Special Education Department Head (Durational)

State of Connecticut - CT Technical Ed and Career Sys; Killingly (CT); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Teacher Retirement Plan options

Medical and dental plans

Sick and personal leave

Public Service Loan Forgiveness option

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

The State of Connecticut - CT Technical Education and Career System (CTECS) seeks a Special Education Department Head (Durational) at Harvard H. Ellis Technical High School in Killingly, CT. This leadership role focuses on advancing student achievement, compliance, and instructional excellence within the department.

The position runs November 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027. Eligible candidates must hold CT certification (092/105) or be eligible, with strong collaboration, data-driven planning, and

Qualifications

• Must possess a CT teaching certificate in 092 or 105 or be eligible for certification.
• Experience in a high school setting with exposure to trade and career pathways.
• Experience using assessment data to inform instruction and monitor progress.
• Experience developing and finalizing IEPs and coordinating PPT meetings.

Responsibilities

• Advance student achievement while ensuring compliance with state and federal special education regulations.
• Provide instructional leadership and oversee department operations and budgeting.
• Coordinate staffing, scheduling, and service delivery to meet IEP requirements.
• Chairs Planning and Placement Team meetings and liaises with families, staff, and agencies.

Skills

Educational leadership

PPT meetings coordination

IEP development

Communication & collaboration

Data-informed instruction

Microsoft Office / Google Workspace

Education

CT State teaching certificate (092/105)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Job description

Introduction

Are you an experienced special education professional/educator who is passionate for educating the 'future of the field' and looking to transform the lives of CT's youth population? If so, we could have just the opportunity you've been looking for! The State of Connecticut, Connecticut Technical Education and Career System (CTECS) is recruiting an anticipated vacancy for a Special Education Department Head (Durational) to join our team at Harvard H. Ellis Technical High School located in Killingly, CT. To be considered for this position, Special Education Instructors must possess an active State of Connecticut teaching certificate in one of the following areas: 092 Intermediate Administration or Supervision or 105 Department Chairperson AND Special Education (Instructor) Qualifications OR be Eligible for a State of Connecticut teaching certificate in subject area (includes ARC candidates). Through exemplary trade and academic programming, CTECS prepares trade-bound students to meet the skilled workforce needs in Connecticut. We invite you to explore our CTECS Instructor Information webpage for more information.

Position Highlights

• Schedule: first shift, (35 hours per week) Monday through Friday.
• Location: Harvard H. Ellis Technical High School
• Salary: VS01-VS02, derived from the State Vocational Federation of Teachers.
• Durational position: November 1, 2026 to April 30, 2027

The Role

The Special Education Department Head is a teacher and instructional leader that promotes student achievement for identified students, facilitates the operation of the department, and regulates compliance with state and federal regulations. The Special Education Department Head is responsible for developing a shared understanding of purposeful planning and progress monitoring as key components for special education students to effectively access curriculum, meet trade and academic competencies, and master the goals and objectives in their Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). The Special Education Department Head plans and conducts regularly scheduled department meetings to determine department goals, facilitate department tasks, communicates administrative decisions, and collect department feedback and input.

Benefits and Balance at the State of Connecticut

• Option to maintain State of Connecticut Teacher Retirement Plan or enroll in the State Employee Retirement System
• A variety of medical and dental plans
• Sick and personal leave
• The State of CT is an eligible Public Services Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service

As a CTECS employee, you may also benefit from

• Tuition Reimbursement
• Extra Income Opportunities
• Professional Development
• Career Growth within our System

In addition, the State puts an emphasis on

• Providing limitless opportunities
• Hiring for diverse and fresh perspectives
• Performing meaningful work
• Encouraging a healthy work/life balance!

About Us

For over 100 years, CTECS has been the leading force in Career Technical Education (CTE) in the State of Connecticut. CTECS operates 17 diploma-granting technical high schools, one technical education center and two airframe mechanics and aircraft maintenance programs. The school system provides a direct employment pipeline for high school students and adult learners.

Selection Plan

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System this class is accountable for educating students in academic and trade coursework while also serving as an instructional leader who facilitates the operations of a department.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

The Special Education Department Head is a teacher leader responsible for advancing student achievement, ensuring compliance with state and federal special education regulations, and supporting the effective operation of the department. Through instructional coaching, collaborative leadership, and operational oversight, the Department Head develops staff capacity to implement high-quality special education services that enable students to access curriculum, achieve academic and technical competencies, and make progress toward their Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals.

The Department Head serves as a liaison among students, families, staff, administration, community agencies, and district personnel to ensure the effective delivery of special education services and equitable access to educational opportunities. The Department Head oversees the implementation and monitoring of IEPs, supports compliant service delivery and scheduling, chairs Planning and Placement Team (PPT) meetings, reviews and finalizes special education documents, and monitors departmental practices to ensure adherence to state and federal mandates.

In partnership with school administration and Central Office, the Department Head utilizes student performance and program data to support continuous improvement, leads professional learning and collaborative problem-solving processes, coordinates staffing and service assignments, and oversees departmental budgeting, scheduling, compliance systems, and operational procedures to ensure effective and legally compliant special education programming for all identified students.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of four (4) years of experience in a high school setting (grades 9-12).
• Experience with trade and career pathways for students with disabilities.
• Experience using a variety of assessment measures and student data to inform instruction, monitor progress, and improve student outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively through oral presentations, written reports, meeting facilitation, and collaborative problem-solving.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and related educational technology platforms.
• Experience scheduling and chairing Planning and Placement Team (PPT) meetings.
• Experience in the development, review, and finalization of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
• Knowledge of and experience with monitoring compliance with federal and state special education regulations and timelines.
• Experience coordinating student schedules and service delivery based on IEP service hours and program requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a liaison among families, school staff, administration, Central Office personnel, and outside agencies.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Incumbents must possess at time of appointment a valid certificate issued by the Connecticut State Board of Education in accordance with the Certification Regulations Concerning State Educator Certificates, Permits and Authorizations, with a secondary school endorsement.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.