or ensure there is a replacement if Program Specialist is not available.
• Support with special education specialized instruction as needed (could include teaching small groups, subbing, designing instruction, support with curriculum, etc.).
• Create schedules for paraprofessionals; move as needed to fill daily vacancies.
• Provide training as needed for special education staff (certified and classified) to promote student success in special and general education settings and ensure compliance.
• Interview, hire, and evaluate paraprofessionals
• Help coordinate state/district testing and student accommodations.
• Administer gifted testing.

Elementary Only

• Support the Instructional Specialist’s implementation of Tier 3 interventions.
• Provide teachers with resources for gifted instruction and assist in school-wide gifted plans.
• Ensure PEP (Personal Education Plans for gifted students) forms are filled out.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Valid Arizona certificate in special education or license in a related field; Elementary Only - General education certification, K-8 (preferred)
• Minimum of four years working in the field of special education
• Skilled at working with others in a professional learning environment
• Accurate and effective working knowledge of IDEA and state regulation
• Supervisory experience and ability to multitask
• Ability to organize ideas and communicate them with clarity and conciseness in a variety of settings
• Experience with curriculum accommodations, modification or adaptation, instruction, and assessments
• Experience with coordinating schedules (adults and/or students)

COMPENSATION:

• Placement on the certified salary schedule
• Additional $7,000 stipend is issued. Position is ineligible for 301 allocation and teacher-related increases.

MENTAL TASKS

Communicates verbally and in writing. Reads. Analyze and evaluate student progress and course curriculum. Develop, implement and evaluate plans. Manages classroom. Promotes learning and ensures safety. Perform functions from written and oral instruction and from observing and listening to others. Evaluate written materials to include written assignment and tests.

PHYSICAL TASKS

Work involves the performance of duties where physical exertion and movement is required to perform the aspects of the job. Assistance is available as required to perform physically demanding tasks. Work involves sitting and moving for extended periods of time, requires moving from one location to another, reaching, bending, stooping (moving to eye level of the student), hold and grasping objects. Verbal communication ability required.

EQUIPMENT, AIDS, TOOLS, MATERIALS

Uses blackboards, whiteboard, easel, bulletin board, computers, video projectors, chalk, markers, and office or instructional equipment. FUSD recognizes that ever changing development of technology but expects all staff to keep abreast of changing technology opportunities and use tools and devices provided to them.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Indoor - classroom environment. Outdoor - all weather conditions and temperatures. Playground environment. Contact with public, employees, children and parents. Exposure to noise, dusts, gas and fumes.

CONTROL AND SUPERVISION

Monitor control of students, communicates with families frequently about strengths and areas for growth, volunteers and/or assistant aides and paraprofessionals in the classroom, field trips, lunchroom, library, school buses and other areas.

All employees are subject to a criminal background check. The Flagstaff Unified School District is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in relation to race, color, religion, gender expression, sexual orientation, military status, age, national origin, or disability. Offers of employment, contingent upon funding. Missing documents may result in your application not moving forward in the process.

https://www.flagstaffchamber.com/flagstaff/relocating-to-flagstaff/